freebeacon--2020-07-30--In Bow to NBA’s ‘Inclusive’ Values, China to Install Gender-Neutral Bathrooms at Xinjiang Labor Camp

In Bow to NBA’s ‘Inclusive’ Values, China to Install Gender-Neutral Bathrooms at Xinjiang Labor Camps

Bowing to pressure from NBA executives to foster an environment more consistent with the league 's stated values of `` respect , inclusion , and diversity , '' the Chinese government has agreed to install gender-neutral bathrooms at its forced-labor detention facilities in Xinjiang province , according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN .
The Chinese concession is a much-needed public-relations victory for the NBA following a damning report on several league-sponsored training academies in China where players were physically abused and denied promised educational opportunities .
A former NBA employee compared the atmosphere at one such facility in Xinjiang to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Chinese state media reported that authorities in Xinjiang , where more than a million Uyghur Muslims are confined in government-run concentration camps and subject to a ruthless campaign of ethnic cleansing , have also declared that facilities such as copper mines , torture dungeons , enhanced interrogation cells , and reeducation grottos would no longer be segregated according to gender identity .
NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised China 's announcement as a `` slam dunk for human rights '' and applauded President Xi Jinping for `` not dropping the ball when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In exchange , Silver said , the NBA would reconsider its opposition to forcing non-playoff teams to enlist in a pro-China mercenary force that would be on call to assist in the pacification of Chinese Taipei .
Mark Tatum , the league 's deputy commissioner and chief operating officer , said he was hopeful the United States would `` follow China 's lead on human rights '' by continuing to promote inclusion , anti-racism , and white fragility .
He cited `` significant progress '' since 2017 , when the NBA refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N.C. , in response to a state law requiring individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to the gender listed on their birth certificates .

Bowing to pressure from NBA executives to foster an environment more consistent with the league's stated values of "respect, inclusion, and diversity," the Chinese government has agreed to install gender-neutral bathrooms at its forced-labor detention facilities in Xinjiang province, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Chinese concession is a much-needed public-relations victory for the NBA following a damning report on several league-sponsored training academies in China where players were physically abused and denied promised educational opportunities. A former NBA employee compared the atmosphere at one such facility in Xinjiang to that of "World War II Germany."
Chinese state media reported that authorities in Xinjiang, where more than a million Uyghur Muslims are confined in government-run concentration camps and subject to a ruthless campaign of ethnic cleansing, have also declared that facilities such as copper mines, torture dungeons, enhanced interrogation cells, and reeducation grottos would no longer be segregated according to gender identity.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised China's announcement as a "slam dunk for human rights" and applauded President Xi Jinping for "not dropping the ball when it comes to gender neutrality." In exchange, Silver said, the NBA would reconsider its opposition to forcing non-playoff teams to enlist in a pro-China mercenary force that would be on call to assist in the pacification of Chinese Taipei.
Mark Tatum, the league's deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, said he was hopeful the United States would "follow China's lead on human rights" by continuing to promote inclusion, anti-racism, and white fragility. He cited "significant progress" since 2017, when the NBA refused to hold its All-Star Game in Charlotte, N.C., in response to a state law requiring individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to the gender listed on their birth certificates.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Biden Makes False Statement About U.S. Economic Contraction

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden touted a false statistic Thursday about the economy 's contraction in the last quarter , using the inflated annualized figure instead of the quarterly one .
`` Today , we learned that the last three months were the worst period for economic growth our nation has experienced in the 70 years since we started measuring it—a drop of nearly 33 percent , '' Biden said .
`` And the already unthinkably high numbers of American workers filing for unemployment each week continues to go in the wrong direction . ''
The nation 's gross domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April to June , largely due to extended shutdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic .
GDP shrank by an annualized rate of 32.9 percent , according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis , but the economy is highly unlikely to similarly contract over the next nine months , making it an unreliable metric .
President Donald Trump 's campaign criticized journalists and media outlets , such as NBC News , who reported the annualized figure as the quarterly one .
`` These economic numbers reflect April through June , when much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of American lives , '' Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement .
`` The media is also grabbing onto the annualized number which supposes that the economic conditions will remain the same for an entire year , which it undoubtedly will not . ''
Biden slammed Trump 's leadership on the coronavirus pandemic in his latest statement , calling his response `` unacceptable . ''
Trump has pushed for the economy to reopen as the country seeks to contain the coronavirus , and the White House is bullish on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2020 .
Economic adviser Larry Kudlow said positive signs from retail sales and the automotive sector forecasted double-digit economic growth in the third and fourth quarters .

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden touted a false statistic Thursday about the economy's contraction in the last quarter, using the inflated annualized figure instead of the quarterly one.
"Today, we learned that the last three months were the worst period for economic growth our nation has experienced in the 70 years since we started measuring it—a drop of nearly 33 percent," Biden said. "And the already unthinkably high numbers of American workers filing for unemployment each week continues to go in the wrong direction."
The nation's gross domestic product actually shrank by 9.5 percent from April to June, largely due to extended shutdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic. GDP shrank by an annualized rate of 32.9 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, but the economy is highly unlikely to similarly contract over the next nine months, making it an unreliable metric.
President Donald Trump's campaign criticized journalists and media outlets, such as NBC News, who reported the annualized figure as the quarterly one.
"These economic numbers reflect April through June, when much of the economy was essentially closed down to save millions of American lives," Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement. "The media is also grabbing onto the annualized number which supposes that the economic conditions will remain the same for an entire year, which it undoubtedly will not."
Biden slammed Trump's leadership on the coronavirus pandemic in his latest statement, calling his response "unacceptable."
Trump has pushed for the economy to reopen as the country seeks to contain the coronavirus, and the White House is bullish on a strong recovery in the second half of 2020. Economic adviser Larry Kudlow said positive signs from retail sales and the automotive sector forecasted double-digit economic growth in the third and fourth quarters.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Former U.S. Marine Sentenced to Nine Years in Russian Prison

Former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed was sentenced by a Moscow court to serve nine years in prison on Thursday , the New York Times reported .
Already imprisoned for 11 months , Reed was sentenced on charges of assaulting and endangering the lives of two Russian police officers .
Reed , his supporters , and his family denied the charges , describing them as politically motivated .
`` I think anyone who has eyes and ears and who has been in this courtroom knows that I ’ m not guilty , '' Reed said .
`` They did n't ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked me where I served in the Marine Corps , what deployments I was on… .
Everything about this case is political . ''
Reed and his associates asserted that the forensic evidence against him does not meet rigorous standards .
Reed ’ s team also alleges regular mistreatment by Russian authorities .
The American appears to have endured treacherous conditions , having been denied a translator for two months , family visitation for seven months , and constant rejection of appeals for medical treatment .
The Russo-American relationship has grown hotly contested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
After pushing for a constitutional amendment allowing him to hold the Russian presidency until 2036 , Putin increasingly faces pushback from his own people .
The country saw unprecedented levels of protesting this week after the arrest of a governor in the opposition party .
U.S. ambassador to Russia John J. Sullivan called the sentence and its preceding process `` theater of the absurd . ''
He added , `` As the U.S .
Ambassador to Russia , I will continue to advocate on Trevor ’ s behalf .
His safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia—is my highest priority . ''
Moscow sentenced another former Marine , Paul Whelan , to 16 years in prison on spying charges last month .
`` This pattern of Russian repression at home , aggression against its neighbors , attacks on democratic institutions against our allies and here in the United States , and adventurism in the Middle East , Africa , and South America , all spring from this relative weakness and insecurity , '' a July 22 U.S. State Department report reads .

Former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed was sentenced by a Moscow court to serve nine years in prison on Thursday, the New York Times reported.
Already imprisoned for 11 months, Reed was sentenced on charges of assaulting and endangering the lives of two Russian police officers. Reed, his supporters, and his family denied the charges, describing them as politically motivated.
"I think anyone who has eyes and ears and who has been in this courtroom knows that I’m not guilty," Reed said. "They didn't ask me anything about fighting police, they asked me where I served in the Marine Corps, what deployments I was on.... Everything about this case is political."
Reed and his associates asserted that the forensic evidence against him does not meet rigorous standards. Reed’s team also alleges regular mistreatment by Russian authorities. The American appears to have endured treacherous conditions, having been denied a translator for two months, family visitation for seven months, and constant rejection of appeals for medical treatment.
The Russo-American relationship has grown hotly contested as Russian president Vladimir Putin consolidates political power. After pushing for a constitutional amendment allowing him to hold the Russian presidency until 2036, Putin increasingly faces pushback from his own people. The country saw unprecedented levels of protesting this week after the arrest of a governor in the opposition party.
U.S. ambassador to Russia John J. Sullivan called the sentence and its preceding process "theater of the absurd." He added, "As the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, I will continue to advocate on Trevor’s behalf. His safety and welfare—and that of all U.S. citizens in Russia—is my highest priority."
Moscow sentenced another former Marine, Paul Whelan, to 16 years in prison on spying charges last month.
"This pattern of Russian repression at home, aggression against its neighbors, attacks on democratic institutions against our allies and here in the United States, and adventurism in the Middle East, Africa, and South America, all spring from this relative weakness and insecurity," a July 22 U.S. State Department report reads.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Ossoff Received Thousands From Al Jazeera Media in Past Two Years

