freebeacon--2020-11-24--A Completely Serious Parody About a Completely Ridiculous 2020

But for the fact that Democrats nominated the least likable candidate in American history ( Hillary Clinton ) —thanks in no small part to former president Barack Obama 's efforts to persuade Joe Biden not to run—the history of the past four years might have been very different .
How different ?
Here 's a dispatch from an alternative 2020 : WASHINGTON , NOV. 4 , 2020—Amy Klobuchar 's defeat in yesterday 's presidential election came as a shock to professional pundits who continue to assume that so-called polling experts know what they 're doing .
To everyone else , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Donald Trump and his historic running mate , Ivanka Trump , was an expected and sorely needed respite after four years of political chaos .
The 46th president , who assumed office in 2019 after Joe Biden was declared mentally unfit to serve in accordance with the 25th Amendment , faced strong headwinds in her bid to retain power .
The transition of power was precipitated by Biden 's deranged public feud with members of the White House cleaning staff .
While addressing the U.N. General Assembly in 2018 , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' of `` juicing my long johns '' with `` French pudding . ''
This left the administration in disarray and ill-equipped to confront the COVID-19 pandemic .
Hillary Clinton , who lost to Biden in the 2016 Democratic primary , became a major instigator of party infighting when she launched `` I 'm Still With Her , '' a semi-militarized campaign to install herself as commander in chief and prevent Klobuchar from making history as the first female president .
The attempted coup , spearheaded by longtime Clinton aide Sidney Blumenthal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately failed .
Clinton and Blumenthal wound up in federal prison , where they would be convicted again in short order for running a Social Security fraud scheme from their cells .
The scandal eventually forced the resignation of Clinton Foundation CEO Jeffrey Epstein , who has since been granted asylum in Brunei .
As a result , the Klobuchar administration was somewhat distracted by the time the COVID-19 pandemic reached U.S. shores .
Klobuchar herself was one of the first world leaders to contract the virus , which she blamed on several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her White House staff .
Subsequent lawsuits filed by the staffers , some of whom reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries , had yet to be resolved by Election Day .
The legal controversy surrounding President Klobuchar caused some Democrats to consider replacing her as the party candidate .
Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , a frequent subject of tabloid headlines thanks to her on-again , off-again relationship with ( recently divorced ) former president Bill Clinton , was discussed as a possible alternative .
Trump , meanwhile , was well-positioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After losing to Biden in 2016 , the real-estate mogul launched his own television network , which filed for bankruptcy after six months .
He immediately pivoted back to real estate , building a series of Trump-brand luxury towers and casinos in Pyongyang .
Trump entered the 2020 Republican primary as the favorite to win and made waves by hiring GOP strategist Rick Wilson for an unprecedented $ 12 million ( plus fees and commission ) to manage his campaign .
Trump 's competition for the nomination was underwhelming .
Sen. Rand Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , would make history as the only candidate to appear on the ballot in Iowa and New Hampshire yet fail to receive a single vote .
Trump sailed to victory in the primary , though Wilson was ultimately fired and indicted for embezzlement on the eve of the GOP convention .
Wilson 's replacement , former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani , lasted less than a week .
His whereabouts remain unknown after he was reported missing in Cyprus while attempting to sell arms to Armenian nationalists .
It was Giuliani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` go bold '' by selecting his own daughter , Ivanka , as a running mate .
The historic father-daughter ticket brought much-needed joy to the hearts of millions of Americans suffering under the administration 's chaotic failure to contain the pandemic .
Media reports credited Ivanka with pushing her father to publicly commit to pardoning Hillary Rodham , as she is currently known .
Trump , however , sounded a more cautious note during his victory speech Wednesday evening .
`` I do n't know , I think she 's guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a horrible , horrible human being . ''

(This completely serious parody was inspired by the completely serious parody that appears in the December 2020 issue of Washingtonian magazine.)
But for the fact that Democrats nominated the least likable candidate in American history (Hillary Clinton)—thanks in no small part to former president Barack Obama's efforts to persuade Joe Biden not to run—the history of the past four years might have been very different. How different? Here's a dispatch from an alternative 2020:
Trumps Triumph: Father-Daughter Ticket Defeats Klobuchar in Historic Rout
WASHINGTON, NOV. 4, 2020—Amy Klobuchar's defeat in yesterday's presidential election came as a shock to professional pundits who continue to assume that so-called polling experts know what they're doing. To everyone else, President Klobuchar's defeat at the hands of Donald Trump and his historic running mate, Ivanka Trump, was an expected and sorely needed respite after four years of political chaos.
The 46th president, who assumed office in 2019 after Joe Biden was declared mentally unfit to serve in accordance with the 25th Amendment, faced strong headwinds in her bid to retain power. The transition of power was precipitated by Biden's deranged public feud with members of the White House cleaning staff. While addressing the U.N. General Assembly in 2018, for example, he accused the "fat-faced hornswogglers" of "juicing my long johns" with "French pudding." This left the administration in disarray and ill-equipped to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hillary Clinton, who lost to Biden in the 2016 Democratic primary, became a major instigator of party infighting when she launched "I'm Still With Her," a semi-militarized campaign to install herself as commander in chief and prevent Klobuchar from making history as the first female president.
The attempted coup, spearheaded by longtime Clinton aide Sidney Blumenthal and backed by thousands of Saudi-funded mercenaries, ultimately failed. Clinton and Blumenthal wound up in federal prison, where they would be convicted again in short order for running a Social Security fraud scheme from their cells. The scandal eventually forced the resignation of Clinton Foundation CEO Jeffrey Epstein, who has since been granted asylum in Brunei.
As a result, the Klobuchar administration was somewhat distracted by the time the COVID-19 pandemic reached U.S. shores. Klobuchar herself was one of the first world leaders to contract the virus, which she blamed on several "ungrateful and recklessly incompetent" members of her White House staff. Subsequent lawsuits filed by the staffers, some of whom reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries, had yet to be resolved by Election Day.
The legal controversy surrounding President Klobuchar caused some Democrats to consider replacing her as the party candidate. Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), a frequent subject of tabloid headlines thanks to her on-again, off-again relationship with (recently divorced) former president Bill Clinton, was discussed as a possible alternative.
Trump, meanwhile, was well-positioned to capitalize on the Democratic disarray. After losing to Biden in 2016, the real-estate mogul launched his own television network, which filed for bankruptcy after six months. He immediately pivoted back to real estate, building a series of Trump-brand luxury towers and casinos in Pyongyang.
Trump entered the 2020 Republican primary as the favorite to win and made waves by hiring GOP strategist Rick Wilson for an unprecedented $12 million (plus fees and commission) to manage his campaign. Trump's competition for the nomination was underwhelming. Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), for example, would make history as the only candidate to appear on the ballot in Iowa and New Hampshire yet fail to receive a single vote.
Trump sailed to victory in the primary, though Wilson was ultimately fired and indicted for embezzlement on the eve of the GOP convention. Wilson's replacement, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, lasted less than a week. His whereabouts remain unknown after he was reported missing in Cyprus while attempting to sell arms to Armenian nationalists.
It was Giuliani, however, who had urged Trump to "go bold" by selecting his own daughter, Ivanka, as a running mate. The historic father-daughter ticket brought much-needed joy to the hearts of millions of Americans suffering under the administration's chaotic failure to contain the pandemic.
Media reports credited Ivanka with pushing her father to publicly commit to pardoning Hillary Rodham, as she is currently known. Trump, however, sounded a more cautious note during his victory speech Wednesday evening. "I don't know, I think she's guilty," he said. "What a horrible, horrible human being."


freebeacon--2020-11-25--Biden Labor Candidate Oversaw Fraudulent Payments to California Prison Inmates

A frontrunner to be president-elect Joe Biden 's labor secretary oversaw the payment of nearly $ 1 billion in fraudulent benefits to California prison inmates .
Julie Su is the secretary of California 's Labor and Workforce Development Agency , which operates the state 's pandemic unemployment system .
The system paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment payments to prison inmates and convicts , prosecutors announced on Tuesday .
The fraud involved over 35,000 unemployment claims filed between March and August under the names of California state prison inmates .
The inmates included two serial killers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight people , as well as the well-known murderer Scott Peterson , who was convicted in 2004 for killing his pregnant wife .
The Sacramento County district attorney called the scandal `` one of the biggest fraud of taxpayer dollars in California history . ''
A spokeswoman for the agency 's Employment Development Department told the Washington Free Beacon the department has been working with the U.S. Labor Department to identify fraudulent claims from inmates and is `` pursuing how to integrate such cross-matches moving forward as part of enhanced prevention efforts during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country . ''
The agency 's logistical problems also resulted in the delay of unemployment payments for as many as 1.8 million Californians during the initial stages of the state 's shutdown over the coronavirus pandemic .
Su took responsibility for the agency 's logistical delays in April .
She said she needed to `` own the things that we are not doing right '' and fix the agency 's problems .
The Employment Development Department still experienced delays and fraud throughout the year , however , and faced demands from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President-elect Biden 's transition team did not respond to a request for comment on Su 's candidacy for labor secretary .
One of the district attorneys leading the task force investigating the fraud said the `` vast majority '' of the money will never be repaid .
California is not the only state to be plagued by unemployment fraud amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Labor Department 's inspector general said a total of $ 26 billion in federal aid programs could be lost to fraud by the end of the crisis .

