freebeacon--2020-09-09--Oscars Unveil Diversity Criteria for Award Eligibility

After years of criticism that Hollywood is too white and male , the Oscars are rolling out a comprehensive plan to make sure best picture nominees are inclusive of `` underrepresented groups . ''
The new rules require representation of women , ethnic minorities , LGBTQ+ people , or people with cognitive or physical disabilities in a film 's production if it is to be considered for best picture , the Los Angeles Times reports .
A production does not need to showcase nonwhite actors , since it can meet the requirement by having diversity among the top producers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences convened a special task force to develop the criteria , released Monday and set to go into effect in 2024 , in order `` to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them . ''
Most controversial are the criteria around onscreen representation , which pose a challenge for stories such as the Oscar-winning 1917 , set on a French battlefield during World War I , to satisfy .
1917 predominantly features British , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the facts of the battlefield conditions that the film depicts , rendering a plethora of onscreen diversity implausible .
Some critics of the Academy 's decision have pointed out that recent best picture winners have manifested a historic level of diversity , despite the prominence of online protests such as # OscarsSoWhite .
The winner in 2020 , the South Korean film Parasite , was the first foreign-language film to ever take the top prize ; 2019 's winner , Green Book , told the story of a gay and black musician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner , The Shape of Water , was about a mute woman who experiences discrimination and has a nontraditional sexual lifestyle ; and 2017 's winner , Moonlight , focused on the struggles of gay black men .
Emmy winner Kirstie Alley lambasted the rules in a now-deleted tweet , saying , `` This is a disgrace to artists everywhere… .
Can you imagine telling Picasso what had to be in his [ f—ing ] paintings .
You people have lost your minds .
Control artists , control individual thought .. OSCAR ORWELL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood faces scrutiny over the increasing influence of China on film productions , a controversy that 's in the headlines this week because the credits of Disney 's Mulan specifically thanked Chinese Communist Party entities responsible for human-rights abuses against ethnic minorities .
In addition , a study highlighted in Axios found an uptick in light-skinned leads in blockbusters as the Chinese market became a top concern for major studios .
Hollywood 's inability to root out sexual abuse was the catalyst for the # MeToo movement , which brought down producer Harvey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oscars led to him being thanked on stage more than God .
In most of the new criteria , the Academy lists women as an underrepresented group , although critics have also blasted how many golden statues go to white actresses .

After years of criticism that Hollywood is too white and male, the Oscars are rolling out a comprehensive plan to make sure best picture nominees are inclusive of "underrepresented groups."
The new rules require representation of women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people, or people with cognitive or physical disabilities in a film's production if it is to be considered for best picture, the Los Angeles Times reports. A production does not need to showcase nonwhite actors, since it can meet the requirement by having diversity among the top producers, marketers, and paid interns.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences convened a special task force to develop the criteria, released Monday and set to go into effect in 2024, in order "to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them." Most controversial are the criteria around onscreen representation, which pose a challenge for stories such as the Oscar-winning 1917, set on a French battlefield during World War I, to satisfy. 1917 predominantly features British, French, and German characters, consistent with the facts of the battlefield conditions that the film depicts, rendering a plethora of onscreen diversity implausible.
Some critics of the Academy's decision have pointed out that recent best picture winners have manifested a historic level of diversity, despite the prominence of online protests such as #OscarsSoWhite. The winner in 2020, the South Korean film Parasite, was the first foreign-language film to ever take the top prize; 2019's winner, Green Book, told the story of a gay and black musician experiencing racism and homophobia; 2018's winner, The Shape of Water, was about a mute woman who experiences discrimination and has a nontraditional sexual lifestyle; and 2017's winner, Moonlight, focused on the struggles of gay black men.
Emmy winner Kirstie Alley lambasted the rules in a now-deleted tweet, saying, "This is a disgrace to artists everywhere.... Can you imagine telling Picasso what had to be in his [f—ing] paintings. You people have lost your minds. Control artists, control individual thought .. OSCAR ORWELL."
The new rules come as Hollywood faces scrutiny over the increasing influence of China on film productions, a controversy that's in the headlines this week because the credits of Disney's Mulan specifically thanked Chinese Communist Party entities responsible for human-rights abuses against ethnic minorities. In addition, a study highlighted in Axios found an uptick in light-skinned leads in blockbusters as the Chinese market became a top concern for major studios.
Hollywood's inability to root out sexual abuse was the catalyst for the #MeToo movement, which brought down producer Harvey Weinstein, whose legendary success at the Oscars led to him being thanked on stage more than God. In most of the new criteria, the Academy lists women as an underrepresented group, although critics have also blasted how many golden statues go to white actresses.


freebeacon--2020-09-09--Princeton Professor: American Universities ‘Waging War’ Against Free Thought

A Princeton University professor said that American universities are `` waging war '' against academic freedom .
Professor Joshua Katz , who came under fire for a controversial op-ed that denounced his colleagues ' approach to anti-racism , argued in an online event that the threats to free speech on college campuses signal that we are `` lost as a nation . ''
`` In recent years … people inside the academy have … persuaded a considerable segment of the populace that words are violence and need to be policed , '' Katz said .
`` Even more frightening is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent actions and calls for defunding the actual , non-metaphorical police… .
Free speech is a bedrock principle .
If we can not agree on this , then we are lost as a nation . ''
Katz 's comments came during an online event hosted by the Legal Insurrection Foundation , which highlighted professors who have been attacked for challenging progressive viewpoints on college campuses .
Three professors , including Katz , argued that cancel culture is hurting higher education , as did Robert Shibley , the executive director of the Foundation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a law professor at Cornell , told the Washington Free Beacon that `` name and shame '' campaigns against faculty and students who do n't toe the dominant leftwing line have been a problem for decades in academia .
He echoed this message during the online seminar , dubbing cancel culture an `` academic death spiral . ''
`` This is not criticism .
This is a power play , '' Jacobson said .
`` And what we 're seeing going on , on campuses and in the culture , more broadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent open debate of ideas . ''

A Princeton University professor said that American universities are "waging war" against academic freedom.
Professor Joshua Katz, who came under fire for a controversial op-ed that denounced his colleagues' approach to anti-racism, argued in an online event that the threats to free speech on college campuses signal that we are "lost as a nation."
"In recent years ... people inside the academy have ... persuaded a considerable segment of the populace that words are violence and need to be policed," Katz said. "Even more frightening is that these ideas have been coupled with violent actions and calls for defunding the actual, non-metaphorical police.... Free speech is a bedrock principle. If we cannot agree on this, then we are lost as a nation."
Katz's comments came during an online event hosted by the Legal Insurrection Foundation, which highlighted professors who have been attacked for challenging progressive viewpoints on college campuses. Three professors, including Katz, argued that cancel culture is hurting higher education, as did Robert Shibley, the executive director of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
William Jacobson, a law professor at Cornell, told the Washington Free Beacon that "name and shame" campaigns against faculty and students who don't toe the dominant leftwing line have been a problem for decades in academia. He echoed this message during the online seminar, dubbing cancel culture an "academic death spiral."
"This is not criticism. This is a power play," Jacobson said. "And what we're seeing going on, on campuses and in the culture, more broadly, is an exercise of power to prevent open debate of ideas."
Watch the entire video here:


freebeacon--2020-09-09--Pompeo Joins G7 Foreign Ministers To Condemn Navalny Poisoning

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joined foreign ministers from fellow G7 countries to condemn the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Tuesday statement .
`` We , the G7 foreign ministers of Canada , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union , are united in condemning , in the strongest possible terms , the confirmed poisoning of Alexei Navalny , '' the statement reads .
`` This attack against opposition leader Navalny is another grave blow against democracy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious threat to those men and women engaged in defending the political and civil freedoms that Russia herself has committed to guarantee . ''
Last week , Germany released toxicology findings confirming that Navalny was poisoned by Novichok , a Soviet-era nerve agent accessible to Russian president Vladimir Putin ’ s intelligence services .
Novichok was notably employed in the attempted assassination of a Russian dissident in 2018 that resulted in the death of a British civilian .
After several weeks in a medically induced coma , Navalny emerged in improved condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Russia for silencing Navalny and other prominent Russian critics in recent months , major economic and political partners of Moscow are reconsidering their commitments to the autocratic regime .
Prominent German opposition leaders and Republican lawmakers have called for Berlin to pull out of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Germany and Russia , which would funnel millions of dollars ' worth of natural gas through central and eastern Europe per year .
Last week , Rep. Mike Gallagher ( R. , Wis. ) called on German chancellor Angela Merkel to suspend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past time to end Nord Stream II , '' Gallagher tweeted last Thursday .
`` The free world should not be in the business of giving Vladimir Putin leverage . ''
Even before Gallagher ’ s rebuke of the Kremlin , Sens .
Ted Cruz ( R. , Tex . )
, Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
, and Ron Johnson ( R. , Wis. ) wrote an open letter to a German port in August , urging quick action to decouple from Russian gas assets and threatening crushing sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status remains unchanged .
`` The U.S. government knows that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is near completion and considers it a grave threat to European energy security and American national security , '' the letter reads .
`` The administration and Congress , and both parties , are united in their commitment to ensure that the pipeline remains uncompleted and those threats are never realized . ''