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff received at least $ 5,000 from the Qatari-backed Al Jazeera network over the past two years , according to an updated personal financial disclosure .
The money was for his work as CEO of Insight TWI , a London-based producer of investigative journalism documentaries .
Ossoff did not include the payment on his initial 2020 disclosure on May 15 , and his campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Al Jazeera has courted controversy since its inception in the 1990s .
It was criticized as a `` mouthpiece for terrorists '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bin Laden in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks , and it has glorified Palestinian terrorism .
Lawmakers have called it an unregistered lobbyist for the Qatari government that should be registered as a foreign agent , similar to foreign news outlets controlled by Russia and China .
While it insists it has editorial independence from Qatar and has moderated since the early 2000s , Al Jazeera has continued to face criticism for pushing pro-Islamist , anti-American , and anti-Semitic narratives in its news coverage .
In 2018 , the Washington Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a months-long spying operation on pro-Israel officials and organizations for an unaired documentary .
In 2019 , a media watchdog warned that Al Jazeera English `` generally fails to maintain basic standards of accuracy and accountability '' and `` regularly skews its coverage to promote Qatar . ''
Qatar has also been accused of funding the Islamic State terrorist group and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas .
Ossoff disclosed a payment of at least $ 5,000 from the controversial network during his failed run for Georgia 's Sixth Congressional District in 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement that he `` condemns partisan attacks that appeal to fear and stands by his work as a journalist and businessman . ''
Ossoff purchased Insight TWI—formerly called Insight News Television—in 2013 , using his inheritance from his wealthy grandfather .
He lists Insight TWI as worth $ 1 million and $ 5 million , making it the most valuable of his listed assets .
Insight TWI has produced at least 10 films since 2013 for Al Jazeera and its sister company Al Jazeera English , many of them focused on Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its website is Peacekeepers , a 2018 production for Al Jazeera English about Nigerian atrocities in Sierra Leone .
Ossoff clinched the Georgia Democratic Senate nomination last month and is looking to unseat Sen. David Perdue ( R. , Ga. ) .

Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff received at least $5,000 from the Qatari-backed Al Jazeera network over the past two years, according to an updated personal financial disclosure.
The money was for his work as CEO of Insight TWI, a London-based producer of investigative journalism documentaries. Ossoff did not include the payment on his initial 2020 disclosure on May 15, and his campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Al Jazeera has courted controversy since its inception in the 1990s. It was criticized as a "mouthpiece for terrorists" when it aired flattering footage of Osama bin Laden in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and it has glorified Palestinian terrorism. Lawmakers have called it an unregistered lobbyist for the Qatari government that should be registered as a foreign agent, similar to foreign news outlets controlled by Russia and China.
While it insists it has editorial independence from Qatar and has moderated since the early 2000s, Al Jazeera has continued to face criticism for pushing pro-Islamist, anti-American, and anti-Semitic narratives in its news coverage. In 2018, the Washington Free Beacon reported Al Jazeera had engaged in a months-long spying operation on pro-Israel officials and organizations for an unaired documentary. In 2019, a media watchdog warned that Al Jazeera English "generally fails to maintain basic standards of accuracy and accountability" and "regularly skews its coverage to promote Qatar."
Qatar has also been accused of funding the Islamic State terrorist group and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas.
Ossoff disclosed a payment of at least $5,000 from the controversial network during his failed run for Georgia's Sixth Congressional District in 2017. He defended himself at the time with a statement that he "condemns partisan attacks that appeal to fear and stands by his work as a journalist and businessman."
Ossoff purchased Insight TWI—formerly called Insight News Television—in 2013, using his inheritance from his wealthy grandfather. He lists Insight TWI as worth between $1 million and $5 million, making it the most valuable of his listed assets.
Insight TWI has produced at least 10 films since 2013 for Al Jazeera and its sister company Al Jazeera English, many of them focused on Africa. The most recent film listed on its website is Peacekeepers, a 2018 production for Al Jazeera English about Nigerian atrocities in Sierra Leone.
Ossoff clinched the Georgia Democratic Senate nomination last month and is looking to unseat Sen. David Perdue (R., Ga.).


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Top Bullock Aide Has History of Sexist, Homophobic Comments

A top aide to Montana governor Steve Bullock 's Senate campaign has a history of making sexist and homophobic comments online .
Evan McCullers , who became the Bullock campaign 's deputy press secretary in June after serving as an executive assistant for Sen. Jon Tester ( D. , Mont . )
, sent strings of sexist and homophobic tweets from 2012 to 2014 when he was in high school and college .
In a 2013 tweet tagged with `` # LiberalTips2AvoidRape , '' McCullers said `` Like it .
Then it wo n't be rape . ''
McCullers made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Girls who try to be pretty but still look like they belong in a pile of manure < # getouttahere # youretoouglyformyeyes '' and `` Ca n't treat these hoes like ladies . ''
McCullers also used homophobic slurs .
On Groundhog Day in 2013 , he tweeted `` I wonder if the little faggot beaver saw his shadow ? ''
And in 2014 , McCullers tweeted `` this may be homo but figure skating is among my top 5 favorite Winter Olympic sports . ''
According to his LinkedIn profile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2013 , meaning the tweets were likely sent between the ages of 17 and 19 .
Bullock has faced criticism for fostering a hostile work environment and failing to adequately address accusations of sexual misconduct among his staff .
Former aide Kevin O'Brien , who worked under Bullock during the Montana Democrat 's tenure as chair of the Democratic Governors Association in 2015 , left the job after an investigation found accusations of sexual harassment to be credible .
Bullock failed to inform New York City mayor Bill de Blasio of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffer went to work for de Blasio 's office in 2016 .
O'Brien was again fired for sexual harassment after investigators confirmed several accusations .
Following his termination , Bullock said he `` expected that having been held accountable for his actions , Kevin would not repeat this behavior . ''
`` The whole thing is disgusting and it makes me tremendously angry that someone lied to us , '' de Blasio said after firing O'Brien , who was briefly promoted to acting chief of staff and earned as much as $ 220,652 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not respond to a request for comment .

A top aide to Montana governor Steve Bullock's Senate campaign has a history of making sexist and homophobic comments online.
Evan McCullers, who became the Bullock campaign's deputy press secretary in June after serving as an executive assistant for Sen. Jon Tester (D., Mont.), sent strings of sexist and homophobic tweets from 2012 to 2014 when he was in high school and college. In a 2013 tweet tagged with "#LiberalTips2AvoidRape," McCullers said "Like it. Then it won't be rape."
McCullers made various disparaging comments toward women, tweeting "Girls who try to be pretty but still look like they belong in a pile of manure < #getouttahere #youretoouglyformyeyes" and "Can't treat these hoes like ladies."
McCullers also used homophobic slurs. On Groundhog Day in 2013, he tweeted "I wonder if the little faggot beaver saw his shadow?" And in 2014, McCullers tweeted "this may be homo but figure skating is among my top 5 favorite Winter Olympic sports."
According to his LinkedIn profile, McCullers graduated high school and began college in 2013, meaning the tweets were likely sent between the ages of 17 and 19.
Bullock has faced criticism for fostering a hostile work environment and failing to adequately address accusations of sexual misconduct among his staff. Former aide Kevin O'Brien, who worked under Bullock during the Montana Democrat's tenure as chair of the Democratic Governors Association in 2015, left the job after an investigation found accusations of sexual harassment to be credible. Bullock failed to inform New York City mayor Bill de Blasio of the reason behind O'Brien's departure when the staffer went to work for de Blasio's office in 2016. O'Brien was again fired for sexual harassment after investigators confirmed several accusations. Following his termination, Bullock said he "expected that having been held accountable for his actions, Kevin would not repeat this behavior."
"The whole thing is disgusting and it makes me tremendously angry that someone lied to us," de Blasio said after firing O'Brien, who was briefly promoted to acting chief of staff and earned as much as $220,652 for his role.
The Bullock campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Obama Calls on Democrats to End Filibuster

Former president Barack Obama on Thursday called on Democrats to end the filibuster .
In the course of eulogizing the late Democratic congressman John Lewis , Obama described the filibuster as `` another Jim Crow relic . ''
Eliminating it , he said , may be necessary `` to secure the God-given rights of every American . ''
Ending the filibuster to facilitate voter-expansion initiatives would be the best way for politicians to honor Lewis 's legacy , he said .
`` Once we pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act , we should keep marching , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the filibuster when he was a senator , saying that ending the filibuster for judicial nominees would be `` more about power than fairness '' in 2005 .
He called on his colleagues to `` not think about winning every debate , but about protecting free and democratic debate '' and said no one party should be able to change the rules and make all the decisions .
`` In the long run , [ changing these rules ] is not a good result for either party .
One day , Democrats will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this rule change will be no fairer to a Republican minority than to a Democratic minority , '' Sen. Obama said .
In 2013 , then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ( D. , Nev. ) famously ended the filibuster on confirmations for judicial and executive branch appointments while Obama was in the White House .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) then followed Reid 's precedent by lowering the threshold for votes required to confirm Supreme Court appointments in 2017 , but the filibuster has stayed in place for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was Obama 's vice president , indicated he would be open to the possibility of ending the legislative filibuster .
He said it would be dependent on how resistant Senate Republicans are to Democratic legislative priorities .
Some Senate Democrats , however , including Joe Manchin ( D. , W.Va. ) indicated they oppose eliminating the filibuster .