A frontrunner to be president-elect Joe Biden's labor secretary oversaw the payment of nearly $1 billion in fraudulent benefits to California prison inmates.
Julie Su is the secretary of California's Labor and Workforce Development Agency, which operates the state's pandemic unemployment system. The system paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent unemployment payments to prison inmates and convicts, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.
The fraud involved over 35,000 unemployment claims filed between March and August under the names of California state prison inmates. The inmates included two serial killers responsible for the deaths of at least eight people, as well as the well-known murderer Scott Peterson, who was convicted in 2004 for killing his pregnant wife. The Sacramento County district attorney called the scandal "one of the biggest fraud of taxpayer dollars in California history."
A spokeswoman for the agency's Employment Development Department told the Washington Free Beacon the department has been working with the U.S. Labor Department to identify fraudulent claims from inmates and is "pursuing how to integrate such cross-matches moving forward as part of enhanced prevention efforts during this unprecedented time of pandemic-related unemployment fraud across the country."
The agency's logistical problems also resulted in the delay of unemployment payments for as many as 1.8 million Californians during the initial stages of the state's shutdown over the coronavirus pandemic.
Su took responsibility for the agency's logistical delays in April. She said she needed to "own the things that we are not doing right" and fix the agency's problems. The Employment Development Department still experienced delays and fraud throughout the year, however, and faced demands from lawmakers for an audit in September.
President-elect Biden's transition team did not respond to a request for comment on Su's candidacy for labor secretary.
One of the district attorneys leading the task force investigating the fraud said the "vast majority" of the money will never be repaid.
California is not the only state to be plagued by unemployment fraud amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Labor Department's inspector general said a total of $26 billion in federal aid programs could be lost to fraud by the end of the crisis.


freebeacon--2020-11-25--Frontrunner to Replace Sen. Harris Fights to Pay Out $35 Mil to Biden Firm

California 's top elections official is pushing the state to pay out a $ 35 million contract with a major Democratic consulting firm as he lobbies behind the scenes for a Senate seat .
California secretary of state Alex Padilla ( D. ) , reportedly the favorite to fill Vice President-elect Kamala Harris 's Senate seat , awarded Democratic public relations giant SKDKnickerbocker the lucrative deal in August as part of a voter outreach program .
Weeks later , however , Democratic state controller Betty Yee 's office refused to approve the contract , arguing that Padilla did not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The resolution of the dispute could be a make-or-break issue for Padilla .
His victory in a fight that would send a tranche of money to some of the country 's leading Democratic strategists could ease his path to being appointed to fill Harris 's seat , a decision that Democratic governor Gavin Newsom plans to announce prior to inauguration day on Jan. 20 .
SKDK has deep ties to Harris and President-elect Joe Biden .
The firm 's managing director , Anita Dunn , led Biden 's presidential campaign , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SKDK since December 2019 .
Newsom did not make any payments to the firm during his runs for lieutenant governor and governor in 2014 and 2018 .
According to internal emails obtained by CalMatters , Padilla has spent months fighting to pay the Biden-linked firm following Yee 's rebuke .
The Democrat personally lobbied Yee to approve the payment in an Oct. 20 email , citing an August bill signed by Newsom that called on Padilla to `` conduct a statewide voter education and outreach campaign . ''
Padilla issued the contract on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it did not require a competitive bidding process and was not approved by relevant state agencies before it was awarded .
The lack of transparency sparked criticism from Yee 's office : In a September email , chief counsel Rick Chivaro wrote that trying to get a `` definitive answer '' on the contract was `` a little like catching a greased pig . ''
SKDK may not be able to recover its expenses should Padilla fail in his attempt to fulfill the $ 35 million payment .
The contract asserts that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no liability '' should the state reduce funding for the program .
Padilla awarded the contract to SKDK as part of the state 's `` Vote Safe California '' initiative , which aimed to `` educate the public on the safety , security , and ease of voting in the general election amid the COVID-19 pandemic . ''
The program also required SKDK to give `` special attention '' to `` reaching first-time mail voters '' after Newsom decided to send every registered voter in the state a mail-in ballot .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaning heavily '' toward picking Padilla—a longtime ally of Newsom's—to replace Harris .
Top Democratic activists in the state , however , are urging Newsom to select a woman of color .
Other reported candidates include state attorney general Xavier Becerra ( D. ) and Reps. Karen Bass ( D. ) and Barbara Lee ( D. ) .
Bass was also floated as a potential Biden running mate but faced criticism over her role in headlining two Democratic Socialists of America conferences in 1988 and 1993 .
The Democrat has also praised the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communist dictator Fidel Castro 's death a `` great loss '' to Cuba in a 2016 statement .

California's top elections official is pushing the state to pay out a $35 million contract with a major Democratic consulting firm as he lobbies behind the scenes for a Senate seat.
California secretary of state Alex Padilla (D.), reportedly the favorite to fill Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's Senate seat, awarded Democratic public relations giant SKDKnickerbocker the lucrative deal in August as part of a voter outreach program. Weeks later, however, Democratic state controller Betty Yee's office refused to approve the contract, arguing that Padilla did not have the authority to pay for it.
The resolution of the dispute could be a make-or-break issue for Padilla. His victory in a fight that would send a tranche of money to some of the country's leading Democratic strategists could ease his path to being appointed to fill Harris's seat, a decision that Democratic governor Gavin Newsom plans to announce prior to inauguration day on Jan. 20.
SKDK has deep ties to Harris and President-elect Joe Biden. The firm's managing director, Anita Dunn, led Biden's presidential campaign, which has disbursed more than $2.2 million to SKDK since December 2019. Newsom did not make any payments to the firm during his runs for lieutenant governor and governor in 2014 and 2018.
According to internal emails obtained by CalMatters, Padilla has spent months fighting to pay the Biden-linked firm following Yee's rebuke. The Democrat personally lobbied Yee to approve the payment in an Oct. 20 email, citing an August bill signed by Newsom that called on Padilla to "conduct a statewide voter education and outreach campaign."
Padilla issued the contract on an "emergency" basis, meaning that it did not require a competitive bidding process and was not approved by relevant state agencies before it was awarded. The lack of transparency sparked criticism from Yee's office: In a September email, chief counsel Rick Chivaro wrote that trying to get a "definitive answer" on the contract was "a little like catching a greased pig."
SKDK may not be able to recover its expenses should Padilla fail in his attempt to fulfill the $35 million payment. The contract asserts that California can cancel the agreement "with no liability" should the state reduce funding for the program.
Padilla awarded the contract to SKDK as part of the state's "Vote Safe California" initiative, which aimed to "educate the public on the safety, security, and ease of voting in the general election amid the COVID-19 pandemic." The program also required SKDK to give "special attention" to "reaching first-time mail voters" after Newsom decided to send every registered voter in the state a mail-in ballot.
According to a Politico report, Newsom is "leaning heavily" toward picking Padilla—a longtime ally of Newsom's—to replace Harris. Top Democratic activists in the state, however, are urging Newsom to select a woman of color. Other reported candidates include state attorney general Xavier Becerra (D.) and Reps. Karen Bass (D.) and Barbara Lee (D.).
Bass was also floated as a potential Biden running mate but faced criticism over her role in headlining two Democratic Socialists of America conferences in 1988 and 1993. The Democrat has also praised the Church of Scientology, and she called Communist dictator Fidel Castro's death a "great loss" to Cuba in a 2016 statement.