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joined foreign ministers from fellow G7 countries to condemn the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Tuesday statement.
"We, the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, are united in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the confirmed poisoning of Alexei Navalny," the statement reads. "This attack against opposition leader Navalny is another grave blow against democracy and political plurality in Russia. It constitutes a serious threat to those men and women engaged in defending the political and civil freedoms that Russia herself has committed to guarantee."
Last week, Germany released toxicology findings confirming that Navalny was poisoned by Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent accessible to Russian president Vladimir Putin’s intelligence services. Novichok was notably employed in the attempted assassination of a Russian dissident in 2018 that resulted in the death of a British civilian.
After several weeks in a medically induced coma, Navalny emerged in improved condition on Monday.
As international pressure mounts on Russia for silencing Navalny and other prominent Russian critics in recent months, major economic and political partners of Moscow are reconsidering their commitments to the autocratic regime.
Prominent German opposition leaders and Republican lawmakers have called for Berlin to pull out of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Germany and Russia, which would funnel millions of dollars' worth of natural gas through central and eastern Europe per year.
Last week, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R., Wis.) called on German chancellor Angela Merkel to suspend the agreement. "It's long past time to end Nord Stream II," Gallagher tweeted last Thursday. "The free world should not be in the business of giving Vladimir Putin leverage."
Even before Gallagher’s rebuke of the Kremlin, Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Tex.), Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), and Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) wrote an open letter to a German port in August, urging quick action to decouple from Russian gas assets and threatening crushing sanctions to come if the pipeline’s status remains unchanged.
"The U.S. government knows that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is near completion and considers it a grave threat to European energy security and American national security," the letter reads. "The administration and Congress, and both parties, are united in their commitment to ensure that the pipeline remains uncompleted and those threats are never realized."


freebeacon--2020-09-09--United States Formally Announces Troop Reduction in Iraq

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – The United States military on Wednesday announced that it would be reducing its presence in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000 troops this month , formalizing a move that had been long expected .
Last month , Reuters reported that the United States was expected to reduce its troops presence in Iraq by about a third .
The United States has around 5,200 troops that were deployed in Iraq to fight the Islamic State militant group .
Officials in the U.S.-led coalition say Iraqi forces are now mostly able to handle the remnants of Islamic State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to expand on our partner capacity programs that enable Iraqi forces and allow us to reduce our footprint in Iraq , '' Marine General Frank McKenzie , the head of U.S. Central Command , said during a visit to Iraq .
A senior administration official had said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump would be announcing a reduction of U.S. troops from Iraq .
The United States and Iraq in June affirmed their commitment to the reduction of U.S. troops in the country in coming months , with no plans by Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military presence .
In 2016 Trump campaigned on ending America 's `` endless wars , '' but U.S. troops remain in countries like Afghanistan , Iraq and Syria , albeit in smaller numbers .
Last month during a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister , Trump redoubled his promise to withdraw the U.S. troops still in Iraq .
Trump 's meeting with the Iraqi leader came amid a new spike in tensions between Washington and Tehran after Washington said it would seek to reinstate all previously suspended U.S. sanctions on Iran at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted earlier this year for the departure of foreign troops from Iraq , and United States and other coalition troops have been leaving as part of a drawdown .

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States military on Wednesday announced that it would be reducing its presence in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000 troops this month, formalizing a move that had been long expected.
Last month, Reuters reported that the United States was expected to reduce its troops presence in Iraq by about a third.
The United States has around 5,200 troops that were deployed in Iraq to fight the Islamic State militant group. Officials in the U.S.-led coalition say Iraqi forces are now mostly able to handle the remnants of Islamic State on their own.
"We are continuing to expand on our partner capacity programs that enable Iraqi forces and allow us to reduce our footprint in Iraq," Marine General Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, said during a visit to Iraq.
A senior administration official had said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump would be announcing a reduction of U.S. troops from Iraq.
The United States and Iraq in June affirmed their commitment to the reduction of U.S. troops in the country in coming months, with no plans by Washington to maintain permanent bases or a permanent military presence.
In 2016 Trump campaigned on ending America's "endless wars," but U.S. troops remain in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, albeit in smaller numbers.
Last month during a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister, Trump redoubled his promise to withdraw the U.S. troops still in Iraq.
Trump's meeting with the Iraqi leader came amid a new spike in tensions between Washington and Tehran after Washington said it would seek to reinstate all previously suspended U.S. sanctions on Iran at the United Nations.
Iraq's parliament had voted earlier this year for the departure of foreign troops from Iraq, and United States and other coalition troops have been leaving as part of a drawdown.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)


freebeacon--2020-09-09--Trump Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for UAE-Israel Peace Deal

OSLO ( Reuters ) – A Norwegian lawmaker has nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 for helping broker a deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates , the second time he has put forward the U.S. president for the honor .
Thousands of people are eligible to nominate candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize , including members of parliaments and governments , university professors and past laureates .
The Norwegian Nobel Committee , which decides on the award , declined to comment .
`` It is for his contribution for peace between Israel and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Christian Tybring-Gjedde , a member of parliament for the right-wing Progress Party , told Reuters .
Tybring-Gjedde , who nominated Trump for the 2019 award for his diplomatic efforts with North Korea , said he also nominated him this year because of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq .
Last year Trump said he deserved to be awarded the Peace Prize for his work on North Korea and Syria , but he complained he probably would never get the honor .
Former President Barack Obama , a nemesis of Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into his first term in office .
Nominations for this year ’ s award closed on Jan. 31 and the winner will be announced on Oct. 9 in Oslo .

By Gwladys Fouche
OSLO (Reuters) - A Norwegian lawmaker has nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 for helping broker a deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, the second time he has put forward the U.S. president for the honor.
Thousands of people are eligible to nominate candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize, including members of parliaments and governments, university professors and past laureates.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which decides on the award, declined to comment.
"It is for his contribution for peace between Israel and the UAE. It is a unique deal," Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a member of parliament for the right-wing Progress Party, told Reuters.
Tybring-Gjedde, who nominated Trump for the 2019 award for his diplomatic efforts with North Korea, said he also nominated him this year because of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.
Last year Trump said he deserved to be awarded the Peace Prize for his work on North Korea and Syria, but he complained he probably would never get the honor. Former President Barack Obama, a nemesis of Trump, won the prize in 2009 just months into his first term in office.
Nominations for this year’s award closed on Jan. 31 and the winner will be announced on Oct. 9 in Oslo.
(Reporting by Gwladys Fouche, Editing by Angus MacSwan)


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Media Take It Easy on Biden

Media Take It Easy on Biden

Even in their limited access to Joe Biden in the 2020 campaign cycle , mainstream journalists have taken to asking @ @ @ @ @ what he thinks of Donald Trump 's soul .
David Rutz is senior writer at @ @ @ @ @ He was previously a sports reporter for two years in Atlanta and has done freelance @ @ @ @ @ Post .
He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 and lives in Marietta , Ga. @ @ @ @ @ DavidRutz .
He can be reached at rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Even in their limited access to Joe Biden in the 2020 campaign cycle, mainstream journalists have taken to asking about his mask-wearing habits or what he thinks of Donald Trump's soul.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Soros Donor Network Steers Six Figures to Three New Super PACs Ahead of 2020 Election

A political action committee funded by George Soros 's Democracy Alliance donor network steered six-figure sums to three new super PACs this summer , according to recent filings .
The Strategic Victory Fund , which is affiliated with the Democracy Alliance , a coalition of wealthy donors cofounded by Soros , pushed $ 312,500 to Millions of Michiganians , $ 450,000 to Family Friendly Action PAC , and $ 100,000 to Straight Talk Politics PAC .
Thus far , only one of the groups has even a barebones website .
The Strategic Victory Fund did not respond to inquiries about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding is part of a $ 275 million spending plan mapped out by the Democracy Alliance for the 2020 elections .
The network quietly launched the Strategic Victory Fund as part of its attempt to defeat President Donald Trump and other Republicans in November .
Soros himself has poured $ 50 million into the 2020 elections and is the cycle 's largest political donor .
Federal Election Commission records show that Millions of Michiganians was launched last September .
Though the group has reported no activity since its founding , individuals named in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists in the crucial Midwest swing state .
The group 's listed agent , Lonnie Scott , is the executive director of Progress Michigan , a Lansing-based group that works to `` challenge conservative propaganda '' in the media .
Its treasurer , Joe Soltis , also works for Progress Michigan as a compliance manager .
Cementing the ties , the two groups also share the same Lansing address .
Progress Michigan 's goal of pushing back against what it deems `` conservative propaganda '' is an area of focus for the Democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to confidential documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon , the donor collaborative sees right-leaning media , `` foreign actors , '' and `` well-organized conservative efforts to attack progressives '' through influence campaigns as a problem .
`` We need to build the capacity to identify , discredit , and disarm these attacks in a systematic way before they take hold , '' the documents state .
The Family Friendly Action PAC , likewise , contains no online information and reports no activity .
Its records list Laura Thibault , the chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New Hampshire-based consulting firm Civix Strategy Group , as its treasurer .
One of the firm 's clients is the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy , which carries an almost identical name to the PAC that received funds from the Democracy Alliance .
The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy pushes to ensure `` livable wages for New Hampshire workers . ''
The third PAC to receive funds , Straight Talk Politics PAC , lists a San Jose , Calif. , post office box as its address .
Its treasurer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gmail account bearing the group 's name in its statement of organization .
The group , however , has a barebones website that says its goal is to `` talk about real life political issues affecting real Americans everyday . ''
It contains no information on its members or activities .
None of the individuals tied to the PACs returned requests for comments .
The Democracy Alliance created the Strategic Victory Fund super PAC in March to work alongside its dark money nonprofit arm that carries the same name .
Its nonprofit arm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large-scale effort to help Democrats take on Trump .
The super PAC has received $ 8.8 million from deep-pocketed donors and groups this cycle , including large sums from Soros 's Democracy PAC , billionaire hedge fund manager James Simons , and the Service Employees International Union .