Former president Barack Obama on Thursday called on Democrats to end the filibuster.
In the course of eulogizing the late Democratic congressman John Lewis, Obama described the filibuster as "another Jim Crow relic." Eliminating it, he said, may be necessary "to secure the God-given rights of every American."
Ending the filibuster to facilitate voter-expansion initiatives would be the best way for politicians to honor Lewis's legacy, he said.
"Once we pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, we should keep marching," he said.
Obama took the opposite position on the filibuster when he was a senator, saying that ending the filibuster for judicial nominees would be "more about power than fairness" in 2005. He called on his colleagues to "not think about winning every debate, but about protecting free and democratic debate" and said no one party should be able to change the rules and make all the decisions.
"In the long run, [changing these rules] is not a good result for either party. One day, Democrats will be in the majority again, and this rule change will be no fairer to a Republican minority than to a Democratic minority," Sen. Obama said.
In 2013, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) famously ended the filibuster on confirmations for judicial and executive branch appointments while Obama was in the White House. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) then followed Reid's precedent by lowering the threshold for votes required to confirm Supreme Court appointments in 2017, but the filibuster has stayed in place for legislation.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who was Obama's vice president, indicated he would be open to the possibility of ending the legislative filibuster. He said it would be dependent on how resistant Senate Republicans are to Democratic legislative priorities. Some Senate Democrats, however, including Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) indicated they oppose eliminating the filibuster.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Ilhan Omar Paid Her Husband’s Firm $600,000 in Three Weeks

Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) funneled an additional $ 606,000 to her husband 's firm in the first three weeks of July alone , according to new campaign filings .
Federal Election Commission records released Thursday show that over the first three weeks of July , Omar 's campaign sent $ 606,000 to the E Street Group , a D.C.-based consulting firm run by Tim Mynett , Omar 's husband .
The money accounted for 77 percent of the campaign 's disbursements during that time .
Omar has sent massive sums to her husband 's firm even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , significantly outraised her ahead of the primary .
The challenger drew national attention with a $ 3.2 million fundraising haul over the past quarter , six times the amount Omar 's campaign pulled in over the same period despite paying Mynett 's firm large sums for fundraising assistance .
Melton-Meaux is also drastically outraising the incumbent in Minnesota 's Fifth Congressional District , signaling he may pose a challenge to the `` Squad '' member in the August 11 primary .
Mynett 's firm is Omar 's biggest campaign vendor .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to the firm this cycle before July .
The $ 1.6 million in total payments accounts for nearly half of Omar 's $ 3.4 million in net operating expenditures this cycle .
Omar 's new campaign filings also show that the congresswoman raised $ 407,000 over the first three weeks of July , nearly equal to the $ 471,000 she pulled in over the previous three months .
Omar now has $ 732,000 in cash on hand .
Melton-Meaux , meanwhile , finished the last quarter with $ 2 million at his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not submitted at the time of this writing .
Omar 's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the payments .

Omar has already dished more than $1 million to her husband's consulting group this cycle
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) funneled an additional $606,000 to her husband's firm in the first three weeks of July alone, according to new campaign filings.
Federal Election Commission records released Thursday show that over the first three weeks of July, Omar's campaign sent $606,000 to the E Street Group, a D.C.-based consulting firm run by Tim Mynett, Omar's husband. The money accounted for 77 percent of the campaign's disbursements during that time.
Omar has sent massive sums to her husband's firm even as her Democratic opponent, Antone Melton-Meaux, significantly outraised her ahead of the primary. The challenger drew national attention with a $3.2 million fundraising haul over the past quarter, six times the amount Omar's campaign pulled in over the same period despite paying Mynett's firm large sums for fundraising assistance. Melton-Meaux is also drastically outraising the incumbent in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, signaling he may pose a challenge to the "Squad" member in the August 11 primary.
Mynett's firm is Omar's biggest campaign vendor. The campaign had already doled out $1 million to the firm this cycle before July. The $1.6 million in total payments accounts for nearly half of Omar's $3.4 million in net operating expenditures this cycle.
Omar's new campaign filings also show that the congresswoman raised $407,000 over the first three weeks of July, nearly equal to the $471,000 she pulled in over the previous three months. Omar now has $732,000 in cash on hand. Melton-Meaux, meanwhile, finished the last quarter with $2 million at his disposal. His campaign's pre-primary report was not submitted at the time of this writing.
Omar's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the payments.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--MSNBC Host Asks Black Pro-Trump Dem If He’s on Trump Payroll

MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin on Wednesday asked Georgia state representative Vernon Jones , a pro-Trump Democrat , if he was being paid to support President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign—the second time this week the network has asked African-American supporters of the president whether they are on Trump 's payroll .
`` Are you a paid campaign surrogate ?
Are you being compensated ? ''
Melvin asked Jones after he cited Trump ’ s record-low African-American unemployment numbers .
In response , Jones said he supported the president out of principle and contended that he was only asked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the network ’ s narrative .
`` I don ’ t get a dime from the president , or his campaign .
Everything I ’ ve done is based on me and my principles , '' Jones said .
`` You do n't ask Stacy Abrams if she gets paid from the left .
You only ask me that because I do n't fit your narrative . ''
Melvin was not alone in his line of questioning .
Earlier this week , MSNBC political analyst Tiffany Cross asked Bruce LeVell , an RNC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised him financial benefits in exchange for his support .
`` I am curious because when I see folks like you support this president , has Donald Trump ever promised you anything financially in exchange for your blind support of this administration or helping his campaign ? ''
Cross asked LeVell on Saturday .
Neither MSNBC nor Melvin returned requests for comment on whether they 've asked surrogates for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden if they 've been paid .

For the second time this week MSNBC asks black Trump supporter if Trump pays them
MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin on Wednesday asked Georgia state representative Vernon Jones, a pro-Trump Democrat, if he was being paid to support President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign—the second time this week the network has asked African-American supporters of the president whether they are on Trump's payroll.
"Are you a paid campaign surrogate? Are you being compensated?" Melvin asked Jones after he cited Trump’s record-low African-American unemployment numbers.
In response, Jones said he supported the president out of principle and contended that he was only asked the question because he doesn’t fit the network’s narrative.
"I don’t get a dime from the president, or his campaign. Everything I’ve done is based on me and my principles," Jones said. "You don't ask Stacy Abrams if she gets paid from the left. You only ask me that because I don't fit your narrative."
Melvin was not alone in his line of questioning. Earlier this week, MSNBC political analyst Tiffany Cross asked Bruce LeVell, an RNC media surrogate, if Trump has ever promised him financial benefits in exchange for his support.
"I am curious because when I see folks like you support this president, has Donald Trump ever promised you anything financially in exchange for your blind support of this administration or helping his campaign?" Cross asked LeVell on Saturday.
Neither MSNBC nor Melvin returned requests for comment on whether they've asked surrogates for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden if they've been paid.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Feinstein: China Is ‘Growing Into a Respectable Nation’

Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D. , Calif. ) on Thursday said China is `` growing into a respectable nation '' and cautioned against holding the country accountable for the coronavirus pandemic .
`` We hold China as a potential trading partner , as a country that has pulled tens of millions of people out of poverty in a short period of time , and as a country growing into a respectable nation amongst other nations .
I deeply believe that , '' Feinstein said during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting .
She said that stripping foreign sovereign immunity from China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and claimed that allowing individuals to hold China accountable for the spread of the virus could allow other countries to do the same to the United States .
Her firm defense of China comes after a new flood of reports showing human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese government .
The Chinese Communist Party has organized the mass detention and forced sterilization of Uyghurs , a mostly Muslim ethnic minority , and drone footage showed blindfolded and shackled Uyghurs being forced onto trains .
Feinstein made the remarks during a Senate Judiciary Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals to sue the Chinese government for its release and subsequent cover-up of the novel coronavirus .
Feinstein has also benefited from her husband 's relationship with China .
She pushed for expanded trade relations with China as her husband 's company was partnering with business ventures in the country .
She said that a `` firewall '' existed between her political career and her husband 's business interests .