freebeacon--2020-11-25--Biden Eyes Israel Critic as White House Press Sec

Incoming president Joe Biden is reportedly close to selecting a vocal Israel critic to serve as his White House press secretary .
Karine Jean-Pierre , a longtime campaign adviser and incoming vice president Kamala Harris 's chief of staff , is currently the `` top candidate '' for the job , according to NBC News .
Jean-Pierre was senior adviser and national spokeswoman for MoveOn.org , a far-left anti-Israel group that defends boycotts of the Jewish state , from April 2016 until August 2020 , when she was hired as chief of staff for Harris .
Jean-Pierre has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jewish state of committing `` war crimes '' and , during the Democratic primary , celebrating Democrats who boycotted the American Israel Public Affairs Committee 's annual conference in Washington , D.C. She praised those lawmakers for `` boldly choosing to prioritize diplomacy and human rights over the power of a lobbying organization . ''
Team Biden 's focus on Jean-Pierre is likely to rankle the pro-Israel community , which enjoyed strong support from the White House during President Donald Trump 's tenure in office .
As Biden makes early staff decisions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could signal his administration is willing to make overtures to Israel 's detractors .
MoveOn , the progressive group for which Jean-Pierre served in senior roles , launched a campaign during the Democratic primary calling on Democrats to boycott the AIPAC conference and the organization itself .
`` [ Democratic ] candidates should be prepared for push back regarding their involvement with AIPAC , '' a MoveOn spokeswoman told Politico at the time .
The group 's first candidate endorsements in the 2020 cycle were of the two leading anti-Israel members of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minn. ) and Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) .
In a 2019 opinion article for Newsweek , Jean-Pierre said AIPAC helped the Trump administration `` sabotage '' the Iran nuclear deal .
She claimed that AIPAC `` supported the group that 's credited with inspiring President Trump to enact the Muslim Ban and has been known to spread anti-Muslim racism . ''
Jean-Pierre did not name the group .
She attacked AIPAC for hosting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at its conference on the grounds that `` under his leadership of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Israel may have committed war crimes . ''
AIPAC , she claimed without evidence , engages in `` severely racist , Islamophobic rhetoric .
… The organization has become known for trafficking in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric while lifting up Islamophobic voices and attitudes . ''
AIPAC , which was once a broadly bipartisan organization , has increasingly come under fire from progressives who view it as deferential to the Israeli government .
While the organization was once a symbol of America 's broad support for U.S.-Israeli ties , progressives have worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats boycott the group MoveOn also defended House Democrats accused of anti-Semitism , tweeting that Democratic leaders `` must stand strong in solidarity with Reps. Tlaib , Omar—stand up to Israel right-wing government for doing Trump 's racist , political dirty work . ''
When far-left activist Linda Sarsour was criticized for anti-Semitism , the group tweeted that she `` is a leader in the fight for justice for all of us . ''
MoveOn also defended Angela Davis , the notorious communist activist , as a `` civil rights leader '' after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anti-Semitism .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

Incoming president Joe Biden is reportedly close to selecting a vocal Israel critic to serve as his White House press secretary.
Karine Jean-Pierre, a longtime campaign adviser and incoming vice president Kamala Harris's chief of staff, is currently the "top candidate" for the job, according to NBC News. Jean-Pierre was senior adviser and national spokeswoman for MoveOn.org, a far-left anti-Israel group that defends boycotts of the Jewish state, from April 2016 until August 2020, when she was hired as chief of staff for Harris.
Jean-Pierre has been a vocal critic of Israel, accusing the Jewish state of committing "war crimes" and, during the Democratic primary, celebrating Democrats who boycotted the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's annual conference in Washington, D.C. She praised those lawmakers for "boldly choosing to prioritize diplomacy and human rights over the power of a lobbying organization."
Team Biden's focus on Jean-Pierre is likely to rankle the pro-Israel community, which enjoyed strong support from the White House during President Donald Trump's tenure in office. As Biden makes early staff decisions, the selection of a prominent Israel critic could signal his administration is willing to make overtures to Israel's detractors.
MoveOn, the progressive group for which Jean-Pierre served in senior roles, launched a campaign during the Democratic primary calling on Democrats to boycott the AIPAC conference and the organization itself. "[Democratic] candidates should be prepared for push back regarding their involvement with AIPAC," a MoveOn spokeswoman told Politico at the time. The group's first candidate endorsements in the 2020 cycle were of the two leading anti-Israel members of Congress, Reps. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.).
In a 2019 opinion article for Newsweek, Jean-Pierre said AIPAC helped the Trump administration "sabotage" the Iran nuclear deal. She claimed that AIPAC "supported the group that's credited with inspiring President Trump to enact the Muslim Ban and has been known to spread anti-Muslim racism." Jean-Pierre did not name the group. She attacked AIPAC for hosting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at its conference on the grounds that "under his leadership of Israel, according to the United Nations, Israel may have committed war crimes."
AIPAC, she claimed without evidence, engages in "severely racist, Islamophobic rhetoric. … The organization has become known for trafficking in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric while lifting up Islamophobic voices and attitudes."
AIPAC, which was once a broadly bipartisan organization, has increasingly come under fire from progressives who view it as deferential to the Israeli government. While the organization was once a symbol of America's broad support for U.S.-Israeli ties, progressives have worked to undermine its efforts and demand that Democrats boycott the group
MoveOn also defended House Democrats accused of anti-Semitism, tweeting that Democratic leaders "must stand strong in solidarity with Reps. Tlaib, Omar—stand up to Israel right-wing government for doing Trump's racist, political dirty work." When far-left activist Linda Sarsour was criticized for anti-Semitism, the group tweeted that she "is a leader in the fight for justice for all of us." MoveOn also defended Angela Davis, the notorious communist activist, as a "civil rights leader" after an award was revoked over her record of anti-Semitism.
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-11-25--Trump Dogs Supreme Court as Washington Looks Ahead to Biden

As Washington begins to think about a post-Trump era come January , the Supreme Court will be left holding the bag , so to speak .
Even as the 45th president leaves office , the Court faces a slew of Trump-related cases , including his administration 's bid to exclude undocumented immigrants from the reapportionment of House seats , a congressional request for secret materials from the Mueller investigation , and appeals involving the president 's tax returns and Twitter account .
Chief Justice John Roberts has steered the Court through Trump-related controversies such as the administration 's push to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the census form .
Whether he retains his commanding stature following Justice Amy Coney Barrett 's confirmation remains to be seen .
Of immediate concern for the Court is an accelerated case involving a White House directive to remove illegal aliens from the population baseline used to award House seats among the states .
The justices have agreed to hear arguments in that controversy on the Monday after Thanksgiving .
Census figures are due to the president by December 31 , and the White House must share a final apportionment with Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stakes are high for blue states with large undocumented populations ahead of a redistricting process that will favor the GOP .
The White House directive predicts California alone could lose three congressional seats if the government prevails and untold millions in federal dollars allocated by population .
A three-judge panel in New York City blocked Trump 's reapportionment order in September .
The court said two federal statutes controlling the census leave no room for Trump 's policy .
Those laws , the court found , require that census officials report a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the tabulation of total population by states '' —and that the president must then send an apportionment scheme to Congress based solely on this tabulation .
The Trump administration counters that the plaintiffs have no basis , called standing , for challenging the directive .
Even if they do , they argue federal law gives the executive branch significant discretion in administering the census .
While the justices may be able to dodge other Trump-related cases , the Court will have to resolve the reapportionment case before Trump leaves office because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another dispute involves a House Democratic effort to obtain materials from the Mueller grand jury that are currently shielded by secrecy rules .
The House Judiciary Committee told lower courts it needs that evidence to decide whether a second round of impeachment articles are necessary .
The relevant rules allow for release `` in connection with a judicial proceeding . ''
The initial question was whether impeachment counts as such a proceeding , but Biden 's victory scrambled the legal landscape .
The House Judiciary Committee asked the justices on Tuesday to reschedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for December 2 .
A lawyer for House Democrats told the justices that the committee will reevaluate its pursuit of the grand jury materials once the new Congress is seated and President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January .
The House did not propose an alternative argument date .
Other cases have more obvious outs for the Court .
A pressing concern for Trump himself is whether Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance can enforce a subpoena for his financial records .
The High Court in July rebuffed arguments that the president is absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to challenge Vance 's subpoena on other grounds .
The Manhattan prosecutor has since prevailed in another round of litigation .
Trump filed an application asking the justices to stay those victories , or put them on hold , while he prepares a formal appeal .
A fourth case asks whether First Amendment free speech protections bar the president from blocking critics on Twitter .
Two lower courts said the answer is yes .
By January , Trump will be a private citizen .
That 's a challenge for him because his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part from his unique position as president .
And in the Twitter case , a Biden DOJ could simply back out of the dispute .
`` I think the Court might want to slowplay those as much as possible , '' said Washington University law professor Dan Epps , who studies the Supreme Court .
`` I 'm not sure if they will feel comfortable stalling until January but it 's definitely not impossible .
I 'm sure the chief would be happy to do that , but some of his more conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Legal papers for the Vance case and the Twitter case were submitted over a month ago .
The long delay in the Vance dispute in particular could indicate that some of the justices are looking for an exit strategy , as stay requests are usually processed quickly .
Holding those cases past the inauguration would be unusual but not unprecedented .