A political action committee funded by George Soros's Democracy Alliance donor network steered six-figure sums to three new super PACs this summer, according to recent filings.
The Strategic Victory Fund, which is affiliated with the Democracy Alliance, a coalition of wealthy donors cofounded by Soros, pushed $312,500 to Millions of Michiganians, $450,000 to Family Friendly Action PAC, and $100,000 to Straight Talk Politics PAC. Thus far, only one of the groups has even a barebones website. The Strategic Victory Fund did not respond to inquiries about its plans for the groups.
The funding is part of a $275 million spending plan mapped out by the Democracy Alliance for the 2020 elections. The network quietly launched the Strategic Victory Fund as part of its attempt to defeat President Donald Trump and other Republicans in November. Soros himself has poured $50 million into the 2020 elections and is the cycle's largest political donor.
Federal Election Commission records show that Millions of Michiganians was launched last September. Though the group has reported no activity since its founding, individuals named in founding documents reveal ties to known liberal activists in the crucial Midwest swing state. The group's listed agent, Lonnie Scott, is the executive director of Progress Michigan, a Lansing-based group that works to "challenge conservative propaganda" in the media. Its treasurer, Joe Soltis, also works for Progress Michigan as a compliance manager. Cementing the ties, the two groups also share the same Lansing address.
Progress Michigan's goal of pushing back against what it deems "conservative propaganda" is an area of focus for the Democracy Alliance ahead of the elections. According to confidential documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, the donor collaborative sees right-leaning media, "foreign actors," and "well-organized conservative efforts to attack progressives" through influence campaigns as a problem. "We need to build the capacity to identify, discredit, and disarm these attacks in a systematic way before they take hold," the documents state.
The Family Friendly Action PAC, likewise, contains no online information and reports no activity. Its records list Laura Thibault, the chief finance officer and special programs director at the New Hampshire-based consulting firm Civix Strategy Group, as its treasurer. One of the firm's clients is the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, which carries an almost identical name to the PAC that received funds from the Democracy Alliance. The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy pushes to ensure "livable wages for New Hampshire workers."
The third PAC to receive funds, Straight Talk Politics PAC, lists a San Jose, Calif., post office box as its address. Its treasurer, Wesley Smith, also entered a generic Gmail account bearing the group's name in its statement of organization. The group, however, has a barebones website that says its goal is to "talk about real life political issues affecting real Americans everyday." It contains no information on its members or activities.
None of the individuals tied to the PACs returned requests for comments.
The Democracy Alliance created the Strategic Victory Fund super PAC in March to work alongside its dark money nonprofit arm that carries the same name. Its nonprofit arm funds the Organizing Together 2020 campaign, a large-scale effort to help Democrats take on Trump.
The super PAC has received $8.8 million from deep-pocketed donors and groups this cycle, including large sums from Soros's Democracy PAC, billionaire hedge fund manager James Simons, and the Service Employees International Union.


freebeacon--2020-09-11--Biden Spox Won’t Say Whether Biden Used Teleprompter During Interviews

The Biden campaign 's national press secretary TJ Ducklo on Thursday refused to answer whether the former vice president has used a teleprompter during interviews or while answering voters ' questions .
`` Has Joe Biden ever used a teleprompter during local interviews or to answer Q and A with supporters ? ''
Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked Ducklo during an interview .
Ducklo declined to answer , saying the question was an attempt `` to distract the American people . ''
Joe Biden , 77 , has had numerous gaffes since the start of his campaign , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a teleprompter .
However , he has had moments where he appears to read notes from the teleprompter while he is answering questions , such as when he said `` end of quote '' after a sentence .
Ducklo went on to accuse Baier of trying to help the Trump campaign by asking the question .
`` I am not going to allow the Trump campaign to funnel their questions through Fox News and get me to respond to that , '' Ducklo said .
The Trump campaign has produced videos to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words , arguing that his cognitive abilities have declined .

The Biden campaign's national press secretary TJ Ducklo on Thursday refused to answer whether the former vice president has used a teleprompter during interviews or while answering voters' questions.
"Has Joe Biden ever used a teleprompter during local interviews or to answer Q and A with supporters?" Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked Ducklo during an interview.
Ducklo declined to answer, saying the question was an attempt "to distract the American people."
Joe Biden, 77, has had numerous gaffes since the start of his campaign, including some when he is speaking extemporaneously without a teleprompter. However, he has had moments where he appears to read notes from the teleprompter while he is answering questions, such as when he said "end of quote" after a sentence.
Ducklo went on to accuse Baier of trying to help the Trump campaign by asking the question.
"I am not going to allow the Trump campaign to funnel their questions through Fox News and get me to respond to that," Ducklo said.
The Trump campaign has produced videos to show moments where Biden has stumbled over his words, arguing that his cognitive abilities have declined.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Oregon Dem Defends Staffer Arrested at Riot

Oregon ’ s house speaker Tina Kotek ( D. ) defended her staffer who was arrested in Portland this weekend for interfering with police during a riot .
Kristina Narayan , Kotek ’ s legislative director , was arrested along with 58 others during a demonstration that broke out Saturday night in which rioters threw firebombs , rocks , and mortars toward police officers .
Kotek , who is also on the board of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee , defended her staffer for practicing `` freedom of expression . ''
`` Freedom of expression is the foundation of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff—has the right to stand up for what they believe and engage in nonviolent resistance , '' Kotek said .
`` Kristina ’ s experience is similar to what other Portlanders have experienced over the last few months .
We need peace and accountability . ''
Neither Kotek ’ s office nor the DLCC responded to a request for comment .
David Abrams , deputy executive director of the Republican State Leadership Committee , said Kotek 's comments were `` shameful . ''
`` There isn ’ t anything peaceful about what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Speaker Kotek ’ s tone-deaf comments don ’ t even acknowledge the destruction , fear , and despair rioters like her staffer have caused by fanning the flames of violence in American cities .
It ’ s shameful , and yet somehow remains par for the course in today ’ s Democratic Party . ''
Nearly 150 emergency calls to Portland police were left on hold Saturday night as officers were pulled off patrol to respond to the riot , according to a Portland Police Bureau report .
Kotek is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been soft on the riots in Portland .
Earlier this summer , Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer said that Portland was n't out of control , but rather , `` there are some people who have strong feelings . ''
And Portland mayor Ted Wheeler—who is moving on account of rioters repeatedly targeting his condo building—said his strategy for addressing the violence was to just let it `` burn itself out . ''
Saturday marked the 100th consecutive day of protests in Portland , which began in May after the death of George Floyd @ @ @

Oregon’s house speaker Tina Kotek (D.) defended her staffer who was arrested in Portland this weekend for interfering with police during a riot.
Kristina Narayan, Kotek’s legislative director, was arrested along with 58 others during a demonstration that broke out Saturday night in which rioters threw firebombs, rocks, and mortars toward police officers. Kotek, who is also on the board of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, defended her staffer for practicing "freedom of expression."
"Freedom of expression is the foundation of our democracy. Every person—including members of my staff—has the right to stand up for what they believe and engage in nonviolent resistance," Kotek said. "Kristina’s experience is similar to what other Portlanders have experienced over the last few months. We need peace and accountability."
Neither Kotek’s office nor the DLCC responded to a request for comment. David Abrams, deputy executive director of the Republican State Leadership Committee, said Kotek's comments were "shameful."
"There isn’t anything peaceful about what’s happening in Portland," Abrams said. "Speaker Kotek’s tone-deaf comments don’t even acknowledge the destruction, fear, and despair rioters like her staffer have caused by fanning the flames of violence in American cities. It’s shameful, and yet somehow remains par for the course in today’s Democratic Party."
Nearly 150 emergency calls to Portland police were left on hold Saturday night as officers were pulled off patrol to respond to the riot, according to a Portland Police Bureau report.
Kotek isn't the only Oregon Democrat who has been soft on the riots in Portland. Earlier this summer, Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer said that Portland wasn't out of control, but rather, "there are some people who have strong feelings." And Portland mayor Ted Wheeler—who is moving on account of rioters repeatedly targeting his condo building—said his strategy for addressing the violence was to just let it "burn itself out."
Saturday marked the 100th consecutive day of protests in Portland, which began in May after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Students Claim Tulane’s Coronavirus Restrictions Insufficient—After Violating Them to Protest the Po

Students Claim Tulane’s Coronavirus Restrictions Insufficient—After Violating Them to Protest the Police