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) on Thursday said China is "growing into a respectable nation" and cautioned against holding the country accountable for the coronavirus pandemic.
"We hold China as a potential trading partner, as a country that has pulled tens of millions of people out of poverty in a short period of time, and as a country growing into a respectable nation amongst other nations. I deeply believe that," Feinstein said during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting.
She said that stripping foreign sovereign immunity from China would be a "huge mistake" and claimed that allowing individuals to hold China accountable for the spread of the virus could allow other countries to do the same to the United States. Her firm defense of China comes after a new flood of reports showing human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese government. The Chinese Communist Party has organized the mass detention and forced sterilization of Uyghurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority, and drone footage showed blindfolded and shackled Uyghurs being forced onto trains.
Feinstein made the remarks during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting debating a bill that would allow individuals to sue the Chinese government for its release and subsequent cover-up of the novel coronavirus.
Feinstein has also benefited from her husband's relationship with China. She pushed for expanded trade relations with China as her husband's company was partnering with business ventures in the country. She said that a "firewall" existed between her political career and her husband's business interests.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--CNN, Others Delight in Hysterical Ignorance Over GDP Shrinkage

Global pandemics typically are n't good for national economies .
On the contrary , they are usually bad .
The U.S. economy , for example , contracted 9.5 percent in the second quarter of 2020—the largest quarterly decline in recorded history .
The German economy , meanwhile , declined by 10.1 percent .
Not surprisingly , the U.S. economic decline in the second quarter ( start of April through the end of June ) looks a lot bigger from an annual perspective—in other words , how much the economy would shrink if the 9.5 percent quarterly decline persisted for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hypothetical ( and entirely unrealistic ) scenario , the U.S. economy would contract by 32.9 percent .
It 's a scary number , but it 's also meaningless .
In the words of liberal economist Justin Wolfers : `` No one thinks that will happen .
Ignore it . ''
Guess which number CNN and other media outlets , renowned for their economic literacy and scrupulous aversion to context-free hysteria , chose to use in their reporting on the economic data .
Hint : It 's the same number that Democratic politicians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and science-based accountability to Washington , cited in their denunciations of President Trump .
As always , our nation 's journalists were n't afraid to ask the tough questions .
Not to worry , though .
We can be confident that these fearless journos will rediscover their passion for context and sober analysis just in time for the late-October release of third quarter economic data , which many analysts expect will show significant growth .
Goldman Sachs , for example , projects that the U.S. economy will expand at an annualized rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Global pandemics typically aren't good for national economies. On the contrary, they are usually bad. The U.S. economy, for example, contracted 9.5 percent in the second quarter of 2020—the largest quarterly decline in recorded history. The German economy, meanwhile, declined by 10.1 percent.
Not surprisingly, the U.S. economic decline in the second quarter (start of April through the end of June) looks a lot bigger from an annual perspective—in other words, how much the economy would shrink if the 9.5 percent quarterly decline persisted for the rest of the year.
Under that hypothetical (and entirely unrealistic) scenario, the U.S. economy would contract by 32.9 percent. It's a scary number, but it's also meaningless. In the words of liberal economist Justin Wolfers: "No one thinks that will happen. Ignore it."
Guess which number CNN and other media outlets, renowned for their economic literacy and scrupulous aversion to context-free hysteria, chose to use in their reporting on the economic data. Hint: It's the same number that Democratic politicians, in their quest to restore common sense and science-based accountability to Washington, cited in their denunciations of President Trump.
The US economy contracted by 32.9% from April through June, its worst drop on record https://t.co/5GXdUqNGNs — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 30, 2020
United States GDP fell by a record 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020. https://t.co/sqnGpF6Lkp — Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 30, 2020
-32.9% Worst ever single quarter contraction of US economy. In context: pic.twitter.com/ZPuA58vdr6 — ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) July 30, 2020
First, hell no. Second, you can't. Third, my state has proven year after year that vote-by-mail is safe and secure. And fourth, this outburst doesn't have anything to do with your total lack of leadership causing a 33% decline in our economy, does it? We will vote on November 3. https://t.co/L4aICjVOqW — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) July 30, 2020
Seeing ppl point out that the Q2 32.9% GDP drop is the *annualized* rate & actual Q2 drop is 9.5% Outside my wheelhouse, but anyway, the new Biden statement on the economy says that the "worst period for economic growth" over the last 3 months was "a drop of nearly 33 percent" pic.twitter.com/GK4saoXLUd — Emily Brooks (@emilyelarsen) July 30, 2020
As always, our nation's journalists weren't afraid to ask the tough questions.
Did the Q2 GDP fall 10 percent or 32 percent? I'm seeing reliable folks give both numbers and I can't tell why they're different. — Matt Ford (@fordm) July 30, 2020
Not to worry, though. We can be confident that these fearless journos will rediscover their passion for context and sober analysis just in time for the late-October release of third quarter economic data, which many analysts expect will show significant growth. Goldman Sachs, for example, projects that the U.S. economy will expand at an annualized rate of 25 percent over the next several months.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Texas Dem Mike Siegel Touted Parents’ Communist Sympathies

Mike Siegel , Democratic candidate for Texas 's 10th Congressional District , described himself as a `` red-diaper baby '' and likened his parents ’ politics to those of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro in a recently resurfaced speech .
`` If I had to describe my parents as political figures , I would borrow from the Cuban Revolution , and I would say in our family my mom ’ s the Che and my dad ’ s the Fidel , '' Siegel said in a 2014 speech for the left-wing National Lawyers Guild that the Austin News reported on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want to say that I ’ m here as a proud red-diaper baby . ''
One of Siegel 's paid staffers , Andrew Alemao , was arrested for assaulting a police officer at a protest in 2017 .
Payroll records indicate that Siegel hired Alemao in 2018 for field operations .
Records from June show that Alemao remains on Siegel 's staff for this election cycle .
Siegel supports the Green New Deal , which includes programs such as guaranteed green housing and universal health care , and as Siegel describes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental racism . ''
He also supports police reform , eliminating student debt , and strengthening labor groups .
Siegel won the Democratic primary on July 14 with key leftist endorsements from Bernie Sanders , the Progressive Democrats of America , Jewish Voice for Peace , and others .
He will face Republican incumbent congressman Michael McCaul in November , whom he lost to by 4.3 percentage points in the 2018 midterm elections .

Mike Siegel, Democratic candidate for Texas's 10th Congressional District, described himself as a "red-diaper baby" and likened his parents’ politics to those of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro in a recently resurfaced speech.
"If I had to describe my parents as political figures, I would borrow from the Cuban Revolution, and I would say in our family my mom’s the Che and my dad’s the Fidel," Siegel said in a 2014 speech for the left-wing National Lawyers Guild that the Austin News reported on earlier this week. "But, I want to say that I’m here as a proud red-diaper baby."
One of Siegel's paid staffers, Andrew Alemao, was arrested for assaulting a police officer at a protest in 2017. Payroll records indicate that Siegel hired Alemao in 2018 for field operations. Records from June show that Alemao remains on Siegel's staff for this election cycle.
Siegel supports the Green New Deal, which includes programs such as guaranteed green housing and universal health care, and as Siegel describes it, would address the "legacy of environmental racism." He also supports police reform, eliminating student debt, and strengthening labor groups.
Siegel won the Democratic primary on July 14 with key leftist endorsements from Bernie Sanders, the Progressive Democrats of America, Jewish Voice for Peace, and others. He will face Republican incumbent congressman Michael McCaul in November, whom he lost to by 4.3 percentage points in the 2018 midterm elections.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Tennessee Dem Charged With Embezzlement

Tennessee Dem Charged With Embezzlement

Federal prosecutors charged a Democratic Tennessee state senator on Wednesday with embezzlement and theft .
In addition to being a state senator , Katrina Robinson is the director of a health care job-training program that has received $ 2.2 million in federal grants from the Department of Health and Human Services .
Robinson allegedly stole more than $ 600,000 of that amount between 2015 and 2019 .
She used the funds to pay for her wedding and luxury items for her family , according to the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee .
This is not the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of corruption in recent weeks .
Illinois house speaker Michael Madigan , who chairs the state 's Democratic Party , is at the center of a bribery scandal involving the state 's largest public utility company .
In addition to paying for a wedding , Robinson allegedly used the funds to pay for home upgrades , her daughter ’ s 2016 Jeep Renegade , and a $ 500 Louis Vuitton purse , the New York Post reported .
She also allegedly used the funds to invest in her children ’ s snow cone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A federal investigation of Robinson began in 2016 , two years before she was elected to represent Shelby County , which includes Memphis , as a state senator .
Robinson said she will continue to serve in the legislature `` with the same integrity '' as before the charges .
If convicted , Robinson could serve up to 20 years in federal prison and receive a $ 250,000 fine .

Federal prosecutors charged a Democratic Tennessee state senator on Wednesday with embezzlement and theft.
In addition to being a state senator, Katrina Robinson is the director of a health care job-training program that has received $2.2 million in federal grants from the Department of Health and Human Services. Robinson allegedly stole more than $600,000 of that amount between 2015 and 2019. She used the funds to pay for her wedding and luxury items for her family, according to the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
This is not the first time Democratic state legislators have faced allegations of corruption in recent weeks. Illinois house speaker Michael Madigan, who chairs the state's Democratic Party, is at the center of a bribery scandal involving the state's largest public utility company.
In addition to paying for a wedding, Robinson allegedly used the funds to pay for home upgrades, her daughter’s 2016 Jeep Renegade, and a $500 Louis Vuitton purse, the New York Post reported. She also allegedly used the funds to invest in her children’s snow cone company and pad her retirement fund.
A federal investigation of Robinson began in 2016, two years before she was elected to represent Shelby County, which includes Memphis, as a state senator. Robinson said she will continue to serve in the legislature "with the same integrity" as before the charges.
If convicted, Robinson could serve up to 20 years in federal prison and receive a $250,000 fine.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Trump Admin Recovers $200 Million From Obama-Era Solar Boondoggle