As Washington begins to think about a post-Trump era come January, the Supreme Court will be left holding the bag, so to speak.
Even as the 45th president leaves office, the Court faces a slew of Trump-related cases, including his administration's bid to exclude undocumented immigrants from the reapportionment of House seats, a congressional request for secret materials from the Mueller investigation, and appeals involving the president's tax returns and Twitter account.
Chief Justice John Roberts has steered the Court through Trump-related controversies such as the administration's push to terminate DACA and add a citizenship question to the census form. Whether he retains his commanding stature following Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation remains to be seen.
Of immediate concern for the Court is an accelerated case involving a White House directive to remove illegal aliens from the population baseline used to award House seats among the states. The justices have agreed to hear arguments in that controversy on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Census figures are due to the president by December 31, and the White House must share a final apportionment with Congress by January 10, 2021.
The stakes are high for blue states with large undocumented populations ahead of a redistricting process that will favor the GOP. The White House directive predicts California alone could lose three congressional seats if the government prevails and untold millions in federal dollars allocated by population.
A three-judge panel in New York City blocked Trump's reapportionment order in September. The court said two federal statutes controlling the census leave no room for Trump's policy. Those laws, the court found, require that census officials report a single set of figures to the president—namely, "the tabulation of total population by states"—and that the president must then send an apportionment scheme to Congress based solely on this tabulation.
The Trump administration counters that the plaintiffs have no basis, called standing, for challenging the directive. Even if they do, they argue federal law gives the executive branch significant discretion in administering the census.
While the justices may be able to dodge other Trump-related cases, the Court will have to resolve the reapportionment case before Trump leaves office because of the deadlines in the census laws.
Another dispute involves a House Democratic effort to obtain materials from the Mueller grand jury that are currently shielded by secrecy rules. The House Judiciary Committee told lower courts it needs that evidence to decide whether a second round of impeachment articles are necessary.
The relevant rules allow for release "in connection with a judicial proceeding." The initial question was whether impeachment counts as such a proceeding, but Biden's victory scrambled the legal landscape.
The House Judiciary Committee asked the justices on Tuesday to reschedule arguments in the case, now set for December 2. A lawyer for House Democrats told the justices that the committee will reevaluate its pursuit of the grand jury materials once the new Congress is seated and President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January. The House did not propose an alternative argument date.
Other cases have more obvious outs for the Court.
A pressing concern for Trump himself is whether Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance can enforce a subpoena for his financial records. The High Court in July rebuffed arguments that the president is absolutely immune from state criminal process but allowed Trump to challenge Vance's subpoena on other grounds. The Manhattan prosecutor has since prevailed in another round of litigation. Trump filed an application asking the justices to stay those victories, or put them on hold, while he prepares a formal appeal.
A fourth case asks whether First Amendment free speech protections bar the president from blocking critics on Twitter. Two lower courts said the answer is yes.
By January, Trump will be a private citizen. That's a challenge for him because his arguments in the Vance case stem in part from his unique position as president. And in the Twitter case, a Biden DOJ could simply back out of the dispute.
"I think the Court might want to slowplay those as much as possible," said Washington University law professor Dan Epps, who studies the Supreme Court. "I'm not sure if they will feel comfortable stalling until January but it's definitely not impossible. I'm sure the chief would be happy to do that, but some of his more conservative colleagues may not like that approach."
Legal papers for the Vance case and the Twitter case were submitted over a month ago. The long delay in the Vance dispute in particular could indicate that some of the justices are looking for an exit strategy, as stay requests are usually processed quickly. Holding those cases past the inauguration would be unusual but not unprecedented.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--Biden Taps Staffer Who Said Suicide Bombings Were ‘Last Resort’ for Palestinians

The latest senior staffer tapped by President-elect Joe Biden ( D. ) has defended Palestinian suicide bombings as `` the last resort of a desperate people . ''
Biden on Monday tapped Reema Dodin to serve as the deputy director for the Office of Legislative Affairs .
The Jewish News Syndicate reported Tuesday that Dodin gave a presentation on the Second Intifada—a violent Palestinian uprising against the Israeli government in the early 2000s—while a student at the University of California , Berkeley , in 2002 .
During the talk , Dodin claimed that the Israeli government had left Palestinians hopeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last resort of a desperate people , '' she said .
Dodin has worked on Capitol Hill for Sen. Dick Durbin ( D. , Ill. ) since 2011 , currently serving as his deputy chief of staff .
According to USA Today , Dodin has volunteered on multiple campaigns , including that of former president Barack Obama .
She will become the first Palestinian-American White House staffer .
Dodin 's presentation at Berkeley took place two years into the Second Intifada , which Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat devised in the early 2000s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks killed more than 1,000 Israelis .

The latest senior staffer tapped by President-elect Joe Biden (D.) has defended Palestinian suicide bombings as "the last resort of a desperate people."
Biden on Monday tapped Reema Dodin to serve as the deputy director for the Office of Legislative Affairs. The Jewish News Syndicate reported Tuesday that Dodin gave a presentation on the Second Intifada—a violent Palestinian uprising against the Israeli government in the early 2000s—while a student at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2002.
During the talk, Dodin claimed that the Israeli government had left Palestinians hopeless.
"The suicide bombers were the last resort of a desperate people," she said.
Dodin has worked on Capitol Hill for Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) since 2011, currently serving as his deputy chief of staff. According to USA Today, Dodin has volunteered on multiple campaigns, including that of former president Barack Obama.
She will become the first Palestinian-American White House staffer.
Dodin's presentation at Berkeley took place two years into the Second Intifada, which Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat devised in the early 2000s. From 2000 to 2005, Palestinian terrorist attacks killed more than 1,000 Israelis.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--TRAILBLAZERS: Prominent Interracial Couples Who Paved the Way for Doug Emhoff and Wife

The Washington Post reports that incoming First Man of the United States Doug Emhoff and his `` powerful , ambitious @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris , are set to become `` the first interracial couple at the highest @ @ @ @ @ . ''
That 's an achievement worth celebrating , but it 's also an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ interracial couples in American politics who helped pave the way for the incoming Second Family @ @ @ @ @ Here are four pairs of pioneering trailblazers who helped make it possible .
Baird died @ @ @ @ @ before Curtis made history as the first person of color to be elected vice president @ @ @ @ @ ( Harris will be the second . )

The Washington Post reports that incoming First Man of the United States Doug Emhoff and his "powerful, ambitious wife," Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, are set to become "the first interracial couple at the highest reaches of the executive branch."
That's an achievement worth celebrating, but it's also an opportunity to highlight some of the interracial couples in American politics who helped pave the way for the incoming Second Family and its historic victory. Here are four pairs of pioneering trailblazers who helped make it possible.
1) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao
Washington power couple since 1993.
2) Clarence and Virginia Thomas
Supreme team since 1987.
3) Jeb and Columba Bush
Blazing trails since 1974.
4) Charles Curtis and Annie Baird
Baird died in 1924, four years before Curtis made history as the first person of color to be elected vice president of the United States. (Harris will be the second.)


freebeacon--2020-11-24--Prison Abolitionists Work to ‘Secure the Senate’ in Georgia

A group of far-left activists working to end federal funding for police and `` close all federal prisons '' is pledging to spend big in Georgia in an effort to `` secure the Senate . ''
Black Lives Matter cofounder Patrisse Cullors launched BLM PAC in October in order to `` ensure there are candidates in office that manifest the demands from the streets for the liberation of Black and brown communities . ''
Cullors requested financial support for the super PAC in a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter , promising to invest in a `` strong digital and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' as part of the group 's bid to `` secure the Senate . ''
In the same interview , Cullors touted her pressure campaign on the incoming Biden administration to pass the BREATHE Act in its first 100 days in office .
The legislation , which is backed by ultra-progressive `` Squad '' members Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
and Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) , aims to close all federal prisons , end federal funding for police hiring , abolish ICE and the DEA , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We need to radically reimagine our concept of justice and safety , '' Cullors wrote in a recent op-ed .
The PAC 's involvement in the runoff elections could undermine recent attempts by Democratic Senate hopefuls Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to distance themselves from the `` defund the police '' movement .
While Ossoff in June said funding for police departments has to be `` on the line , '' he has since stated that he does not support defunding police .
Warnock , meanwhile , said during a series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like thugs and bullies , and a senior adviser to the Democrat claimed that defunding police `` is n't as radical as some may think '' in a June tweet .
Warnock has since released an ad saying that he `` does not support defunding the police . ''
Neither Ossoff nor Warnock returned requests for comment on whether they would support the BREATHE Act should they be elected to the Senate .
Tlaib voiced her support for the bill during a July unveiling , with the Michigan Democrat committing to `` fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sense of urgency . ''
Black Lives Matter leadership registered BLM PAC with the Federal Election Commission in early October .
According to Cullors , the PAC—in coordination with the Working Families Party—made hundreds of thousands of phone calls to prospective voters in Georgia and South Carolina ahead of the Nov. 3 election .
The Working Families Party has organized its own out-of-state phone banks for Ossoff and Warnock and is a leading voice in the movement to defund police .
The party 's electoral arm , WFP Justice Fund , works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders who pledge to defund police '' and has spent more than $ 900,000 supporting Warnock , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
BLM PAC has yet to reveal its electoral expenditures .
Ossoff and Warnock are running to unseat Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in Georgia 's Jan. 5 runoff elections , which will determine control of the Senate .
The Republicans have criticized Ossoff and Warnock 's `` anti-police '' rhetoric , with Perdue calling to `` defend our police , not defund them . ''