Tulane University students who openly violated the school 's social distancing policy to protest the police are now saying the school has n't done enough to contain the coronavirus—even though Tulane shut down a second protest this month because it ran afoul of the school 's restrictions .
Student activists postponed a `` die-in '' meant to highlight Tulane 's alleged negligence after administrators said that the event itself violated COVID-19 protocols .
The organizer , a group called `` Taking Action at TU , '' had previously helped lead a march against police brutality at which students did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the die-in , students had planned to congregate with masks and gravestones to protest the `` racist , capitalist , and imperialist structure that Tulane upholds '' with its coronavirus policies .
`` Tulane 's insatiable desire for profit will continue the spread of coronavirus in the city of New Orleans , on and off-campus .
We will not stand by as Tulane toys with black death , '' the group announced in an Instagram post .
`` We are not an experiment .
No semester is worth dying for . ''
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's director of student conduct told the protest organizers that they had flouted campus coronavirus restrictions once and would face serious repercussions if they moved forward with the die-in .
In August , students held a march entitled `` # AbolishTUPD , '' which violated several of the school 's COVID guidelines .
Video footage obtained exclusively by the Washington Free Beacon shows hundreds of students marching—and not social distancing—while screaming `` f—k the system , f—k the police . ''
Rachel Altman , a senior at Tulane , said that the die-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It makes no sense to complain that Tulane opening for small , in-person classes with enforced mask-wearing and social distancing puts the city in extreme danger , and then organize a protest where dozens of students march around without social distancing , '' Altman told the Free Beacon .
`` It 's so hypocritical . ''
In lieu of the planned protest , Taking Action at TU called on activists to participate in `` virtual action '' and send emails to Tulane administrators voicing support for the school 's Black Student Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the descendants of slaves who worked on the plantation that became Tulane 's campus nearly 200 years ago .
`` With re-opening [ the school ] , it 's even more pressing that the university get a move-on with fixing long-standing issues of structural racism and other forms of oppression , '' an Instagram post promoting virtual action reads .
`` Let 's get to emailing . ''

Tulane University students who openly violated the school's social distancing policy to protest the police are now saying the school hasn't done enough to contain the coronavirus—even though Tulane shut down a second protest this month because it ran afoul of the school's restrictions.
Student activists postponed a "die-in" meant to highlight Tulane's alleged negligence after administrators said that the event itself violated COVID-19 protocols. The organizer, a group called "Taking Action at TU," had previously helped lead a march against police brutality at which students did not appear to be social distancing. For the die-in, students had planned to congregate with masks and gravestones to protest the "racist, capitalist, and imperialist structure that Tulane upholds" with its coronavirus policies.
"Tulane's insatiable desire for profit will continue the spread of coronavirus in the city of New Orleans, on and off-campus. We will not stand by as Tulane toys with black death," the group announced in an Instagram post. "We are not an experiment. No semester is worth dying for."
In an email to student activists, Tulane's director of student conduct told the protest organizers that they had flouted campus coronavirus restrictions once and would face serious repercussions if they moved forward with the die-in. In August, students held a march entitled "#AbolishTUPD," which violated several of the school's COVID guidelines. Video footage obtained exclusively by the Washington Free Beacon shows hundreds of students marching—and not social distancing—while screaming "f—k the system, f—k the police."

Rachel Altman, a senior at Tulane, said that the die-in was illogical on its own terms.
"It makes no sense to complain that Tulane opening for small, in-person classes with enforced mask-wearing and social distancing puts the city in extreme danger, and then organize a protest where dozens of students march around without social distancing," Altman told the Free Beacon. "It's so hypocritical."
In lieu of the planned protest, Taking Action at TU called on activists to participate in "virtual action" and send emails to Tulane administrators voicing support for the school's Black Student Union. The union's demands include reparations for the descendants of slaves who worked on the plantation that became Tulane's campus nearly 200 years ago. "With re-opening [the school], it's even more pressing that the university get a move-on with fixing long-standing issues of structural racism and other forms of oppression," an Instagram post promoting virtual action reads. "Let's get to emailing."


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Biden Admits Trump’s Trade Deal Better Than NAFTA

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Thursday the USMCA trade deal negotiated by President Donald Trump is better than NAFTA @ @ @ @ @ for .
`` It is better than NAFTA , '' Biden told CNN 's Jake @ @ @ @ @ during the Democratic primary for supporting NAFTA but insisted his vote was n't a mistake @ @ @ @ @ have opposed NAFTA after he voted for it and told Tapper he would not give @ @ @ @ @ even though the Obama administration failed to do so .
Trump signed the USMCA trade @ @ @ @ @ in the midst of his Senate impeachment trial .
He had repeatedly criticized NAFTA during @ @ @ @ @ renegotiate the trade deal as president .
The USMCA created new labor and environmental standards @ @ @ @ @ Mexico , and Canada regarding farmers ' access to North American markets and a requirement @ @ @ @ @ parts that are made in North America .
Trump was able to win support for @ @ @ @ @ and labor unions .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Thursday the USMCA trade deal negotiated by President Donald Trump is better than NAFTA, a deal Biden voted for.
"It is better than NAFTA ," Biden told CNN's Jake Tapper.
Biden was hit during the Democratic primary for supporting NAFTA but insisted his vote wasn't a mistake. Thursday he claimed to have opposed NAFTA after he voted for it and told Tapper he would not give Trump credit for renegotiating it even though the Obama administration failed to do so.
Trump signed the USMCA trade deal into law in January in the midst of his Senate impeachment trial. He had repeatedly criticized NAFTA during his campaign and promised to renegotiate the trade deal as president.
The USMCA created new labor and environmental standards for the United States, Mexico, and Canada regarding farmers' access to North American markets and a requirement that car manufacturers use more parts that are made in North America. Trump was able to win support for the deal from Democratic lawmakers and labor unions.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Mark Kelly Apologizes For Making Racist Joke

Arizona Democratic Senate nominee Mark Kelly apologized Thursday after a video resurfaced of the former astronaut making a racist joke to a crowd of Boy Scouts in 2018 .
At a Boy Scouts of America dinner , Kelly made a joke about his twin brother and fellow astronaut Scott Kelly , who experienced physiological decline following his return from space .
He likened his brother to a monkey and said his name should be changed to `` Rodrigo . ''
`` I think the word hasn ’ t gotten out how bad it is for him , '' Kelly said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s gotten so bad that we recently had to release him back into the wild .
He ’ s like halfway between an orangutan and a howler monkey .
We ’ ve even changed his name to Rodrigo .
He lives in the woods . ''
Kelly apologized for the joke when asked for comment by the Arizona Republic .
`` My brother 's year in space was really hard on him and we tried to bring some light to his difficult ordeal , but this comment does not do that and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly said .
Moses Sanchez , a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in Phoenix , tweeted the YouTube clip on Thursday and called Kelly ’ s comments `` shameful . ''
`` Shameful video of Mark Kelly making a racist joke to an all-white crowd , '' Sanchez said in the tweet .
`` He must think people named Rodrigo look like monkeys .
Time to move past this type of racism & time for the media to scrutinize Mark Kelly more thoroughly like they would a Republican . ''
Kelly faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general election in November .

Arizona Democratic Senate nominee Mark Kelly apologized Thursday after a video resurfaced of the former astronaut making a racist joke to a crowd of Boy Scouts in 2018.
At a Boy Scouts of America dinner, Kelly made a joke about his twin brother and fellow astronaut Scott Kelly, who experienced physiological decline following his return from space. He likened his brother to a monkey and said his name should be changed to "Rodrigo."
"I think the word hasn’t gotten out how bad it is for him," Kelly said. "You know, it’s gotten so bad that we recently had to release him back into the wild. He’s like halfway between an orangutan and a howler monkey. We’ve even changed his name to Rodrigo. He lives in the woods."
Kelly apologized for the joke when asked for comment by the Arizona Republic. "My brother's year in space was really hard on him and we tried to bring some light to his difficult ordeal, but this comment does not do that and I apologize and deeply regret it," Kelly said.
Moses Sanchez, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in Phoenix, tweeted the YouTube clip on Thursday and called Kelly’s comments "shameful."
"Shameful video of Mark Kelly making a racist joke to an all-white crowd," Sanchez said in the tweet. "He must think people named Rodrigo look like monkeys. Time to move past this type of racism & time for the media to scrutinize Mark Kelly more thoroughly like they would a Republican."
Kelly faces Arizona Republican senator Martha McSally in the general election in November.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Journalism Industry Very White, According to Very White New York Times

The U.S. journalism industry is dominated by white people , according to a recent analysis conducted by the New York Times , a very white journalistic organization .
The Times review , which considered the racial identities of `` more than 900 officials and executives in prominent positions , '' found that 80 percent of `` the most powerful people in the United States '' are white .
Many of them work in professional journalism , which is among the least diverse industries in the country .
According to the Times analysis , white people are in charge of : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • 22 out of 25 major television networks and movie studios ( 88 percent ) Leadership positions with the New York Times are similarly dominated by white people .
According to the paper 's most recent diversity and inclusion report , the percentage of whites in leadership positions fell from 83 percent in 2015 to 76 percent in 2019 .
Nearly half of that change , however , may be attributable to the 3 percent increase in individuals declining to disclose their race .
There are nearly twice as many Asians in leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans , which some activists might consider problematic .
Not a single member of the Times leadership identifies as nonbinary , which most activists would agree is outrageous .
Other supposedly enlightened industries , such as higher education , also suffer from a lack of diversity in leadership , according to the Times .
Of the 25 top-ranked universities in the country , 24 are run by white people .
Congress , by contrast , is one of our most racially diverse institutions .
Just 74 percent of elected officials in the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two most powerful Democratic leaders , Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer .

The U.S. journalism industry is dominated by white people, according to a recent analysis conducted by the New York Times, a very white journalistic organization.
The Times review, which considered the racial identities of "more than 900 officials and executives in prominent positions," found that 80 percent of "the most powerful people in the United States" are white. Many of them work in professional journalism, which is among the least diverse industries in the country.
According to the Times analysis, white people are in charge of:
All 5 major publishing houses
All 10 of the most-read magazines
12 out of 15 major news organizations (80 percent)
22 out of 25 major television networks and movie studios (88 percent)
Leadership positions with the New York Times are similarly dominated by white people. According to the paper's most recent diversity and inclusion report, the percentage of whites in leadership positions fell from 83 percent in 2015 to 76 percent in 2019. Nearly half of that change, however, may be attributable to the 3 percent increase in individuals declining to disclose their race.
There are nearly twice as many Asians in leadership positions at the Times compared with African Americans, which some activists might consider problematic. Not a single member of the Times leadership identifies as nonbinary, which most activists would agree is outrageous.
Other supposedly enlightened industries, such as higher education, also suffer from a lack of diversity in leadership, according to the Times. Of the 25 top-ranked universities in the country, 24 are run by white people. Congress, by contrast, is one of our most racially diverse institutions. Just 74 percent of elected officials in the House of Representatives are white, including the two most powerful Democratic leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Trump Administration Revokes Over 1,000 Student Visas From Chinese Nationals

Trump administration officials announced the revocation of over 1,000 student visas since June from Chinese nationals associated with programs supporting the People ’ s Liberation Army , CNN reported Thursday .
According to the State Department , `` high-risk graduate students and research scholars '' were expelled after they `` were found to be subject to Presidential Proclamation 10043 and therefore ineligible for a visa . ''
Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf on Wednesday called out China for `` abusing student visas to exploit American academia '' and said visas were blocked to prevent certain Chinese students and researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research . ''
An estimated 369,000 Chinese nationals currently study at American institutions of higher learning , the vast majority of whom pose no threat to the security of American research and innovation .
Chinese students have been the largest contingent of foreign students at American universities for over a decade .
A significant portion of this student population , however , has engaged in the theft of sensitive American research in STEM fields , especially those pertaining to cybersecurity , spacecraft , and now critical coronavirus research .
These students spying on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a complicated network of Confucius Institutes on campus , Chinese embassies and attachés in urban centers , and China ’ s Thousand Talents program .
In recent months , eliminating Chinese influence in higher education has been a focal point of the Trump administration .
As a large part of the Department of State ’ s recent flurry of `` clean '' orders that force out Chinese influence from major American institutions of industry , innovation , and technology , Washington has taken direct aim at higher education .
An August letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state for economic growth , energy , and the environment , advised college administrators about the growing threat of hosting Beijing-affiliated organizations , investments , and agents on college campuses .
In August , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Confucius Institutes would now be listed as foreign missions , prompting the closing and hollowing out of dozens of the groups at elite institutions nationwide .
`` Confucius Institutes are funded by the PRC and part of the Chinese Communist Party ’ s global influence and propaganda apparatus , '' a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The United States wants to ensure that students on U.S. campuses have access to Chinese language and cultural offerings free from the manipulation of the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies . ''

Trump administration officials announced the revocation of over 1,000 student visas since June from Chinese nationals associated with programs supporting the People’s Liberation Army, CNN reported Thursday.
According to the State Department, "high-risk graduate students and research scholars" were expelled after they "were found to be subject to Presidential Proclamation 10043 and therefore ineligible for a visa."
Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf on Wednesday called out China for "abusing student visas to exploit American academia" and said visas were blocked to prevent certain Chinese students and researchers from "stealing and otherwise appropriating sensitive research."
An estimated 369,000 Chinese nationals currently study at American institutions of higher learning, the vast majority of whom pose no threat to the security of American research and innovation. Chinese students have been the largest contingent of foreign students at American universities for over a decade. A significant portion of this student population, however, has engaged in the theft of sensitive American research in STEM fields, especially those pertaining to cybersecurity, spacecraft, and now critical coronavirus research.
These students spying on behalf of the PRC are often aided by a complicated network of Confucius Institutes on campus, Chinese embassies and attachés in urban centers, and China’s Thousand Talents program.
In recent months, eliminating Chinese influence in higher education has been a focal point of the Trump administration. As a large part of the Department of State’s recent flurry of "clean" orders that force out Chinese influence from major American institutions of industry, innovation, and technology, Washington has taken direct aim at higher education.
An August letter from Keith Krach, the undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment, advised college administrators about the growing threat of hosting Beijing-affiliated organizations, investments, and agents on college campuses.
In August, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Confucius Institutes would now be listed as foreign missions, prompting the closing and hollowing out of dozens of the groups at elite institutions nationwide.
"Confucius Institutes are funded by the PRC and part of the Chinese Communist Party’s global influence and propaganda apparatus," a press release from the State Department reads. "The United States wants to ensure that students on U.S. campuses have access to Chinese language and cultural offerings free from the manipulation of the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies."


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Detroit Police Chief Slams Rashida Tlaib for ‘False Claims’ Against Department

Detroit police chief James Craig slammed far-left congresswoman Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) and other Democratic lawmakers , accusing them of making false claims against his police department .
Tlaib , who represents Michigan ’ s 13th Congressional District , coauthored a letter with three other Democratic legislators on Tuesday asking for an independent investigation into the Detroit police department 's use of force on demonstrators this summer .
The letter claimed that police actions to quell protests demonstrated `` a dismissive attitude of the movement for racial justice . ''
But Craig said the claims made in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he blasted the legislators for ignoring protesters ' violence aimed at police .
`` It ’ s unfortunate that these representatives have chosen to repeat a number of false claims in their letter without verifying the facts , '' Craig said in a statement .
`` What really disturbs me is that when the protesters assaulted Detroit police officers with rocks , railroad spikes , and fireworks , never once did these representatives ask for an independent investigation into their violent criminal activity . ''
Craig told MLive that his department has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using tear gas or physically restraining protesters , in violent situations .
`` Every time we ’ ve had to use less-than-lethal force , it ’ s been to address violence by protesters , resisting arrest , or when they ’ ve tried to take over an intersection in violation of the law , '' he said .
In the letter , Tlaib and the group—which also included State Senator Stephanie Chang ( D. ) , Detroit City Council president pro tempore Mary Sheffield ( D. ) , and Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group Detroit Will Breathe , which hosted a speaker at an event on Sept. 3 who openly called for violence against police .
`` We need to effectively fight these motherf*****s , '' the unidentified speaker said .
`` We need to engage , and not in a way that ’ s about being respectable . ''
Craig has served as Detroit ’ s top cop since 2013 and said he has no plan to resign in the near future .
A handful of police chiefs in major cities across the country have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests this summer .
Former Seattle police chief Carmen Best retired at the beginning of September following clashes with the Seattle City Council .
And Dallas police chief Ulysha Reneé Hall announced her resignation Tuesday after Dallas City Council criticized her approach to confronting violent protests in the city .

Detroit police chief James Craig slammed far-left congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) and other Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of making false claims against his police department.
Tlaib, who represents Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, coauthored a letter with three other Democratic legislators on Tuesday asking for an independent investigation into the Detroit police department's use of force on demonstrators this summer. The letter claimed that police actions to quell protests demonstrated "a dismissive attitude of the movement for racial justice."
But Craig said the claims made in the letter are not factually correct, and he blasted the legislators for ignoring protesters' violence aimed at police.
"It’s unfortunate that these representatives have chosen to repeat a number of false claims in their letter without verifying the facts," Craig said in a statement. "What really disturbs me is that when the protesters assaulted Detroit police officers with rocks, railroad spikes, and fireworks, never once did these representatives ask for an independent investigation into their violent criminal activity."
Craig told MLive that his department has only deployed forceful tactics, such as using tear gas or physically restraining protesters, in violent situations.
"Every time we’ve had to use less-than-lethal force, it’s been to address violence by protesters, resisting arrest, or when they’ve tried to take over an intersection in violation of the law," he said.
In the letter, Tlaib and the group—which also included State Senator Stephanie Chang (D.), Detroit City Council president pro tempore Mary Sheffield (D.), and Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López (D.)—defended the anti-police activist group Detroit Will Breathe, which hosted a speaker at an event on Sept. 3 who openly called for violence against police.
"We need to effectively fight these motherf*****s," the unidentified speaker said. "We need to engage, and not in a way that’s about being respectable."
Craig has served as Detroit’s top cop since 2013 and said he has no plan to resign in the near future.
A handful of police chiefs in major cities across the country have resigned recently following a wave of anti-police protests this summer. Former Seattle police chief Carmen Best retired at the beginning of September following clashes with the Seattle City Council. And Dallas police chief Ulysha Reneé Hall announced her resignation Tuesday after Dallas City Council criticized her approach to confronting violent protests in the city.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Welfare, Tax Rules Keep Working-Class Americans From Marrying, Experts Say