The Department of Energy on Thursday announced that it had recovered some $ 200 million in taxpayer dollars loaned to a failed solar energy startup by the Obama administration .
That money represents just part of the $ 737 million that the Department of Energy previously issued to Tonopah Solar Energy in 2011 ; $ 424 million was still outstanding at the time the settlement was reached .
The deal still requires the approval of a U.S. bankruptcy court to proceed .
`` President Trump will always stand with the hardworking taxpayers of America , '' a senior administration official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and today 's massive $ 200 million settlement agreement by the Department of Energy secures taxpayer money that was squandered by the previous administration 's failed energy pet projects . ''
The settlement is the conclusion of efforts by both the Obama and Trump administrations to shore up the flailing solar energy project , which promised to be revolutionary but ended in bankruptcy .
Its eventual collapse recalls other ill-fated Obama-era investments in green energy , including the $ 500 million bilked out of federal coffers by failed solar panel startup Solyndra .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solar Energy 's facility began operations in November 2015 .
The project received extensive support from the Obama administration , with then-secretary of energy Dr. Steven Chu offering Tonopah Solar government loan guarantees .
Then-Senate majority leader Harry Reid ( D. ) , in whose state the project was erected , also cleared the way for the creation of the company 's massive solar cell field on public land .
The loan was provided through DOE 's loan programs office , the same department which authorized Solyndra 's loan .
The Tonopah Solar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Solyndra filed for bankruptcy .
In spite of this federal support , the project quickly ran into problems , including a nearly yearlong shutdown between October 2016 and July 2017 , and a still-ongoing shutdown that began in April 2019 .
The result was that the state-of-the-art facility fell well below expected rates of power production .
That , in turn , drove the company into bankruptcy proceedings , from which the federal government is only now disentangling itself .
DOE spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes told the Free Beacon that this withdrawal does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to solar energy .
`` This administration remains committed to an all-of-the-above energy strategy , as demonstrated by the over $ 1 billion the Department of Energy has awarded to renewable projects nationwide , '' she said .
`` However , the interest of the American taxpayers will always be our top priority . ''

The Department of Energy on Thursday announced that it had recovered some $200 million in taxpayer dollars loaned to a failed solar energy startup by the Obama administration.
That money represents just part of the $737 million that the Department of Energy previously issued to Tonopah Solar Energy in 2011; $424 million was still outstanding at the time the settlement was reached. The deal still requires the approval of a U.S. bankruptcy court to proceed.
"President Trump will always stand with the hardworking taxpayers of America," a senior administration official told the Washington Free Beacon, "and today's massive $200 million settlement agreement by the Department of Energy secures taxpayer money that was squandered by the previous administration's failed energy pet projects."
The settlement is the conclusion of efforts by both the Obama and Trump administrations to shore up the flailing solar energy project, which promised to be revolutionary but ended in bankruptcy. Its eventual collapse recalls other ill-fated Obama-era investments in green energy, including the $500 million bilked out of federal coffers by failed solar panel startup Solyndra.
Based in Tonopah, Nev., Tonopah Solar Energy's facility began operations in November 2015. The project received extensive support from the Obama administration, with then-secretary of energy Dr. Steven Chu offering Tonopah Solar government loan guarantees. Then-Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D.), in whose state the project was erected, also cleared the way for the creation of the company's massive solar cell field on public land.
The loan was provided through DOE's loan programs office, the same department which authorized Solyndra's loan. The Tonopah Solar loan was in fact issued just weeks after Solyndra filed for bankruptcy.
In spite of this federal support, the project quickly ran into problems, including a nearly yearlong shutdown between October 2016 and July 2017, and a still-ongoing shutdown that began in April 2019. The result was that the state-of-the-art facility fell well below expected rates of power production. That, in turn, drove the company into bankruptcy proceedings, from which the federal government is only now disentangling itself.
DOE spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes told the Free Beacon that this withdrawal does not indicate the Trump administration is opposed to solar energy.
"This administration remains committed to an all-of-the-above energy strategy, as demonstrated by the over $1 billion the Department of Energy has awarded to renewable projects nationwide," she said. "However, the interest of the American taxpayers will always be our top priority."


freebeacon--2020-07-30--CNN Gives NBA Commissioner a Pass on Bombshell China Abuse Scandal

In a 16-minute interview Wednesday night , CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer did not ask NBA commissioner Adam Silver about a bombshell ESPN report detailing abuses at NBA academies in China .
Silver praised his league for its `` long history of supporting important issues around social justice '' and touted its coronavirus safety measures as it aims to restart its season , among other things .
Blitzer did not bring up the NBA 's relationship with the Chinese government once during the lengthy interview , nor did he tell viewers about CNN parent company WarnerMedia 's partnership with the NBA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three academies opened in China by the NBA , where coaches reported widespread abuse of players .
`` American coaches at three NBA training academies in China told league officials their Chinese partners were physically abusing young players and failing to provide schooling , even though commissioner Adam Silver had said that education would be central to the program , '' the article stated .
ESPN detailed the physical abuse of players as young as 13 at the academies .
NBA employees who worked at the academies said many of the issues came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the academies ' activities under the direction of the Chinese government .
`` We were basically working for the Chinese government , '' a former coach said .
Many of the players in the academies did not attend any classes despite Silver 's promise that they would receive an education .
`` Top international prospects will benefit from a complete approach to player development that combines NBA-quality coaching , training and competition with academics and personal development , '' Silver said in 2016 when the announcement of the opening of the academies was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporter of progressive social causes and made the maximum contribution possible to Joe Biden 's presidential campaign .
One former employee compared the atmosphere at an academy in the heavily policed Xinjiang region to `` World War II Germany . ''
Coaches reported being surveilled by the Chinese government , and one coach said he was detained three times without cause .
The region of Xinjiang is noteworthy for its concentration camps reportedly containing one million Uyghurs , a historically Muslim ethnic minority in China .
Drone footage taken within the region has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being loaded onto trains .
The NBA is connected to CNN through Turner Sports , a subsidiary of WarnerMedia that operates NBA TV .
WarnerMedia announced the combination of Turner Sports , CNN , and AT & T Sportsnet in 2019 to form WarnerMedia News & Sports .
CNN president Jeff Zucker will head the division .

In a 16-minute interview Wednesday night, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer did not ask NBA commissioner Adam Silver about a bombshell ESPN report detailing abuses at NBA academies in China.
Silver praised his league for its "long history of supporting important issues around social justice" and touted its coronavirus safety measures as it aims to restart its season, among other things. Blitzer did not bring up the NBA's relationship with the Chinese government once during the lengthy interview, nor did he tell viewers about CNN parent company WarnerMedia's partnership with the NBA.
Earlier Wednesday, ESPN reported on three academies opened in China by the NBA, where coaches reported widespread abuse of players.
"American coaches at three NBA training academies in China told league officials their Chinese partners were physically abusing young players and failing to provide schooling, even though commissioner Adam Silver had said that education would be central to the program," the article stated.
ESPN detailed the physical abuse of players as young as 13 at the academies. NBA employees who worked at the academies said many of the issues came from the fact that the NBA put the academies' activities under the direction of the Chinese government.
"We were basically working for the Chinese government," a former coach said.
Many of the players in the academies did not attend any classes despite Silver's promise that they would receive an education.
"Top international prospects will benefit from a complete approach to player development that combines NBA-quality coaching, training and competition with academics and personal development," Silver said in 2016 when the announcement of the opening of the academies was made.
Silver has been an outspoken supporter of progressive social causes and made the maximum contribution possible to Joe Biden's presidential campaign.
One former employee compared the atmosphere at an academy in the heavily policed Xinjiang region to "World War II Germany." Coaches reported being surveilled by the Chinese government, and one coach said he was detained three times without cause.
The region of Xinjiang is noteworthy for its concentration camps reportedly containing one million Uyghurs, a historically Muslim ethnic minority in China. Drone footage taken within the region has shown hundreds of blindfolded and chained Uyghurs being loaded onto trains.
The NBA is connected to CNN through Turner Sports, a subsidiary of WarnerMedia that operates NBA TV. WarnerMedia announced the combination of Turner Sports, CNN, and AT&T Sportsnet in 2019 to form WarnerMedia News & Sports. CNN president Jeff Zucker will head the division.