A group of far-left activists working to end federal funding for police and "close all federal prisons" is pledging to spend big in Georgia in an effort to "secure the Senate."
Black Lives Matter cofounder Patrisse Cullors launched BLM PAC in October in order to "ensure there are candidates in office that manifest the demands from the streets for the liberation of Black and brown communities." Cullors requested financial support for the super PAC in a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, promising to invest in a "strong digital and grassroots strategy in the Georgia runoff election" as part of the group's bid to "secure the Senate."
In the same interview, Cullors touted her pressure campaign on the incoming Biden administration to pass the BREATHE Act in its first 100 days in office. The legislation, which is backed by ultra-progressive "Squad" members Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), aims to close all federal prisons, end federal funding for police hiring, abolish ICE and the DEA, and end life sentences and mandatory minimums.
"We need to radically reimagine our concept of justice and safety," Cullors wrote in a recent op-ed.
The PAC's involvement in the runoff elections could undermine recent attempts by Democratic Senate hopefuls Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to distance themselves from the "defund the police" movement. While Ossoff in June said funding for police departments has to be "on the line," he has since stated that he does not support defunding police. Warnock, meanwhile, said during a series of 2015 sermons that many police officers behave like thugs and bullies, and a senior adviser to the Democrat claimed that defunding police "isn't as radical as some may think" in a June tweet. Warnock has since released an ad saying that he "does not support defunding the police."
Neither Ossoff nor Warnock returned requests for comment on whether they would support the BREATHE Act should they be elected to the Senate. Tlaib voiced her support for the bill during a July unveiling, with the Michigan Democrat committing to "fully engaging with this legislation seriously and with a sense of urgency."
Black Lives Matter leadership registered BLM PAC with the Federal Election Commission in early October. According to Cullors, the PAC—in coordination with the Working Families Party—made hundreds of thousands of phone calls to prospective voters in Georgia and South Carolina ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
The Working Families Party has organized its own out-of-state phone banks for Ossoff and Warnock and is a leading voice in the movement to defund police. The party's electoral arm, WFP Justice Fund, works to "elect the next generation of leaders who pledge to defund police" and has spent more than $900,000 supporting Warnock, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. BLM PAC has yet to reveal its electoral expenditures.
Ossoff and Warnock are running to unseat Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in Georgia's Jan. 5 runoff elections, which will determine control of the Senate. The Republicans have criticized Ossoff and Warnock's "anti-police" rhetoric, with Perdue calling to "defend our police, not defund them."


freebeacon--2020-11-24--Google Plans First Fiber-Optic Network Between Saudi Arabia and Israel

Google is planning a fiber-optic network that will connect Saudi Arabia and Israel through internet traffic for the first time as part of a larger project sending signals from Europe to India .
The project , called the Blue Raman internet cable route , will run 5,000 miles and could cost up to $ 400 million , a Dubai-based telecommunications company told the Wall Street Journal .
The project aims to circumvent internet traffic going through Egypt , which charges outsized fees to telecommunications companies for connections traveling between Europe and India .
This alternate route could bring together Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , economically and politically .
Neither country has formally opened channels of communication , but a flurry of peace deals that the United States brokered between Israel and other Gulf countries opens the door to economic arrangements .
Israeli communications minister Yoaz Hendel expressed openness and optimism about the plan .
`` In any place where you can lay down cables overland or undersea , you also create mutual interests , '' he said in an interview .
Hendel downplayed concerns about data breaches , saying Israel `` knows how to defend its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blue Raman project is only one of many economic agreements Jerusalem has scored in recent months with other Gulf countries .
Because of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords , Israel now allows travel to and from the United Arab Emirates , and it has also opened the door to other Muslim-majority countries such as Kosovo and Bahrain .
Since the first wave of normalization , the Trump administration has eyed normalizing economic and diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia as its main goal in the region .
In a final push before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Mike Pompeo has concentrated his efforts on increasing engagement between the two countries .
While on a seven-nation tour through the Middle East , Pompeo told National Review that he expects `` many countries '' to follow in the footsteps of Muslim-majority Gulf nations that have already recognized Israeli sovereignty .
`` I 'm confident there 'll be more nations that will follow , '' Pompeo said .
`` The reason I 'm confident , by the way , is because it 's the right thing for those countries to do .
@

Google is planning a fiber-optic network that will connect Saudi Arabia and Israel through internet traffic for the first time as part of a larger project sending signals from Europe to India.
The project, called the Blue Raman internet cable route, will run 5,000 miles and could cost up to $400 million, a Dubai-based telecommunications company told the Wall Street Journal. The project aims to circumvent internet traffic going through Egypt, which charges outsized fees to telecommunications companies for connections traveling between Europe and India.
This alternate route could bring together Israel and Saudi Arabia, two historic adversaries, economically and politically. Neither country has formally opened channels of communication, but a flurry of peace deals that the United States brokered between Israel and other Gulf countries opens the door to economic arrangements.
Israeli communications minister Yoaz Hendel expressed openness and optimism about the plan.
"In any place where you can lay down cables overland or undersea, you also create mutual interests," he said in an interview.
Hendel downplayed concerns about data breaches, saying Israel "knows how to defend its infrastructure and its data."
The Blue Raman project is only one of many economic agreements Jerusalem has scored in recent months with other Gulf countries. Because of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, Israel now allows travel to and from the United Arab Emirates, and it has also opened the door to other Muslim-majority countries such as Kosovo and Bahrain.
Since the first wave of normalization, the Trump administration has eyed normalizing economic and diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia as its main goal in the region. In a final push before the Biden administration takes over, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has concentrated his efforts on increasing engagement between the two countries.
While on a seven-nation tour through the Middle East, Pompeo told National Review that he expects "many countries" to follow in the footsteps of Muslim-majority Gulf nations that have already recognized Israeli sovereignty.
"I'm confident there'll be more nations that will follow," Pompeo said. "The reason I'm confident, by the way, is because it's the right thing for those countries to do."


freebeacon--2020-11-24--KISS OF DEATH: Dem Losers Throw Money Into Georgia Senate Fire

Two of the Democratic Party 's biggest ( and most expensive ) losers in 2020 are preparing to spend even more money on the upcoming Senate runoff elections in Georgia .
Jaime Harrison , who raised a record-breaking $ 107 million for his campaign against Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R. , S.C. ) only to lose by more than 10 percentage points , has launched a political action committee that will support the Democratic Party 's efforts to flip both Senate seats in Georgia .
The Dirt Road PAC , as it is called , is just the latest outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promises to be one of the most expensive statewide elections in history .
The announcement comes two weeks after failed Senate candidate Amy McGrath launched Democratic Majority Action , a PAC that will also focus its efforts on Georgia .
McGrath raised more than $ 88 million in her bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) , who won reelection by almost 20 percentage points .
The Democratic Party 's performance in key 2020 Senate races constitutes perhaps the biggest waste of money in the history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's and McGrath 's failed campaigns , unsuccessful efforts in Iowa , Maine , Montana , and North Carolina raised a combined $ 400 million .
Of all the Democratic failures , only Cal Cunningham in North Carolina came within 6 percentage points of defeating the GOP incumbent .
The Georgia runoff elections will feature one of the Democratic Party 's most prolific human cash incinerators in Jon Ossoff , who previously raised a record-breaking $ 30 million in a failed run for Congress in a district where he could n't even vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
Ossoff is attempting to unseat incumbent senator David Perdue ( R. , Ga. ) .
Raphael Warnock , the other Democrat running for Senate in Georgia , is facing incumbent senator Kelly Loeffler ( R. , Ga. ) .
The elections will take place on Jan. 5 , just weeks before President-elect Joe Biden is scheduled to be inaugurated .
Republicans currently control 50 seats in the Senate .
Democrats control 48 but can still secure a narrow majority by winning both Georgia seats given incoming vice president Kamala Harris 's @ @ @ @ @ @