The design of long-standing welfare programs likely keeps numerous working-class couples from getting hitched , a research report released Thursday by the American Enterprise Institute argues .
Those couples might otherwise get married and provide the empirically validated benefits of a married two-parent home to their children , report author and AEI scholar Bradford Wilcox argued during a Thursday panel appearance debuting the report .
Instead , Wilcox and co-panelists noted , thresholds for eligibility for certain welfare programs and tax credits only let couples access them if they keep their incomes separate , discouraging marriage .
That , research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage gap '' between rich and poor , in turn perpetuating the cycle of poverty .
The report , in other words , argues that government policy has both stood in the way of marriage formation and perpetuated socioeconomic inequality , highlighting a policy concern that could galvanize lawmakers on both the left and right to act .
The new report highlights the way that such marriage penalties can discourage couples from tying the knot .
For example , a pregnant mother earning $ 21,000 a year , cohabiting with the father of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , would be Medicaid-eligible .
But if the two were to be married , their joint annual income would render her ineligible for Medicaid coverage for her birth—an average cost of $ 12,000 .
The result is that the structure of welfare discourages marriage , a.k.a .
a marriage penalty .
Such marriage penalties almost certainly have a notable effect on the share of the population that makes the choice to get hitched .
Research cited by the new report found that a $ 1,000 increase in the marriage penalty a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the share getting married , including a 2.7 percent drop among those without a college degree .
Angela Rachidi , a poverty scholar at AEI who also spoke Thursday , noted that in her analysis of data on parents of new children , about half faced a penalty .
Survey data support the finding too .
According to the new report , 31 percent of respondents to a 2015 survey said that they knew someone who had chosen not to get married for fear of losing `` welfare benefits , Medicaid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
These disincentives are likely part of the widening `` marriage gap , '' the increasing disparity in marriage rates between more and less affluent Americans .
Research released Wednesday by the Institute for Family Studies found that 42 percent of `` lower income '' Americans ages 25-50 had never married , compared with 23 percent of `` higher income '' Americans .
That gap has widened precipitously since 1980 , when the difference was just two percentage points .
That marriage gap , in turn , likely furthers socioeconomic inequality .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ married parents are more likely to graduate college and make more than their parents and less likely to experience poverty , teenage pregnancy , or incarceration .
Research from Harvard 's Raj Chetty found that living in a neighborhood with intact families was one of the major drivers of lifetime social mobility .
Marriage penalties have been a part of public policy conversations for some time .
But , Wilcox argued , policymakers have largely focused on marriage penalties in policies that affect high-earning Americans—not the working class , who experience much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressed many of the penalties facing upper-income Americans , '' Wilcox said , but `` we have n't devoted as much attention to the penalties that face working-class , lower-income families more generally . ''
Wilcox argued that to address these persistent and largely government-created disparities , policymakers should consider either raising thresholds for phasing out access to welfare benefits or transitioning away from phased credits entirely toward a more universal child payment of the sort supported by Sen. Mitt Romney ( R. , Utah ) .
`` From a justice perspective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty facing low-income families , penalties that are falling hardest on working-class Americans , '' Wilcox said .
`` We 'd like to move toward a world where the fears articulated by [ a ] student I heard from this week , some of the fears of being trapped out of marriage , would no longer be a fear he 'd be expressing . ''

The design of long-standing welfare programs likely keeps numerous working-class couples from getting hitched, a research report released Thursday by the American Enterprise Institute argues.
Those couples might otherwise get married and provide the empirically validated benefits of a married two-parent home to their children, report author and AEI scholar Bradford Wilcox argued during a Thursday panel appearance debuting the report.
Instead, Wilcox and co-panelists noted, thresholds for eligibility for certain welfare programs and tax credits only let couples access them if they keep their incomes separate, discouraging marriage. That, research further shows, perpetuates a now-yawning "marriage gap" between rich and poor, in turn perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
The report, in other words, argues that government policy has both stood in the way of marriage formation and perpetuated socioeconomic inequality, highlighting a policy concern that could galvanize lawmakers on both the left and right to act.
The new report highlights the way that such marriage penalties can discourage couples from tying the knot. For example, a pregnant mother earning $21,000 a year, cohabiting with the father of her child, earning $29,000 a year, would be Medicaid-eligible. But if the two were to be married, their joint annual income would render her ineligible for Medicaid coverage for her birth—an average cost of $12,000. The result is that the structure of welfare discourages marriage, a.k.a. a marriage penalty.
Such marriage penalties almost certainly have a notable effect on the share of the population that makes the choice to get hitched. Research cited by the new report found that a $1,000 increase in the marriage penalty a couple faces resulted in a 1.7 percent decrease in the share getting married, including a 2.7 percent drop among those without a college degree. Angela Rachidi, a poverty scholar at AEI who also spoke Thursday, noted that in her analysis of data on parents of new children, about half faced a penalty.
Survey data support the finding too. According to the new report, 31 percent of respondents to a 2015 survey said that they knew someone who had chosen not to get married for fear of losing "welfare benefits, Medicaid, food stamps, or other government benefits."
These disincentives are likely part of the widening "marriage gap," the increasing disparity in marriage rates between more and less affluent Americans. Research released Wednesday by the Institute for Family Studies found that 42 percent of "lower income" Americans ages 25-50 had never married, compared with 23 percent of "higher income" Americans. That gap has widened precipitously since 1980, when the difference was just two percentage points.
That marriage gap, in turn, likely furthers socioeconomic inequality. Kids who grow up in homes with married parents are more likely to graduate college and make more than their parents and less likely to experience poverty, teenage pregnancy, or incarceration. Research from Harvard's Raj Chetty found that living in a neighborhood with intact families was one of the major drivers of lifetime social mobility.
Marriage penalties have been a part of public policy conversations for some time. But, Wilcox argued, policymakers have largely focused on marriage penalties in policies that affect high-earning Americans—not the working class, who experience much of the remaining effect.
"We have addressed many of the penalties facing upper-income Americans," Wilcox said, but "we haven't devoted as much attention to the penalties that face working-class, lower-income families more generally."
Wilcox argued that to address these persistent and largely government-created disparities, policymakers should consider either raising thresholds for phasing out access to welfare benefits or transitioning away from phased credits entirely toward a more universal child payment of the sort supported by Sen. Mitt Romney (R., Utah).
"From a justice perspective, it's time to eliminate the marriage penalty facing low-income families, penalties that are falling hardest on working-class Americans," Wilcox said. "We'd like to move toward a world where the fears articulated by [a] student I heard from this week, some of the fears of being trapped out of marriage, would no longer be a fear he'd be expressing."


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Biden Campaigns with Union Official Accused of Sexual Harassment

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden hosted a top United Auto Workers official recently accused of sexual harassment at his Wednesday campaign event in Michigan .
Gerald Kariem—who was named UAW international executive board vice president in January—appeared at the event just months after a high-ranking female official accused him of sexual harassment in a May federal lawsuit .
According to the suit , Kariem approached UAW international servicing representative Patricia Morris-Gibson at a conference in Washington , D.C. , and asked her to sleep with him , adding that it would be `` their little secret . ''
When Morris-Gibson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegedly `` laughed and said that he would not tell . ''
In addition , Kariem allegedly used expletives to comment on Morris-Gibson 's appearance at a March 2019 conference in Detroit , saying , `` G— you so f—ing fine . ''
Morris-Gibson went on to file a November 2019 complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requesting the right to sue the union .
After the request was granted in March 2020 , UAW leadership retaliated by cutting Morris-Gibson 's salary by 50 percent , the suit alleges .
Biden has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout his political career , accepting at least $ 10,000 in direct contributions from the union as a senator .
The UAW endorsed Biden for president in April and played a key role during Wednesday 's event , with secretary-treasurer Ray Curry calling Biden `` a long friend '' of the union .
Curry also introduced Kariem at the event .
Neither the Biden campaign nor the UAW responded to a request for comment .
Kariem is not the only UAW international executive board member to be accused of sexual harassment .
Former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his role in August after an independent investigation `` substantiated allegations of workplace harassment '' levied against him .
The UAW is also still ensnared in a federal corruption probe that was opened into the union more than five years ago .
At least 14 union officials have been convicted as a result of the investigation , including former president Gary Jones , who admitted to spending more than $ 1 million in union funds on premium liquor and cigars , vacation rentals , and other extravagances .
The union gave generously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including $ 200,000 to the Michigan Democratic Party and $ 68,000 to Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer in the 2018 cycle alone .
Whitmer attended Wednesday 's event and was also introduced by Curry .
President Donald Trump also plans to speak in Michigan on Thursday .
Whitmer called the event `` very distressing '' during a Tuesday CNN appearance , despite expressing no such qualms with the Biden campaign 's event .
`` I know that they are scrupulously following the science , '' Whitmer said of the Biden campaign .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general public safe . ''

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden hosted a top United Auto Workers official recently accused of sexual harassment at his Wednesday campaign event in Michigan.
Gerald Kariem—who was named UAW international executive board vice president in January—appeared at the event just months after a high-ranking female official accused him of sexual harassment in a May federal lawsuit.
According to the suit, Kariem approached UAW international servicing representative Patricia Morris-Gibson at a conference in Washington, D.C., and asked her to sleep with him, adding that it would be "their little secret." When Morris-Gibson replied that she was married, Kariem allegedly "laughed and said that he would not tell." In addition, Kariem allegedly used expletives to comment on Morris-Gibson's appearance at a March 2019 conference in Detroit, saying, "G— you so f—ing fine."
Morris-Gibson went on to file a November 2019 complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requesting the right to sue the union. After the request was granted in March 2020, UAW leadership retaliated by cutting Morris-Gibson's salary by 50 percent, the suit alleges.
Biden has received substantial support from top UAW brass throughout his political career, accepting at least $10,000 in direct contributions from the union as a senator. The UAW endorsed Biden for president in April and played a key role during Wednesday's event, with secretary-treasurer Ray Curry calling Biden "a long friend" of the union. Curry also introduced Kariem at the event.
Neither the Biden campaign nor the UAW responded to a request for comment.
Kariem is not the only UAW international executive board member to be accused of sexual harassment. Former international executive board member Richard Rankin resigned from his role in August after an independent investigation "substantiated allegations of workplace harassment" levied against him.
The UAW is also still ensnared in a federal corruption probe that was opened into the union more than five years ago. At least 14 union officials have been convicted as a result of the investigation, including former president Gary Jones, who admitted to spending more than $1 million in union funds on premium liquor and cigars, vacation rentals, and other extravagances.
The union gave generously to Democrats during Jones's tenure, including $200,000 to the Michigan Democratic Party and $68,000 to Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer in the 2018 cycle alone. Whitmer attended Wednesday's event and was also introduced by Curry.
President Donald Trump also plans to speak in Michigan on Thursday. Whitmer called the event "very distressing" during a Tuesday CNN appearance, despite expressing no such qualms with the Biden campaign's event.
"I know that they are scrupulously following the science," Whitmer said of the Biden campaign. "They want to keep their supporters and the general public safe."