freebeacon--2020-07-30--Top Dem Senate Challengers Silent on D.C. Statehood

A number of prominent 2020 Democratic Senate challengers have refused to take a position on D.C. statehood after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) called the issue a `` top priority '' should his party gain control of the upper chamber .
Democratic Senate nominees in North Carolina , Maine , and Arizona—three races considered vital to determining the Senate majority in 2020—have yet to take a stance on whether D.C. should become the nation 's 51st state .
Challengers in Texas and Kentucky , as well as Sen. Doug Jones ( D. , Ala. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue .
None of the candidates responded to a request for comment from the Washington Free Beacon .
The collective silence comes just weeks after House Democrats passed a bill in June to make D.C. a state—and hand the overwhelmingly Democratic city two seats in the Senate .
While the legislation was considered dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate , Schumer suggested he would revive the measure should Democrats win a Senate majority in November .
`` As one of my top priorities when it comes to voting rights and democracy reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate to secure statehood , full voting rights , and full home rule for D.C. in this Congress and beyond , '' Schumer said in a statement .
Schumer is far from the only top Democrat to rally behind D.C. statehood in recent weeks .
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden , who first backed D.C. statehood in 2015 , reiterated his support following the House vote .
The recently passed Democratic Party platform also supports D.C. statehood .
The issue , however , is potentially problematic for Democratic Senate candidates in competitive races @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; a 2019 Gallup poll found that just 29 percent of adults support D.C. statehood .
In addition , GOP opponents have portrayed the push for statehood as a Democratic power grab , making it easier for liberals to pass far-left policies that are unpopular in the swing states required to win a Senate majority .
While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) has repeatedly railed against D.C. statehood , his opponent , Amy McGrath , has ignored questions on the issue throughout her campaign .
`` There 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would love more than to silence Kentucky voices and to work against our values in Congress , '' Katharine Cooksey , McConnell 's campaign spokeswoman , told the Free Beacon .
`` Adding two new Democratic senators would be a disaster for Kentucky and our nation , propelling us closer to socialism . ''
Sen. Thom Tillis ( R. , N.C. ) has also criticized Democrats ' push for D.C. statehood .
His opponent , Democrat Cal Cunningham , has not taken a stance on the issue and did not respond to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if he gets elected , is going to be a rubber stamp for Chuck Schumer , '' Tillis said during a July speech at the North Carolina GOP convention .
`` Let me tell you what he 's going to do because Chuck Schumer 's already admitted it and Speaker Pelosi has already shown her hand .
They 've already passed a bill for D.C. statehood—two more Democrat senators . ''
A Democratic Senate majority would undoubtedly boost D.C. 's chances of becoming a state .
Still , the recently passed House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should Democrats fail to eliminate the filibuster .
While the rule effectively ensures that a D.C. statehood bill would require 60 votes to pass as opposed to a simple majority , both Schumer and Biden have expressed an openness to eliminating it .
`` Once we get the majority , we 'll discuss it in our caucus , '' Schumer said in late July .
`` Nothing 's off the table . ''
Just one week prior to Schumer 's comments , Biden said he would `` have to take a look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long opposed the rule change , saying in 2017 that he would not eliminate the filibuster .
Some Democrats who previously opposed the change are now open to the idea .
After heading a letter in favor of keeping the filibuster in 2017 , longtime Biden ally Sen. Chris Coons ( D. , Del . )
said he may look to eliminate the rule in order to more easily push through legislation under the Biden administration .
`` I will not stand idly by for four years and watch the Biden administration 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coons said in a June Politico profile .
`` I am going try really hard to find a path forward that does n't require removing what 's left of the structural guardrails , but if there 's a Biden administration , it will be inheriting a mess , at home and abroad .
It requires urgent and effective action . ''
Many of the Democratic Senate challengers have voiced support for eliminating the filibuster .
Cunningham campaigned against the legislative maneuver in 2010 and has since called for `` a reform in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McGrath came out against the filibuster in a July MSNBC interview .
Democrat Sara Gideon , who is running against Sen. Susan Collins ( R. , Maine ) , told HuffPost in June that eliminating the filibuster would allow the Senate to `` function more productively and make a real difference for Mainers . ''
And Sen. Martha McSally 's ( R. , Ariz. ) opponent , Democrat Mark Kelly , has pledged to `` consider how any changes to the way the Senate does business could help improve the lives of Arizonans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jack Pandol slammed Democrats ' push to end the filibuster and make D.C. a state , calling it a `` thinly veiled ploy to change the composition of the Senate and put a Republican majority further out of reach . ''
`` If Democrats take control of the Senate , they will rig the rules in every conceivable way to tilt the playing field against Republicans , '' he told the Free Beacon .

A number of prominent 2020 Democratic Senate challengers have refused to take a position on D.C. statehood after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) called the issue a "top priority" should his party gain control of the upper chamber.
Democratic Senate nominees in North Carolina, Maine, and Arizona—three races considered vital to determining the Senate majority in 2020—have yet to take a stance on whether D.C. should become the nation's 51st state. Challengers in Texas and Kentucky, as well as Sen. Doug Jones (D., Ala.), have also failed to address the issue. None of the candidates responded to a request for comment from the Washington Free Beacon.
The collective silence comes just weeks after House Democrats passed a bill in June to make D.C. a state—and hand the overwhelmingly Democratic city two seats in the Senate. While the legislation was considered dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate, Schumer suggested he would revive the measure should Democrats win a Senate majority in November.
"As one of my top priorities when it comes to voting rights and democracy reform, I will keep working in the Senate to secure statehood, full voting rights, and full home rule for D.C. in this Congress and beyond," Schumer said in a statement.
Schumer is far from the only top Democrat to rally behind D.C. statehood in recent weeks. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who first backed D.C. statehood in 2015, reiterated his support following the House vote. The recently passed Democratic Party platform also supports D.C. statehood.
The issue, however, is potentially problematic for Democratic Senate candidates in competitive races. It has not polled well nationally; a 2019 Gallup poll found that just 29 percent of adults support D.C. statehood. In addition, GOP opponents have portrayed the push for statehood as a Democratic power grab, making it easier for liberals to pass far-left policies that are unpopular in the swing states required to win a Senate majority.
While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) has repeatedly railed against D.C. statehood, his opponent, Amy McGrath, has ignored questions on the issue throughout her campaign.
"There's nothing Amy McGrath and other extreme Democrats would love more than to silence Kentucky voices and to work against our values in Congress," Katharine Cooksey, McConnell's campaign spokeswoman, told the Free Beacon. "Adding two new Democratic senators would be a disaster for Kentucky and our nation, propelling us closer to socialism."
Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) has also criticized Democrats' push for D.C. statehood. His opponent, Democrat Cal Cunningham, has not taken a stance on the issue and did not respond to a request for comment.
"Cal Cunningham, if he gets elected, is going to be a rubber stamp for Chuck Schumer," Tillis said during a July speech at the North Carolina GOP convention. "Let me tell you what he's going to do because Chuck Schumer's already admitted it and Speaker Pelosi has already shown her hand. They've already passed a bill for D.C. statehood—two more Democrat senators."
A Democratic Senate majority would undoubtedly boost D.C.'s chances of becoming a state. Still, the recently passed House bill could struggle in a Schumer-controlled Senate should Democrats fail to eliminate the filibuster. While the rule effectively ensures that a D.C. statehood bill would require 60 votes to pass as opposed to a simple majority, both Schumer and Biden have expressed an openness to eliminating it.
"Once we get the majority, we'll discuss it in our caucus," Schumer said in late July. "Nothing's off the table." Just one week prior to Schumer's comments, Biden said he would "have to take a look at" ending the filibuster.
McConnell has long opposed the rule change, saying in 2017 that he would not eliminate the filibuster. Some Democrats who previously opposed the change are now open to the idea. After heading a letter in favor of keeping the filibuster in 2017, longtime Biden ally Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.) said he may look to eliminate the rule in order to more easily push through legislation under the Biden administration.
"I will not stand idly by for four years and watch the Biden administration's initiatives blocked at every turn," Coons said in a June Politico profile. "I am going try really hard to find a path forward that doesn't require removing what's left of the structural guardrails, but if there's a Biden administration, it will be inheriting a mess, at home and abroad. It requires urgent and effective action."
Many of the Democratic Senate challengers have voiced support for eliminating the filibuster. Cunningham campaigned against the legislative maneuver in 2010 and has since called for "a reform in the way that rule is used." McGrath came out against the filibuster in a July MSNBC interview. Democrat Sara Gideon, who is running against Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine), told HuffPost in June that eliminating the filibuster would allow the Senate to "function more productively and make a real difference for Mainers." And Sen. Martha McSally's (R., Ariz.) opponent, Democrat Mark Kelly, has pledged to "consider how any changes to the way the Senate does business could help improve the lives of Arizonans."
Senate Leadership Fund communications director Jack Pandol slammed Democrats' push to end the filibuster and make D.C. a state, calling it a "thinly veiled ploy to change the composition of the Senate and put a Republican majority further out of reach."
"If Democrats take control of the Senate, they will rig the rules in every conceivable way to tilt the playing field against Republicans," he told the Free Beacon.


freebeacon--2020-07-31--Harvard Taps Former CCP Official to Conduct Polling in China