Two of the Democratic Party's biggest (and most expensive) losers in 2020 are preparing to spend even more money on the upcoming Senate runoff elections in Georgia.
Jaime Harrison, who raised a record-breaking $107 million for his campaign against Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) only to lose by more than 10 percentage points, has launched a political action committee that will support the Democratic Party's efforts to flip both Senate seats in Georgia. The Dirt Road PAC, as it is called, is just the latest outside spending group to take part in what promises to be one of the most expensive statewide elections in history.
The announcement comes two weeks after failed Senate candidate Amy McGrath launched Democratic Majority Action, a PAC that will also focus its efforts on Georgia. McGrath raised more than $88 million in her bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), who won reelection by almost 20 percentage points.
The Democratic Party's performance in key 2020 Senate races constitutes perhaps the biggest waste of money in the history of American politics. In addition to Harrison's and McGrath's failed campaigns, unsuccessful efforts in Iowa, Maine, Montana, and North Carolina raised a combined $400 million. Of all the Democratic failures, only Cal Cunningham in North Carolina came within 6 percentage points of defeating the GOP incumbent.
The Georgia runoff elections will feature one of the Democratic Party's most prolific human cash incinerators in Jon Ossoff, who previously raised a record-breaking $30 million in a failed run for Congress in a district where he couldn't even vote for himself because he didn't live there.
Ossoff is attempting to unseat incumbent senator David Perdue (R., Ga.). Raphael Warnock, the other Democrat running for Senate in Georgia, is facing incumbent senator Kelly Loeffler (R., Ga.). The elections will take place on Jan. 5, just weeks before President-elect Joe Biden is scheduled to be inaugurated.
Republicans currently control 50 seats in the Senate. Democrats control 48 but can still secure a narrow majority by winning both Georgia seats given incoming vice president Kamala Harris's ability to cast tie-breaking votes.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--Cornell Activists Threaten Peers Who Voted Against Disarming the Police

Cornell University activists are threatening student government representatives who voted against disarming the campus police .
On Nov. 19 , Cornell 's student government voted by a 15-14 margin not to disarm the campus police .
Following the failed resolution , activists took to social media to harass and threaten the representatives who opposed the bill .
After a member of the student government posted the full names of each opponent in a group text for students of color , activists plastered the list on Instagram and Twitter , resulting in an onslaught of threats .
Joe Anderson , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his peers to fight the representatives who rejected disarming the police .
`` And when I say fight , literally fight them , I ca n't stand those ugly people , '' Anderson said .
Another student , who goes by the Twitter name `` Youssanta claus , '' said he wanted to beat up a non-voting member of the student government , but was unable to identify him because `` all these white men looked the same . ''
The member in question , Zion Sherin , faced a torrent of abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote , a video of which was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Zion I will beat your a— , please put your address in the chat , '' one student yelled .
`` Suck my a— , '' another said .
The videographer—who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution—told the Free Beacon that she began recording the video after a student government member promised to remove any post-vote discussion from public record .
Sherin did not respond to requests for comment .
A student government insider , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that many of the students who voted against the resolution are in favor of a counter-resolution that reforms the campus police and offers more `` inclusive '' services .
Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police , student activists have demanded the abolition of campus police departments .
Students at Northwestern University burned and vandalized school property after the university said it would not abolish the campus police .
At the University of Pennsylvania , students and professors called on the school to disarm police officers and eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Activists at Johns Hopkins University achieved their goal when the school announced it would delay the development of a campus police department for at least two years .
The day after the Cornell vote failed , members of the university 's Abolitionist Revolutionary Society hosted a rally outside of campus police headquarters .
The protest organizers called on students to recall the 15 student government members who voted against the resolution .
In response , one representative , Carlo Castillo , said he would change his vote , telling the Cornell Daily Sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Castillo did not respond to requests for comment .

Cornell University activists are threatening student government representatives who voted against disarming the campus police.
On Nov. 19, Cornell's student government voted by a 15-14 margin not to disarm the campus police. Following the failed resolution, activists took to social media to harass and threaten the representatives who opposed the bill. After a member of the student government posted the full names of each opponent in a group text for students of color, activists plastered the list on Instagram and Twitter, resulting in an onslaught of threats.
Joe Anderson, a former student government president, called on his peers to fight the representatives who rejected disarming the police. "And when I say fight, literally fight them, I can't stand those ugly people," Anderson said.
Another student, who goes by the Twitter name "Youssanta claus," said he wanted to beat up a non-voting member of the student government, but was unable to identify him because "all these white men looked the same."
The member in question, Zion Sherin, faced a torrent of abuse in an online student government meeting following the vote, a video of which was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. "Zion I will beat your a—, please put your address in the chat," one student yelled. "Suck my a—," another said.
The videographer—who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution—told the Free Beacon that she began recording the video after a student government member promised to remove any post-vote discussion from public record. Sherin did not respond to requests for comment.
A student government insider, who also wished to remain anonymous, said that many of the students who voted against the resolution are in favor of a counter-resolution that reforms the campus police and offers more "inclusive" services.
Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police, student activists have demanded the abolition of campus police departments. Students at Northwestern University burned and vandalized school property after the university said it would not abolish the campus police. At the University of Pennsylvania, students and professors called on the school to disarm police officers and eliminate the university's crime alert system. Activists at Johns Hopkins University achieved their goal when the school announced it would delay the development of a campus police department for at least two years.
The day after the Cornell vote failed, members of the university's Abolitionist Revolutionary Society hosted a rally outside of campus police headquarters. The protest organizers called on students to recall the 15 student government members who voted against the resolution.
In response, one representative, Carlo Castillo, said he would change his vote, telling the Cornell Daily Sun that he is currently demanding a recount. Castillo did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--Court Rules Texas and Louisiana Can Drop Planned Parenthood From Medicaid

A circuit court ruled Monday that Texas and Louisiana can exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funding , a win for the movement to deprive the abortion provider of federal funding .
The Fifth U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a district court 's preliminary injunction preventing the exclusion of Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funding .
The court of appeals ruled in an 11-5 majority that Planned Parenthood did not have the right to challenge the state 's decisions regarding who receives Medicaid benefits .
Medicaid beneficiaries `` have no right under the statute to challenge a State ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the court 's chief judge wrote in the majority 's opinion .
Because Planned Parenthood , or its patients , did not have the right to challenge Texas or Louisiana 's decision to remove it from Medicaid benefits , the states are allowed to proceed with removing the organization from Medicaid funding .
The legal battle over Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood in the two states began in 2015 after the release of controversial undercover videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood employees discussing the sale of fetal tissue .
Texas and Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provider out of Medicaid funding , citing the videos as evidence that the organization showed a willingness to profit off the sale of fetal tissue .
In 2017 , a lower court blocked the states from cutting off the Medicaid funding .
The loss of Medicaid funding comes after Planned Parenthood withdrew from Title X funding because of a Trump administration rule forbidding participants in the program from providing direct abortion referrals .
The organization can not receive federal funding for abortion services but does receive Medicaid funding for other health care services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision for politicizing health care coverage .
`` The governor wants to control where you can get family planning and sexual health care — once again , political ideology is driving health care policy , resulting in reduced access to care , '' said Planned Parenthood South Texas president and CEO Jeffrey Hons .
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton , along with pro-life groups , cheered the decision .
`` The Fifth Circuit correctly rejected Planned Parenthood ’ s efforts to prevent Texas from excluding them from the state ’ s Medicaid program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video plainly showed Planned Parenthood admitting to morally bankrupt and unlawful conduct , including violations of federal law by manipulating the timing and methods of abortions to obtain fetal tissue for their own research . ''
Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser praised the state leaders for `` working tirelessly to disentangle taxpayer dollars from the abortion industry . ''
The case is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court .

A circuit court ruled Monday that Texas and Louisiana can exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funding, a win for the movement to deprive the abortion provider of federal funding.
The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a district court's preliminary injunction preventing the exclusion of Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funding. The court of appeals ruled in an 11-5 majority that Planned Parenthood did not have the right to challenge the state's decisions regarding who receives Medicaid benefits.
Medicaid beneficiaries "have no right under the statute to challenge a State’s determination that a provider is unqualified," the court's chief judge wrote in the majority's opinion. Because Planned Parenthood, or its patients, did not have the right to challenge Texas or Louisiana's decision to remove it from Medicaid benefits, the states are allowed to proceed with removing the organization from Medicaid funding.
The legal battle over Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood in the two states began in 2015 after the release of controversial undercover videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood employees discussing the sale of fetal tissue. Texas and Louisiana state officials moved to kick the abortion provider out of Medicaid funding, citing the videos as evidence that the organization showed a willingness to profit off the sale of fetal tissue. In 2017, a lower court blocked the states from cutting off the Medicaid funding.
The loss of Medicaid funding comes after Planned Parenthood withdrew from Title X funding because of a Trump administration rule forbidding participants in the program from providing direct abortion referrals. The organization cannot receive federal funding for abortion services but does receive Medicaid funding for other health care services it provides.
Planned Parenthood criticized the decision for politicizing health care coverage.
"The governor wants to control where you can get family planning and sexual health care — once again, political ideology is driving health care policy, resulting in reduced access to care," said Planned Parenthood South Texas president and CEO Jeffrey Hons.
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, along with pro-life groups, cheered the decision.
"The Fifth Circuit correctly rejected Planned Parenthood’s efforts to prevent Texas from excluding them from the state’s Medicaid program," Paxton said. "Undercover video plainly showed Planned Parenthood admitting to morally bankrupt and unlawful conduct, including violations of federal law by manipulating the timing and methods of abortions to obtain fetal tissue for their own research."
Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser praised the state leaders for "working tirelessly to disentangle taxpayer dollars from the abortion industry."
The case is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--US Navy Destroyer Takes on Russian Forces in Pacific