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Hawley Slams Disney for Cooperating With CCP While Filming ‘Mulan’

In a letter addressed to Disney CEO Robert Chapek on Wednesday , Sen. Josh Hawley ( R. , Mo . )
blasted the Hollywood powerhouse for cooperating with the Chinese Communist Party while filming its new movie Mulan .
`` Disney 's whitewashing of the ongoing Uighur genocide is contrary to all of your company 's supposed principles , '' Hawley wrote .
`` Your decision to uncritically approve this film 's release rather than apologizing to those harmed by Disney 's actions is reprehensible .
Your decision to put profit over principle , to not just ignore the CCP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid and abet them , is an affront to American values . ''
Disney shot the live-action remake of Mulan in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang , where more than one million Uighur Muslims are currently detained in forced labor camps and subject to human-rights abuses .
This week , two groups of Uighur expatriates accused the CCP of genocide in the International Criminal Court .
In the credits of the film , Disney thanks several different CCP institutions for their cooperation with Mulan 's filming , including both the province 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversees the Uighur labor camps .
Hawley 's letter follows recent calls to boycott the film after Liu Yifei , Mulan ‘ s lead actress , repeatedly defended Hong Kong 's police force during crackdowns on democratic demonstrations .
Despite a wave of public outcry , Disney chief financial officer Christine McCarthy said the company is `` very pleased '' with early box office numbers generated by the film on Wednesday .

In a letter addressed to Disney CEO Robert Chapek on Wednesday, Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) blasted the Hollywood powerhouse for cooperating with the Chinese Communist Party while filming its new movie Mulan.
"Disney's whitewashing of the ongoing Uighur genocide is contrary to all of your company's supposed principles," Hawley wrote. "Your decision to uncritically approve this film's release rather than apologizing to those harmed by Disney's actions is reprehensible. Your decision to put profit over principle, to not just ignore the CCP's genocide and other atrocities but to aid and abet them, is an affront to American values."
Disney shot the live-action remake of Mulan in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang, where more than one million Uighur Muslims are currently detained in forced labor camps and subject to human-rights abuses. This week, two groups of Uighur expatriates accused the CCP of genocide in the International Criminal Court.
In the credits of the film, Disney thanks several different CCP institutions for their cooperation with Mulan's filming, including both the province's propaganda arm and the security agency that oversees the Uighur labor camps.
Hawley's letter follows recent calls to boycott the film after Liu Yifei, Mulan's lead actress, repeatedly defended Hong Kong's police force during crackdowns on democratic demonstrations. Despite a wave of public outcry, Disney chief financial officer Christine McCarthy said the company is "very pleased" with early box office numbers generated by the film on Wednesday.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Lululemon Promotes ‘Decolonizing Gender’ Workshop to ‘Resist Capitalism’

Lululemon , an athleisure clothing company known for selling astronomically priced workout and lounge gear , invited its followers on social media to learn how to `` resist capitalism . ''
The company , whose market cap hit $ 45.5 billion last week , posted its weekly `` Five to Follow '' list on Sunday featuring a graphic from yoga instructor and Lululemon brand ambassador Rebby Kern .
Kern is hosting a `` Decolonizing Gender '' workshop `` to unveil historical erasure and resist capitalism '' on Sept. 17 via Zoom .
Lululemon ’ s sales have soared during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to swap the cubicle for the couch and pencil skirts and ties for leggings and hoodies .
The price of the company 's market shares is up 51 percent and online sales are up 157 percent since the start of the pandemic .
The company made $ 902.9 million in revenue during the second quarter—exceeding sales expectations and marking a 2 percent jump from the company ’ s 2019 second-quarter revenues .
Though the company now strives to appease its social justice warrior clientele , Lululemon ’ s history is marred by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s founder , Canadian billionaire Chip Wilson , resigned from the company ’ s board in 2013 after a series of controversial comments surfaced .
He once said Lululemon 's signature black leggings were not made for women `` without a thigh gap '' and that the company could not afford to make leggings for plus-size women .
Wilson also allegedly chose the company ’ s name to mock the Japanese pronunciation of the letter `` L. '' Wilson ’ s resignation was only the beginning of a series of allegations and controversies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have compared working for the company to belonging to a cult .
And an article in the Guardian from last October reported that some women in Bangladeshi factories making the company ’ s $ 100-plus leggings alleged that they were beaten by management .
Many institutions have created or promoted diversity training after a summer of social justice protests .
Seattle ’ s city government created a whites-only anti-bias training for employees earlier this summer , Duke University said it would implement anti-racism training in its curriculum , and Google said it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2021 .

Lululemon, an athleisure clothing company known for selling astronomically priced workout and lounge gear, invited its followers on social media to learn how to "resist capitalism."
The company, whose market cap hit $45.5 billion last week, posted its weekly "Five to Follow" list on Sunday featuring a graphic from yoga instructor and Lululemon brand ambassador Rebby Kern. Kern is hosting a "Decolonizing Gender" workshop "to unveil historical erasure and resist capitalism" on Sept. 17 via Zoom.
Lululemon’s sales have soared during the coronavirus pandemic, as workers have been forced to swap the cubicle for the couch and pencil skirts and ties for leggings and hoodies. The price of the company's market shares is up 51 percent and online sales are up 157 percent since the start of the pandemic. The company made $902.9 million in revenue during the second quarter—exceeding sales expectations and marking a 2 percent jump from the company’s 2019 second-quarter revenues.
Though the company now strives to appease its social justice warrior clientele, Lululemon’s history is marred by allegations of anti-woke folly. Lululemon’s founder, Canadian billionaire Chip Wilson, resigned from the company’s board in 2013 after a series of controversial comments surfaced. He once said Lululemon's signature black leggings were not made for women "without a thigh gap" and that the company could not afford to make leggings for plus-size women. Wilson also allegedly chose the company’s name to mock the Japanese pronunciation of the letter "L."
Wilson’s resignation was only the beginning of a series of allegations and controversies raised against the clothing giant. Some have compared working for the company to belonging to a cult. And an article in the Guardian from last October reported that some women in Bangladeshi factories making the company’s $100-plus leggings alleged that they were beaten by management.
Many institutions have created or promoted diversity training after a summer of social justice protests. Seattle’s city government created a whites-only anti-bias training for employees earlier this summer, Duke University said it would implement anti-racism training in its curriculum, and Google said it would launch a series of anti-racism training seminars in 2021.


freebeacon--2020-09-10--Trump Admin Helms Effort to Crush Chinese Tech Companies

The Trump administration is locked in an effort to divest from Chinese technology firms and push its allies to do the same , according to the senior administration official leading what he described as an unprecedented effort to combat China ’ s dominance in the tech space .
Concerns are mounting in Washington , D.C. , over China ’ s proliferation of key technologies that permit it to spy on citizens across the globe , including in the United States .
From social media applications such as TikTok to Beijing ’ s 5G efforts with Huawei , Chinese technology has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative to services provided by Western companies .
Yet these savings come with risks , Keith Krach , the State Department ’ s undersecretary of state for economic growth , energy , and the environment , told the Washington Free Beacon .
Krach is the principal point man in the administration ’ s multi-pronged effort to challenge China on the tech front .
`` The CCP is a bully .
We know when bullies are confronted , they back down , '' Krach said .
`` They really back down when you confront @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends by your side . ''
Krach and other senior U.S. officials have gone on the offensive , pressing allies to cut ties with Chinese companies that do work in the cellular , cloud computing , cable , and wireless sectors .
The Trump administration says the choice is clear : Side with America and the West or face the fallout of partnering with a communist country that has no qualms about stealing private data .
China ’ s dominance in the tech sphere is in large part the result of its decades-long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and European businesses working on cutting-edge internet services , medical research , and other types of computing innovations .
Beijing ’ s theft of intellectual property ranks among the worst in the world .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo chose Krach to helm this campaign , which centers on exposing China ’ s unfair business practices and reliance on cyber espionage .
This approach marks a significant departure from past administrations that sought to play nice with China .
The administration ’ s new approach centers on building a coalition of allies committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sectors .
Portions of this effort have unfolded in public , particularly the recent row between the United States and United Kingdom over its flirtation with Huawei , China ’ s 5G powerhouse .
The United States exerted great diplomatic pressure to extract guarantees from Britain that it would ban Huawei from operating the country ’ s next-generation 5G cellular networks .
This battle continues to unfold across the globe with a host of countries and private companies .
`` [ China has ] been in economic war with us for 40 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play four-dimensional economic , diplomatic , propaganda , and military chess . ''
Washington ’ s best defense against Beijing ’ s chessboard of economic and political warcraft is a suite of actions it terms `` clean '' orders .
To obtain what the State Department calls `` clean '' status , nations must drive out Chinese investors and tech firms .
In the United States , for example , the Trump administration is working to drive out the Chinese-run social media site TikTok , which collects private data from its users .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with private enterprise , Wall Street , higher education , Big Tech , currency providers , labor and supply chains , as well as infrastructure initiatives to secure a variety of clean institutions for international cooperation .
A milestone in this effort is a recent letter Krach wrote to the governing boards of American colleges and universities .
The Communist regime has spied for decades on American academic institutions in a bid to steal proprietary research and gain a competitive edge .
At the same time , it has opened a slew of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek to indoctrinate students with Communist propaganda .
Warning of a `` real and urgent threat '' to academic freedom , Krach urged these institutions to divest from China .
Colleges , Krach wrote , have a `` moral obligation '' to cut ties with a country that exploits minority populations and uses its growing tech sector to spy on its citizens .
The letter highlighted the threats posed by China to intellectual property and academic freedom .
`` Not only is the CCP a real and urgent threat to democracies around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and urgent threat to companies , '' Krach said .
`` They don ’ t just want to compete with you , they want to put you out of business . ''