A recent Harvard University poll found that the Chinese government enjoys near-universal support from its citizens , findings that Beijing has quickly exploited .
That poll , however , was conducted by a company led by a former Chinese government official , a fact that raises questions about its reliability—and one that the university did not disclose .
The poll , conducted by the Horizon Research Consultancy Group , found that 93 percent of Chinese citizens approve of the country 's Communist regime .
Horizon Research is a Chinese polling company with extensive business and institutional ties to the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received at least $ 76 million from Chinese entities since 2014 , downplayed the relationship .
A university spokesman , Daniel Harsha , told the Washington Free Beacon that Horizon is a `` reputable domestic Chinese polling firm . ''
Withholding the name of the firm , Harsha said , was necessary to protect the company from `` political reprisals . ''
Foreign policy experts , however , question the reliability of surveys conducted by Chinese firms within the country .
`` I think it 's impossible to get reliable data , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to feel concerned that their answers are going to have wider implications , '' said Zack Cooper , a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute .
`` One possibility is that people feel much more watched now.… They are responding less honestly to polling . ''
Harvard acknowledged that those living under authoritarian regimes are less likely to give candid opinions , but said the university stands by the results of the poll because researchers `` adhered to the highest scholarly standards . ''
`` [ Intimidation ] is always a possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it does not make attempts by social scientists to measure public opinion illegitimate , '' Harsha said .
The Harvard study , conducted by scholars affiliated with the school 's Ash Center for Democratic Governance tracked public approval for the Chinese central government—as well as lower levels of government—between 2003 and 2016 .
It found that public approval for all levels of government has increased during the 13-year period .
The researchers published their findings in an academic journal in late 2019 and once again as a `` policy brief '' in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polling company in both reports , professor Anthony Saich , one of three researchers behind the study , told both the Economist and the New York Times in 2015 that he worked with Horizon Research to conduct the survey .
Harvard did not respond to additional questions about why it is withholding information it readily provided five years ago .
Horizon Research was founded by Yuan Yue , a former official at the Chinese Ministry of Justice who now serves as Horizon 's chairman .
The company , now known as Dataway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese government , working with more than 20 state governments , according to a 2019 case study on the company .
Horizon Research has also directly worked with Chinese government officials , hosting workshops for party officials and collaborating with an appendage of the State Council , the chief administrative organ of the Chinese state .
Dean Cheng , a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation , said that every company based in China has a party committee that monitors its work , preventing Chinese firms from being truly independent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is a Chinese company and there is a party committee associated with it , '' Cheng said .
`` And if there is a party committee associated with it , there is going to be insight on the process , the contracts , and the results , by members of the CCP .
There is no Chinese company that is headquartered in China … that does not have a party committee . ''
In addition to concealing the researchers ' ties with Horizon Research , the Harvard reports did not discuss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving honest answers to political questions .
Cooper , the AEI scholar , said these sorts of studies should mention the possible impact of political pressure on the survey data .
`` I do n't think there 's anything wrong with attempting to do polling in China as long as you explain very clearly who was polled under what circumstances and note the fact that they may not have felt free to respond accurately , '' he said .
`` But if they did n't present that data , I think it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars into the coffers of prestigious universities in an attempt to influence policymakers in the United States .
Harvard has been a top beneficiary , acknowledging at least $ 74 million in gifts from Chinese sources dating back to 2014 .
Beijing has capitalized on its relationships in academia .
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying touted the Harvard study on Twitter to claim that the regime `` enjoys the highest rate of support and satisfaction among the Chinese people , as over 90 % according to international surveys and the latest by @ @ @ @

A recent Harvard University poll found that the Chinese government enjoys near-universal support from its citizens, findings that Beijing has quickly exploited.
That poll, however, was conducted by a company led by a former Chinese government official, a fact that raises questions about its reliability—and one that the university did not disclose.
The poll, conducted by the Horizon Research Consultancy Group, found that 93 percent of Chinese citizens approve of the country's Communist regime. Horizon Research is a Chinese polling company with extensive business and institutional ties to the Chinese government.
The university, which has received at least $76 million from Chinese entities since 2014, downplayed the relationship. A university spokesman, Daniel Harsha, told the Washington Free Beacon that Horizon is a "reputable domestic Chinese polling firm." Withholding the name of the firm, Harsha said, was necessary to protect the company from "political reprisals."
Foreign policy experts, however, question the reliability of surveys conducted by Chinese firms within the country.
"I think it's impossible to get reliable data, given that people in China are necessarily going to feel concerned that their answers are going to have wider implications," said Zack Cooper, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. "One possibility is that people feel much more watched now.… They are responding less honestly to polling."
Harvard acknowledged that those living under authoritarian regimes are less likely to give candid opinions, but said the university stands by the results of the poll because researchers "adhered to the highest scholarly standards."
"[Intimidation] is always a possibility in authoritarian or semi-authoritarian country, but it does not make attempts by social scientists to measure public opinion illegitimate," Harsha said.
The Harvard study, conducted by scholars affiliated with the school's Ash Center for Democratic Governance tracked public approval for the Chinese central government—as well as lower levels of government—between 2003 and 2016. It found that public approval for all levels of government has increased during the 13-year period. The researchers published their findings in an academic journal in late 2019 and once again as a "policy brief" in July 2020.
While Harvard declined to identify the polling company in both reports, professor Anthony Saich, one of three researchers behind the study, told both the Economist and the New York Times in 2015 that he worked with Horizon Research to conduct the survey. Harvard did not respond to additional questions about why it is withholding information it readily provided five years ago.
Horizon Research was founded by Yuan Yue, a former official at the Chinese Ministry of Justice who now serves as Horizon's chairman. The company, now known as Dataway, has extensive business ties with the Chinese government, working with more than 20 state governments, according to a 2019 case study on the company. Horizon Research has also directly worked with Chinese government officials, hosting workshops for party officials and collaborating with an appendage of the State Council, the chief administrative organ of the Chinese state.
Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said that every company based in China has a party committee that monitors its work, preventing Chinese firms from being truly independent of the government.
"The reality is that it is a Chinese company and there is a party committee associated with it," Cheng said. "And if there is a party committee associated with it, there is going to be insight on the process, the contracts, and the results, by members of the CCP. There is no Chinese company that is headquartered in China … that does not have a party committee."
In addition to concealing the researchers' ties with Horizon Research, the Harvard reports did not discuss the possibility that respondents might feel less comfortable giving honest answers to political questions. Cooper, the AEI scholar, said these sorts of studies should mention the possible impact of political pressure on the survey data.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with attempting to do polling in China as long as you explain very clearly who was polled under what circumstances and note the fact that they may not have felt free to respond accurately," he said. "But if they didn't present that data, I think it's problematic."
China has poured millions of dollars into the coffers of prestigious universities in an attempt to influence policymakers in the United States. Harvard has been a top beneficiary, acknowledging at least $74 million in gifts from Chinese sources dating back to 2014. Beijing has capitalized on its relationships in academia. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying touted the Harvard study on Twitter to claim that the regime "enjoys the highest rate of support and satisfaction among the Chinese people, as over 90% according to international surveys and the latest by Harvard University."


freebeacon--2020-07-31--Trump’s Fed Nominee Faces Rocky Confirmation Battle

One of President Donald Trump 's nominees to the powerful board of governors of the Federal Reserve System faces a rocky confirmation amid concerns about both the orthodoxy and consistency of her economic views .
Trump nominated Dr. Judy Shelton in January to fill a seat on the currently incomplete Fed board , winning plaudits from free-market conservatives , who saw the longtime monetary economist as a likely ally at America 's central bank .
But since then , she has faced an uphill battle in Congress .
Shelton made it through a Senate Banking Committee confirmation earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators .
Sen. Richard Shelby ( R. , Ala. ) voiced concerns over Shelton 's past support for the gold standard , while Sens .
Pat Toomey ( R. , Pa. ) and John Kennedy ( R. , La . )
both pushed her on her support for lower interest rates—an about-face from her previous views .
Since her committee confirmation , Sens .
Mitt Romney ( R. , Utah ) and Susan Collins ( R. , Maine ) have said they will join Democrats in voting against her .
Romney has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to a request for comment , but Collins expressed concerns about Shelton 's apparent skepticism of Fed independence .
Tennessee 's Lamar Alexander ( R. ) is also weighing whether to back Shelton , while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) has not scheduled a full vote .
Should Shelton be confirmed it would mean the elevation to America 's central monetary authority of a scholar with surprisingly un-Trump-like views : a belief in tight credit , opposition to currency devaluation , and even sympathy for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be a victory for fiscal conservatives , but not necessarily for Trump 's particular brand of economic populism .
Among many conservative economists , Shelton 's nomination was greeted with celebration .
Stephen Moore , a sometime Trump adviser who has worked with Shelton and was himself briefly considered for the Fed , told the Washington Free Beacon he thought she was `` overwhelmingly qualified , '' adding that `` she is going to bring a new perspective which is so urgently needed , because it 's just a bunch of groupthinkers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That perspective is a fairly doctrinaire free-market conservative position .
Moore identified Shelton as an ardent supply-sider and advocate of tight monetary policy—meaning she tends to prefer the Fed keep interest rates high and inflation low .
Such views are not unpopular in the halls of conservative think tanks , but less common on the board of the Fed , which Moore said is controlled by a `` Keynesian orthodoxy . ''
Shelton also advocates for conservative views generally considered outside of the economic mainstream , including her vocal support of a gold-backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Fed 's practice of aiming for price inflation , arguing that it dangerously erodes consumer purchasing power .
At least , as much was true until recently .
Post-nomination , however , Shelton seems to have made a sudden about-face on the less Trump-friendly parts of her worldview .
`` Shelton has an extremely long track record of expressing views that are on the extreme tight end of the spectrum of monetary policy thinking , '' Ramesh Ponnuru , a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and monetary policy commentator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're not the same views as President Trump 's , and around the time that she was being considered for a nomination , she reversed course and adopted views that are much more akin to President Trump 's . ''
During her confirmation hearing , Shelton told the Finance Committee that she `` would not advocate going back to a prior historical monetary arrangement . ''
As for interest rates , she told the Washington Post after her nomination that she would like to see them cut `` as expeditiously as possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that while he had not consulted with Shelton on it , his own thinking on interest rates has recently evolved , given record-low rates not leading to long-predicted inflation .
Perhaps , Moore suggested , she has undergone a similar evolution .
Ponnuru , however , argued that Shelton has not offered a satisfactory explanation for her change of views , raising questions about her ability to be independent from the president who nominated her .
`` There is a question of : What Shelton are you going to be getting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The extreme tight-money Judy Shelton [ or ] a nominee who is extremely pliable and responsive to the wishes of political patrons . ''
Shelton changing her views to get nominated would hardly be unprecedented .
What is more surprising is that she earned the backing of a president whose views are , Ponnuru said , `` diametrically opposed '' to her own .
Trump , the self-described `` king of debt , '' has generally advocated for a looser monetary policy to keep the economy running hot .
That 's led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jerome Powell , whom he has publicly pressured multiple times over the past four years to keep interest rates low .
Trump has also pushed Powell to devalue the U.S. dollar to respond to China 's currency devaluation—a move that would strongly conflict with Shelton 's hard-money views .
Shelton has also taken positions , Ponnuru noted , that have `` very little to do with the ‘ America First ' nationalist agenda '' embraced by Trump .
In the early 2000s she pushed for an EU-style currency union across North America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And she explicitly called for open borders with Canada and Mexico—an opinion popular among supporters at the Wall Street Journal , but not with Trump 's base .
Public opposition to Shelton has come largely from those senators , like Romney and Collins , most opposed to Trump 's brand of `` populist '' conservatism .
`` Trumpier '' Senate figures , like Sens .
Josh Hawley ( R. , Mo . )
and Marco Rubio ( R. , Fla. ) have been tight-lipped on the nomination .
Hawley , in particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to more actively manage international exchange rates , something Shelton explicitly repudiated after her confirmation hearing .
One senior Republican Senate aide , speaking on condition of anonymity , told the Free Beacon that there are `` definitely concerns about Shelton 's dramatically inconsistent views '' within the caucus .
`` If the crop of Republican senators who say they want to be pro-worker actually mean it , they 'll oppose Shelton , '' the aide added .
That argument typifies the competing economic views—a more free-market conservatism versus a more nationalist one—increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Republican Party as a whole .
Trump 's support , and the inaction from allies in the Senate , suggest that Shelton 's nomination may not be perceived as a flashpoint for this dispute .
But her confirmation could have a lasting impact not only on the Federal Reserve , but on the shape of conservative economic theory for years to come .