A U.S. Navy destroyer took on Russian forces on Tuesday in a direct challenge to Moscow 's territorial claims in the Pacific .
Dispatched from a Navy base in Japan , the USS John McCain set out for Peter the Great Bay in the Western Pacific to combat Russia 's `` excessive maritime claims , '' according to a statement from the Navy .
As it conducted the freedom of navigation exercise , a Russian warship confronted the McCain and threatened to ram the American ship if it refused to change course .
Moscow maintains that after this warning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Navy , however , says the destroyer did not leave the territory and continued its operation .
`` This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights , freedoms , and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law , '' the Navy said in a statement .
`` The United States will never bow in intimidation or be coerced into accepting illegitimate maritime claims , such as those made by the Russian Federation . ''
Peter the Great Bay sits off of Russia 's eastern coastline and neighbors North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed the bay as its territory , a claim that Russia maintains to this day .
The United States has never recognized the area as belonging to Moscow , saying it is inconsistent with international law and threatens freedom of navigation .
The dustup between Washington and Moscow comes only days after the Trump administration officially withdrew from the Open Skies Treaty , citing Russia 's abuse of the agreement to hinder American intelligence gathering .

A U.S. Navy destroyer took on Russian forces on Tuesday in a direct challenge to Moscow's territorial claims in the Pacific.
Dispatched from a Navy base in Japan, the USS John McCain set out for Peter the Great Bay in the Western Pacific to combat Russia's "excessive maritime claims," according to a statement from the Navy.
As it conducted the freedom of navigation exercise, a Russian warship confronted the McCain and threatened to ram the American ship if it refused to change course. Moscow maintains that after this warning, the McCain pivoted back toward international waters. The Navy, however, says the destroyer did not leave the territory and continued its operation.
"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law," the Navy said in a statement. "The United States will never bow in intimidation or be coerced into accepting illegitimate maritime claims, such as those made by the Russian Federation."
Peter the Great Bay sits off of Russia's eastern coastline and neighbors North Korea. In 1984, the Soviet Union claimed the bay as its territory, a claim that Russia maintains to this day. The United States has never recognized the area as belonging to Moscow, saying it is inconsistent with international law and threatens freedom of navigation.
The dustup between Washington and Moscow comes only days after the Trump administration officially withdrew from the Open Skies Treaty, citing Russia's abuse of the agreement to hinder American intelligence gathering.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--In Space Program Push, China Launches Moon Probe

China launched a probe directed to collect lunar samples on Tuesday , making it the first country to do so in nearly 50 years .
The unmanned Chang ’ e-5 lunar mission launched from the southern province of Hainan and will attempt to enter the moon ’ s orbit .
Once fully in orbit , the probe will send two vehicles to the moon ’ s surface to collect rock and soil samples .
No country has collected lunar samples since the Soviet Union in 1976 .
The United States last brought back samples from the moon 's surface in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid a larger effort by the Chinese Communist Party to achieve supremacy in space .
By the 2030s , China hopes to launch its own manned mission to the moon , making it the second country to do so after the United States .
China also hopes to launch its own independent space station by 2022 .
China ’ s private space industry is already playing a large role in the regime 's ambitions for space .
Last week , private space-faring company GalaxySpace announced its valuation rose to $ 1.2 billion after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backing from the Chinese government .
The company works to close the rapidly shrinking satellite gap between Washington and Beijing .
GalaxySpace is not the only company engaged in such efforts .
Since 2014 , China has welcomed the creation of around 100 private space companies to bolster its efforts in orbit .
Through China 's policy of military-civil fusion , the Chinese Communist Party has nearly unrestricted access to the tools and information of these private companies .
U.S. defense experts worry Beijing could use its control over private enterprises to threaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official told the Washington Free Beacon in September that China works relentlessly to achieve `` space great power status '' through major investments in military and civil endeavors in space .
The Trump administration has renewed focus on space as a domain of competition by creating the Space Force , reestablishing Space Command , and encouraging American private enterprise to play a role in space .
Senior U.S. officials have also met with allies to pursue cooperation on security issues in space .
Given the prospect of a shrinking defense budget under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress made under the Trump administration to promote national security could halt .
Aside from sparse congratulatory remarks upon news of successful rocket launches , Biden has not emphasized space issues throughout his campaign .

China launched a probe directed to collect lunar samples on Tuesday, making it the first country to do so in nearly 50 years.
The unmanned Chang’e-5 lunar mission launched from the southern province of Hainan and will attempt to enter the moon’s orbit. Once fully in orbit, the probe will send two vehicles to the moon’s surface to collect rock and soil samples.
No country has collected lunar samples since the Soviet Union in 1976. The United States last brought back samples from the moon's surface in 1972.
Beijing’s launch comes amid a larger effort by the Chinese Communist Party to achieve supremacy in space. By the 2030s, China hopes to launch its own manned mission to the moon, making it the second country to do so after the United States. China also hopes to launch its own independent space station by 2022.
China’s private space industry is already playing a large role in the regime's ambitions for space. Last week, private space-faring company GalaxySpace announced its valuation rose to $1.2 billion after a new round of investments, including backing from the Chinese government. The company works to close the rapidly shrinking satellite gap between Washington and Beijing.
GalaxySpace is not the only company engaged in such efforts. Since 2014, China has welcomed the creation of around 100 private space companies to bolster its efforts in orbit. Through China's policy of military-civil fusion, the Chinese Communist Party has nearly unrestricted access to the tools and information of these private companies. U.S. defense experts worry Beijing could use its control over private enterprises to threaten American security interests.
A senior Pentagon official told the Washington Free Beacon in September that China works relentlessly to achieve "space great power status" through major investments in military and civil endeavors in space.
The Trump administration has renewed focus on space as a domain of competition by creating the Space Force, reestablishing Space Command, and encouraging American private enterprise to play a role in space. Senior U.S. officials have also met with allies to pursue cooperation on security issues in space.
Given the prospect of a shrinking defense budget under a Joe Biden administration, experts fear the progress made under the Trump administration to promote national security could halt. Aside from sparse congratulatory remarks upon news of successful rocket launches, Biden has not emphasized space issues throughout his campaign.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--FACT CHECK: Rashida Tlaib and Marc Lamont Hill Are Not ‘Fighters Against Anti-Semitism’

Prominent anti-Semites will be featured participants in a forthcoming panel on `` dismantling anti-Semitism , '' a Washington Free Beacon analysis has determined .
Rep. Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) and former CNN contributor Marc Lamont Hill will participate in the virtual event , `` Dismantling Antisemitism , Winning Justice : A Panel Discussion , '' on December 15 .
A coalition of activist groups is hosting .
Tlaib , who described herself and her fellow panel guests as `` some of the biggest fighters against antisemitism , '' is one of the more prominent anti-Semites to serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she recently attacked Joe Biden 's campaign for seeking to distance itself from Linda Sarsour , a prominent anti-Semitic activist who was ousted from the Women 's March for being anti-Semitic .
It wo n't be the first time Tlaib has appeared on a controversial panel .
In 2019 , she was the keynote speaker at a conference hosted by American Muslims for Palestine , an organization denounced by the Anti-Defamation League for providing `` a platform for anti-Semitism . ''
She has accused U.S. politicians of dual loyalty for supporting Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication founded by Louis Farrakhan , who led chants of `` Death to Israel '' during a 2018 speech in Tehran .
Additionally , the congresswoman defended her fellow panelist , Marc Lamont Hill , after he was fired by CNN in 2018 .
Hill lost his job as a CNN contributor after he appeared to endorse violence against Jews during a speech at the United Nations .
He has refused to denounce Farrakhan , referring to the anti-Semitic leader as `` my brother , '' and has accused Israel of poisoning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hill declared that `` standing up against antisemitism is critical and necessary . ''
FACT CHECK : Tlaib 's claim that she and Hill are `` some of the biggest fighters against antisemitism '' is both misleading and lacking in context .
It is , by almost every reasonable measure , entirely false .
We rate this claim Four Clintons .