The Trump administration is locked in an effort to divest from Chinese technology firms and push its allies to do the same, according to the senior administration official leading what he described as an unprecedented effort to combat China’s dominance in the tech space.
Concerns are mounting in Washington, D.C., over China’s proliferation of key technologies that permit it to spy on citizens across the globe, including in the United States. From social media applications such as TikTok to Beijing’s 5G efforts with Huawei, Chinese technology has stormed the globe, providing a cheaper alternative to services provided by Western companies. Yet these savings come with risks, Keith Krach, the State Department’s undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment, told the Washington Free Beacon. Krach is the principal point man in the administration’s multi-pronged effort to challenge China on the tech front.
"The CCP is a bully. We know when bullies are confronted, they back down," Krach said. "They really back down when you confront them, and you have all your friends by your side."
Krach and other senior U.S. officials have gone on the offensive, pressing allies to cut ties with Chinese companies that do work in the cellular, cloud computing, cable, and wireless sectors. The Trump administration says the choice is clear: Side with America and the West or face the fallout of partnering with a communist country that has no qualms about stealing private data.
China’s dominance in the tech sphere is in large part the result of its decades-long espionage operations, which have targeted American and European businesses working on cutting-edge internet services, medical research, and other types of computing innovations. Beijing’s theft of intellectual property ranks among the worst in the world. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo chose Krach to helm this campaign, which centers on exposing China’s unfair business practices and reliance on cyber espionage. This approach marks a significant departure from past administrations that sought to play nice with China.
The administration’s new approach centers on building a coalition of allies committed to icing China out of their tech sectors. Portions of this effort have unfolded in public, particularly the recent row between the United States and United Kingdom over its flirtation with Huawei, China’s 5G powerhouse. The United States exerted great diplomatic pressure to extract guarantees from Britain that it would ban Huawei from operating the country’s next-generation 5G cellular networks. This battle continues to unfold across the globe with a host of countries and private companies.
"[China has] been in economic war with us for 40 years," Krach said. "They play four-dimensional economic, diplomatic, propaganda, and military chess."
Washington’s best defense against Beijing’s chessboard of economic and political warcraft is a suite of actions it terms "clean" orders. To obtain what the State Department calls "clean" status, nations must drive out Chinese investors and tech firms. In the United States, for example, the Trump administration is working to drive out the Chinese-run social media site TikTok, which collects private data from its users.
Krach and other U.S. officials are working with private enterprise, Wall Street, higher education, Big Tech, currency providers, labor and supply chains, as well as infrastructure initiatives to secure a variety of clean institutions for international cooperation.
A milestone in this effort is a recent letter Krach wrote to the governing boards of American colleges and universities. The Communist regime has spied for decades on American academic institutions in a bid to steal proprietary research and gain a competitive edge. At the same time, it has opened a slew of satellite campuses known as Confucius Institutes that seek to indoctrinate students with Communist propaganda.
Warning of a "real and urgent threat" to academic freedom, Krach urged these institutions to divest from China. Colleges, Krach wrote, have a "moral obligation" to cut ties with a country that exploits minority populations and uses its growing tech sector to spy on its citizens. The letter highlighted the threats posed by China to intellectual property and academic freedom.
"Not only is the CCP a real and urgent threat to democracies around the world, but it is a real and urgent threat to companies," Krach said. "They don’t just want to compete with you, they want to put you out of business."


freebeacon--2020-09-10--ANALYSIS: WaPo Violates Anti-Sexism Guidelines with Article on Kamala Harris ‘Shoe Choice’

The Washington Post violated industry guidelines designed to prevent misogynist media coverage of female political candidates , a Washington Free Beacon analysis has found .
The offending article , published earlier this week under the headline , `` Kamala D. Harris goes viral — for her shoe choice , '' appeared in the paper 's `` politics '' section and was authored by a reporter `` covering the 2020 campaign . ''
Upon closer examination , however , the Post ‘ s reporting on Joe Biden 's historic running mate was n't about politics or the 2020 campaign .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choices .
This familiar sexist trope promotes misogyny by emphasizing Harris 's looks at the expense of her actual accomplishments , including her successful courtship of one of California 's most eligible bachelors—2019 Free Beacon Man of the Year Willie Brown—in the mid-1990s .
Hillary Clinton was similarly scrutinized for her looks and `` tone '' while her accomplishments , such as earning tens of millions on the corporate speaking circuit , were overlooked .
A group of liberal anti-sexism activists led by former White House adviser Valerie Jarrett recently warned media outlets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside , on a woman 's looks … is sexist news coverage unless the same analysis is applied to every candidate . ''
The Free Beacon ‘ s investigation failed to turn up a single instance of mainstream media reporting on Mike Pence 's shoe selection .
What 's more , the sexist Post article is hardly an aside .
It is a deep dive into Harris 's `` black , low-rise Chuck Taylor All-Stars , the classic Converse shoe that has long been associated more closely with cultural cool than carefully managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Harris also owns a pair of white and off-white Chucks , and has `` even hinted at a sequined pair she has yet to break out on the trail . ''
Random Twitter users are quoted praising Harris for dressing `` like a real boss . ''
Converse , meanwhile , was `` pleased to see that the Vice Presidential nominee has chosen the Chuck Taylor All Star as a reflection of her personal identity , '' according to a company statement that failed to mention any of Harris 's accomplishments or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearance toward the end of the article , but only in a disparaging tweet from `` a Florida lawyer who has been traveling around the state in a Grim Reaper costume . ''
The addition of Harris to the Democratic ticket poses a challenge for professional journalists because their alleged opposition to fashion-centric sexism is bound to clash with their natural inclination to act like total fan girls for `` cool '' politicians—i.e.
, any Democrat under the age of 75 .

The Washington Post violated industry guidelines designed to prevent misogynist media coverage of female political candidates, a Washington Free Beacon analysis has found.
The offending article, published earlier this week under the headline, "Kamala D. Harris goes viral — for her shoe choice," appeared in the paper's "politics" section and was authored by a reporter "covering the 2020 campaign." Upon closer examination, however, the Post's reporting on Joe Biden's historic running mate wasn't about politics or the 2020 campaign. It was about a female politician's fashion choices.
This familiar sexist trope promotes misogyny by emphasizing Harris's looks at the expense of her actual accomplishments, including her successful courtship of one of California's most eligible bachelors—2019 Free Beacon Man of the Year Willie Brown—in the mid-1990s. Hillary Clinton was similarly scrutinized for her looks and "tone" while her accomplishments, such as earning tens of millions on the corporate speaking circuit, were overlooked.
A group of liberal anti-sexism activists led by former White House adviser Valerie Jarrett recently warned media outlets that "reporting, even as an aside, on a woman's looks ... is sexist news coverage unless the same analysis is applied to every candidate." The Free Beacon's investigation failed to turn up a single instance of mainstream media reporting on Mike Pence's shoe selection.
What's more, the sexist Post article is hardly an aside. It is a deep dive into Harris's "black, low-rise Chuck Taylor All-Stars, the classic Converse shoe that has long been associated more closely with cultural cool than carefully managed high-profile candidacies." The Post reveals that Harris also owns a pair of white and off-white Chucks, and has "even hinted at a sequined pair she has yet to break out on the trail."
Random Twitter users are quoted praising Harris for dressing "like a real boss." Converse, meanwhile, was "pleased to see that the Vice Presidential nominee has chosen the Chuck Taylor All Star as a reflection of her personal identity," according to a company statement that failed to mention any of Harris's accomplishments or policy proposals. Mike Pence makes an appearance toward the end of the article, but only in a disparaging tweet from "a Florida lawyer who has been traveling around the state in a Grim Reaper costume."
The addition of Harris to the Democratic ticket poses a challenge for professional journalists because their alleged opposition to fashion-centric sexism is bound to clash with their natural inclination to act like total fan girls for "cool" politicians—i.e., any Democrat under the age of 75.