One of President Donald Trump's nominees to the powerful board of governors of the Federal Reserve System faces a rocky confirmation amid concerns about both the orthodoxy and consistency of her economic views.
Trump nominated Dr. Judy Shelton in January to fill a seat on the currently incomplete Fed board, winning plaudits from free-market conservatives, who saw the longtime monetary economist as a likely ally at America's central bank. But since then, she has faced an uphill battle in Congress.
Shelton made it through a Senate Banking Committee confirmation earlier this month only after tough questioning from three Republican senators. Sen. Richard Shelby (R., Ala.) voiced concerns over Shelton's past support for the gold standard, while Sens. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) and John Kennedy (R., La.) both pushed her on her support for lower interest rates—an about-face from her previous views.
Since her committee confirmation, Sens. Mitt Romney (R., Utah) and Susan Collins (R., Maine) have said they will join Democrats in voting against her. Romney has not offered reasoning, and his office did not respond to a request for comment, but Collins expressed concerns about Shelton's apparent skepticism of Fed independence. Tennessee's Lamar Alexander (R.) is also weighing whether to back Shelton, while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) has not scheduled a full vote.
Should Shelton be confirmed it would mean the elevation to America's central monetary authority of a scholar with surprisingly un-Trump-like views: a belief in tight credit, opposition to currency devaluation, and even sympathy for a North American currency union. That confirmation would be a victory for fiscal conservatives, but not necessarily for Trump's particular brand of economic populism.
Among many conservative economists, Shelton's nomination was greeted with celebration. Stephen Moore, a sometime Trump adviser who has worked with Shelton and was himself briefly considered for the Fed, told the Washington Free Beacon he thought she was "overwhelmingly qualified," adding that "she is going to bring a new perspective which is so urgently needed, because it's just a bunch of groupthinkers that need some fresh perspectives."
That perspective is a fairly doctrinaire free-market conservative position. Moore identified Shelton as an ardent supply-sider and advocate of tight monetary policy—meaning she tends to prefer the Fed keep interest rates high and inflation low. Such views are not unpopular in the halls of conservative think tanks, but less common on the board of the Fed, which Moore said is controlled by a "Keynesian orthodoxy."
Shelton also advocates for conservative views generally considered outside of the economic mainstream, including her vocal support of a gold-backed currency. She's also expressed skepticism of the Fed's practice of aiming for price inflation, arguing that it dangerously erodes consumer purchasing power.
At least, as much was true until recently. Post-nomination, however, Shelton seems to have made a sudden about-face on the less Trump-friendly parts of her worldview.
"Shelton has an extremely long track record of expressing views that are on the extreme tight end of the spectrum of monetary policy thinking," Ramesh Ponnuru, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and monetary policy commentator, told the Free Beacon. "They're not the same views as President Trump's, and around the time that she was being considered for a nomination, she reversed course and adopted views that are much more akin to President Trump's."
During her confirmation hearing, Shelton told the Finance Committee that she "would not advocate going back to a prior historical monetary arrangement." As for interest rates, she told the Washington Post after her nomination that she would like to see them cut "as expeditiously as possible."
Asked about the about-face, Moore said that while he had not consulted with Shelton on it, his own thinking on interest rates has recently evolved, given record-low rates not leading to long-predicted inflation. Perhaps, Moore suggested, she has undergone a similar evolution.
Ponnuru, however, argued that Shelton has not offered a satisfactory explanation for her change of views, raising questions about her ability to be independent from the president who nominated her.
"There is a question of: What Shelton are you going to be getting at the Fed?" Ponnuru said. "The extreme tight-money Judy Shelton [or] a nominee who is extremely pliable and responsive to the wishes of political patrons."
Shelton changing her views to get nominated would hardly be unprecedented. What is more surprising is that she earned the backing of a president whose views are, Ponnuru said, "diametrically opposed" to her own.
Trump, the self-described "king of debt," has generally advocated for a looser monetary policy to keep the economy running hot. That's led to a sometimes-contentious relationship with Fed chairman Jerome Powell, whom he has publicly pressured multiple times over the past four years to keep interest rates low. Trump has also pushed Powell to devalue the U.S. dollar to respond to China's currency devaluation—a move that would strongly conflict with Shelton's hard-money views.
Shelton has also taken positions, Ponnuru noted, that have "very little to do with the 'America First' nationalist agenda" embraced by Trump. In the early 2000s she pushed for an EU-style currency union across North America, with an equivalent "Amero" currency. And she explicitly called for open borders with Canada and Mexico—an opinion popular among supporters at the Wall Street Journal, but not with Trump's base.
Public opposition to Shelton has come largely from those senators, like Romney and Collins, most opposed to Trump's brand of "populist" conservatism. "Trumpier" Senate figures, like Sens. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) and Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) have been tight-lipped on the nomination. Hawley, in particular, has pushed for the Federal Reserve to more actively manage international exchange rates, something Shelton explicitly repudiated after her confirmation hearing.
One senior Republican Senate aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Free Beacon that there are "definitely concerns about Shelton's dramatically inconsistent views" within the caucus.
"If the crop of Republican senators who say they want to be pro-worker actually mean it, they'll oppose Shelton," the aide added.
That argument typifies the competing economic views—a more free-market conservatism versus a more nationalist one—increasingly in tension in the Trump White House and the Republican Party as a whole. Trump's support, and the inaction from allies in the Senate, suggest that Shelton's nomination may not be perceived as a flashpoint for this dispute. But her confirmation could have a lasting impact not only on the Federal Reserve, but on the shape of conservative economic theory for years to come.


freebeacon--2020-07-31--Bullock Staffer Fired After Free Beacon Report

Montana Democratic governor Steve Bullock 's Senate campaign fired its deputy press secretary late Thursday after the Washington Free Beacon @ @ @ @ @ history of offensive comments online .
Evan McCuller , who joined the campaign as deputy @ @ @ @ @ apologized for his `` vile , inappropriate and unacceptable '' comments in a statement reported @ @ @ @ @ `` I especially owe an apology to the women and members of the LGBTQ+ community @ @ @ @ @ offended , and to my family and others who will receive undeserved negative attention because @ @ @ @ @ McCullers said .
McCullers ’ s derogatory remarks on Twitter included jokes about rape and @ @ @ @ @ The Bullock campaign 's communications director Olivia Bercow disavowed McCullers ’ s tweets in a @ @ @ @ @ are inappropriate and do not reflect Montana values .
When we learned about them , @ @ @ @ @ '' Bercow said .
The Bullock campaign did not respond to Free Beacon inquiries on @ @

Montana Democratic governor Steve Bullock's Senate campaign fired its deputy press secretary late Thursday after the Washington Free Beacon reported on the aide's history of offensive comments online.
Evan McCuller, who joined the campaign as deputy press secretary in June, apologized for his "vile, inappropriate and unacceptable" comments in a statement reported by the Associated Press.
"I especially owe an apology to the women and members of the LGBTQ+ community that these posts have rightly offended, and to my family and others who will receive undeserved negative attention because of my actions," McCullers said.
McCullers’s derogatory remarks on Twitter included jokes about rape and use of homophobic slurs. The Bullock campaign's communications director Olivia Bercow disavowed McCullers’s tweets in a statement.
"The tweets are inappropriate and do not reflect Montana values. When we learned about them, he was let go," Bercow said.
The Bullock campaign did not respond to Free Beacon inquiries on McCuller.