Prominent anti-Semites will be featured participants in a forthcoming panel on "dismantling anti-Semitism," a Washington Free Beacon analysis has determined.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) and former CNN contributor Marc Lamont Hill will participate in the virtual event, "Dismantling Antisemitism, Winning Justice: A Panel Discussion," on December 15. A coalition of activist groups is hosting.
Tlaib, who described herself and her fellow panel guests as "some of the biggest fighters against antisemitism," is one of the more prominent anti-Semites to serve in the U.S. Congress. For example, she recently attacked Joe Biden's campaign for seeking to distance itself from Linda Sarsour, a prominent anti-Semitic activist who was ousted from the Women's March for being anti-Semitic.
It won't be the first time Tlaib has appeared on a controversial panel. In 2019, she was the keynote speaker at a conference hosted by American Muslims for Palestine, an organization denounced by the Anti-Defamation League for providing "a platform for anti-Semitism." She has accused U.S. politicians of dual loyalty for supporting Israel and once wrote an op-ed for a publication founded by Louis Farrakhan, who led chants of "Death to Israel" during a 2018 speech in Tehran.
Additionally, the congresswoman defended her fellow panelist, Marc Lamont Hill, after he was fired by CNN in 2018. Hill lost his job as a CNN contributor after he appeared to endorse violence against Jews during a speech at the United Nations. He has refused to denounce Farrakhan, referring to the anti-Semitic leader as "my brother," and has accused Israel of poisoning the drinking water in Palestine. Last week, Hill declared that "standing up against antisemitism is critical and necessary."
FACT CHECK: Tlaib's claim that she and Hill are "some of the biggest fighters against antisemitism" is both misleading and lacking in context. It is, by almost every reasonable measure, entirely false. We rate this claim Four Clintons.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--Seattle City Council Slashes Police Budget

The Seattle City Council on Monday approved a massive budget cut to the city 's police department , which Mayor Jenny Durkan ( D. ) indicated she would sign next week .
As part of the 2021 fiscal year 's budget , the council slashed the Seattle Police Department 's funding by 18 percent .
As a result , Seattle police will no longer have the authority to respond to 911 emergency calls and enforce parking violations .
Overtime and training programs will be cut , and dozens of empty positions will go unfilled .
Durkan and the city council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-police protests broke out in late May .
On Monday , however , the mayor applauded the council for taking a `` more deliberate and measured approach '' to the police budget than it did earlier this summer .
At one point , seven of the council 's nine members pledged to slash police funding by 50 percent .
The Seattle Police Officers Guild said the move would lead to higher crime and homicide rates , which have already been on the rise this year .
`` You 're going to see crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Seattle 's King 5 news .
`` We 're already seeing increased homicide rates that we have n't seen in decades .
You 're going to see longer , if not hardly any , follow-up investigations relative to … a 911 call for help . ''
More than 130 officers have left Seattle 's police force this year , with many citing a lack of support from a `` socialist '' city council as the reason for their departure .
Former police chief Carmen Best announced her resignation in August after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget cut that would have laid off 100 officers .
Seattle 's anti-police protesters made national headlines for attempting to create a police-free `` autonomous zone '' called `` CHOP '' or `` CHAZ . ''
Durkan shut down the zone after four people were shot—two fatally—and several others reported being sexually assaulted there .

The Seattle City Council on Monday approved a massive budget cut to the city's police department, which Mayor Jenny Durkan (D.) indicated she would sign next week.
As part of the 2021 fiscal year's budget, the council slashed the Seattle Police Department's funding by 18 percent. As a result, Seattle police will no longer have the authority to respond to 911 emergency calls and enforce parking violations. Overtime and training programs will be cut, and dozens of empty positions will go unfilled.
Durkan and the city council have sparred over department budget cuts since anti-police protests broke out in late May. On Monday, however, the mayor applauded the council for taking a "more deliberate and measured approach" to the police budget than it did earlier this summer. At one point, seven of the council's nine members pledged to slash police funding by 50 percent.
The Seattle Police Officers Guild said the move would lead to higher crime and homicide rates, which have already been on the rise this year.
"You're going to see crime rise," guild president Mike Solan told Seattle's King 5 news. "We're already seeing increased homicide rates that we haven't seen in decades. You're going to see longer, if not hardly any, follow-up investigations relative to … a 911 call for help."
More than 130 officers have left Seattle's police force this year, with many citing a lack of support from a "socialist" city council as the reason for their departure. Former police chief Carmen Best announced her resignation in August after the city council voted in favor of a budget cut that would have laid off 100 officers.
Seattle's anti-police protesters made national headlines for attempting to create a police-free "autonomous zone" called "CHOP" or "CHAZ." Durkan shut down the zone after four people were shot—two fatally—and several others reported being sexually assaulted there.


freebeacon--2020-11-24--A Noble Sacrifice: From the Shoulders of Giants, Trump Takes Fall to Save Democracy

The Republic for Which It Stands , U.S.A. — President Donald J. Trump etched his name upon the stones of history this week , proclaiming it to be `` in the best interest of our Country '' for grace and decency to prevail .
His noble sacrifice , upon the altar of our Founders ' Dream , will never be forgotten .
In a tweeted declaration as eloquent in reality as Barack Obama imagines himself to be inside his twisted fantasy , Trump stared down the Chinese tanks of national malaise , asserting his full cooperation `` with regard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfer of executive power .
The headlines followed .
`` BREAKING NEWS : Trump lets administration begin Biden transition . ''
The use of the word `` let '' is worth unpacking .
It has another meaning : to rent , as in an apartment .
Trump knows real estate and , in a way , he rented himself to the nation , free of charge , these past four years .
He gave us shelter from the storm , safety in his warm embrace , and comfort in the lavish bounty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We 'll miss it when he 's gone .
The libs were wrong , as always .
They were expecting a coup , an autogolpe of the cruelest kind .
They would n't have been able to stop it , either .
They 're a bunch of cowards .
Impassioned voters stood by their president and demanded the will of the people be heard , libs be damned .
The hard right 's foremost intellectual and fiercest rhetorician made the case .
Trump had other ideas .
Unlike his opponents , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gained from years of dominance in the field of athletics , among other areas , Trump allowed the system to work .
What transpired was a coup de grâce , a final blow of mercy to the lewd delusions harbored over the last four years , a solemn prayer : that the deranged minds of wicked libs may find peace , at last .
With two simple words— '' initial protocols '' —Trump laid down his mighty sword .
What evil forces lurk out there , he would fight them for us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then as a private citizen whose sense of duty compels him to put country first .
Trump triumphed in the end , as he so often does , as only he can .
He did n't even need a second term .
He 'd accomplished all he set out to achieve .
Perhaps , like so many of us , even Trump himself had grown tired of winning .
America is a better place for having welcomed him into the People 's House , which frankly was a step down compared with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mount Rushmore ?

Trump's final act (for now) a selfless one in service of the greater good—for all mankind
When you are with me, I'm free
I'm careless, I believe
Above all the others we'll fly
This brings tears to my eyes
My sacrifice —Scott Stapp
The Republic for Which It Stands, U.S.A. — President Donald J. Trump etched his name upon the stones of history this week, proclaiming it to be "in the best interest of our Country" for grace and decency to prevail. His noble sacrifice, upon the altar of our Founders' Dream, will never be forgotten.
In a tweeted declaration as eloquent in reality as Barack Obama imagines himself to be inside his twisted fantasy, Trump stared down the Chinese tanks of national malaise, asserting his full cooperation "with regard to initial protocols" that govern the peaceful transfer of executive power.
The headlines followed. "BREAKING NEWS: Trump lets administration begin Biden transition." The use of the word "let" is worth unpacking. It has another meaning: to rent, as in an apartment. Trump knows real estate and, in a way, he rented himself to the nation, free of charge, these past four years.
He gave us shelter from the storm, safety in his warm embrace, and comfort in the lavish bounty of his heart, coursing thick with empathy. We'll miss it when he's gone.
The libs were wrong, as always. They were expecting a coup, an autogolpe of the cruelest kind. They wouldn't have been able to stop it, either. They're a bunch of cowards. Impassioned voters stood by their president and demanded the will of the people be heard, libs be damned. The hard right's foremost intellectual and fiercest rhetorician made the case.
Trump had other ideas. Unlike his opponents, he believed in democracy. With a confidence gained from years of dominance in the field of athletics, among other areas, Trump allowed the system to work.
What transpired was a coup de grâce, a final blow of mercy to the lewd delusions harbored over the last four years, a solemn prayer: that the deranged minds of wicked libs may find peace, at last.
With two simple words—"initial protocols"—Trump laid down his mighty sword. What evil forces lurk out there, he would fight them for us, if not as commander in chief, then as a private citizen whose sense of duty compels him to put country first.
Trump triumphed in the end, as he so often does, as only he can. He didn't even need a second term. He'd accomplished all he set out to achieve. Perhaps, like so many of us, even Trump himself had grown tired of winning.
America is a better place for having welcomed him into the People's House, which frankly was a step down compared with his many other homes. Next stop, Mount Rushmore?