freebeacon--2020-01-29--Exclusive Audio: Michael Bloomberg’s Concern After JFK Assassination Was Canceled Frat Party

Michael Bloomberg was unfazed by news of Princess Diana 's tragic death , telling a friend in the immediate aftermath of her 1997 passing that it was `` just one life '' and the world would go on just the same .
Bloomberg 's remarks , reported by the Washington Free Beacon for the first time , came during a 1999 interview with his alma mater , Johns Hopkins University .
Recalling his comments to a grieving friend who told him `` life will never be the same again , '' Bloomberg remarked , `` Well , never the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else went on . ''
The former New York City mayor and current Democratic presidential candidate also recalled his reaction to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy .
Both tragedies triggered widespread mourning , but not from Bloomberg , who considered the media coverage and emotional outpouring overblown and the events themselves relatively inconsequential .
The Kennedy assassination has proven to be one of the most memorable events in modern history , with 95 percent of adults remembering exactly where they were when they heard the news , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Princess Diana , in that everybody thought the world had changed , and the papers were full of it , '' Bloomberg said of the Kennedy assassination , `` but a week later people go back to their own work , their own lives , and there was nothing changed , no matter what anybody says . ''
The billionaire businessman made the remarks in the course of an interview for an conducted by the historian Mame Warren .
During the course of the 30-minute interview , Bloomberg recalled that his life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot on November 22 , 1963—aside from the fact that his fraternity , Phi Kappa Psi , was n't getting back a deposit it put down for an appearance by singer James Brown .
`` I remember in November I had planned a big fraternity dance in the gym , and we had spent all our budget hiring James Brown and the Flames to play , and then Kennedy got shot and we canceled the dance and could n't get our deposit back , '' Bloomberg said .
`` Never got the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added , `` was not popular , '' and is remembered positively today only because he was assassinated .
`` There were stories that he would n't even get the Democratic nomination , much less get reelected , '' Bloomberg said .
`` How quickly we forget . ''
Bloomberg recalled that he was in the Hamptons the day Princess Diana died when a friend called him to the television to watch the news unfold and told him , `` Nothing will ever be the same again , Princess Diana has died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 's just one life , '' Bloomberg recalled saying .
`` There 's a lot of people that died today . ''
`` No , I did n't understand the world was never going to be the same again , '' Bloomberg said .
`` Well , never the same again for Princess Diana , but everybody else went on , thank you . ''
Bloomberg was candid in the interview , even remarking in an off-the-record aside that he was fighting a student-led push to boost the university 's minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time on the university 's board of trustees , had long opposed minimum wage laws , calling them `` misguided '' policy that hurts the poor by killing jobs .
He now endorses raising the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour .
The Bloomberg campaign declined to comment on the 1999 interview .
Bloomberg reportedly maintained his callous perspective on death into his successful business career , adopting `` get over it '' as his default advice for those facing tragedy .
He has , however , struck a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In response to the Sunday helicopter crash that killed NBA star Kobe Bryant and eight others , Bloomberg joined the majority of his Democratic opponents , as well as President Donald Trump , and immediately offered his condolences .
`` We are watching the news out of California with heavy hearts and thinking of the Bryants and all the families who are devastated by this terrible tragedy , '' Bloomberg said in a social media post hours after the crash .
Bloomberg 's controversial remarks have raised eyebrows since his first run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pamphlet of Bloomberg one-liners compiled as a gag gift by colleagues was obtained by New York magazine .
A separate set of remarks about women 's appearances have surfaced through lawsuits from women who worked for Bloomberg and allege that his company , in its early days , resembled a frat house .
That side of Bloomberg is reflected in the 1999 interview , in which the businessman talked at length about the importance of appearances .
`` Unfortunately , in the world we live in , physical looks do have something to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and you 'd be better off if they perceived you in a more favorable light before you opened your mouth as opposed to coming around to understand you after you talk for a while , '' Bloomberg said .
`` It 's just more efficient . ''
`` Unfortunately , we 're human beings and we all judge people by their clothing , by their looks , by their accents . ''
His current campaign has attempted to distance Bloomberg from his past remarks , saying the billionaire regrets much of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike has come to see that some of what he has said is disrespectful and wrong , '' campaign spokesman Stu Loeser told the New York Times last November .
`` He believes his words have not always aligned with his values and the way he has led his life . ''

Michael Bloomberg was unfazed by news of Princess Diana's tragic death, telling a friend in the immediate aftermath of her 1997 passing that it was "just one life" and the world would go on just the same.
Bloomberg's remarks, reported by the Washington Free Beacon for the first time, came during a 1999 interview with his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University. Recalling his comments to a grieving friend who told him "life will never be the same again," Bloomberg remarked, "Well, never the same again for Princess Diana, but everyone else went on."
The former New York City mayor and current Democratic presidential candidate also recalled his reaction to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Both tragedies triggered widespread mourning, but not from Bloomberg, who considered the media coverage and emotional outpouring overblown and the events themselves relatively inconsequential. The Kennedy assassination has proven to be one of the most memorable events in modern history, with 95 percent of adults remembering exactly where they were when they heard the news, according to the Pew Research Center.
"It was like Princess Diana, in that everybody thought the world had changed, and the papers were full of it," Bloomberg said of the Kennedy assassination, "but a week later people go back to their own work, their own lives, and there was nothing changed, no matter what anybody says."
The billionaire businessman made the remarks in the course of an interview for an oral history project conducted by the historian Mame Warren. During the course of the 30-minute interview, Bloomberg recalled that his life on campus went on uninterrupted after Kennedy was shot on November 22, 1963—aside from the fact that his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, wasn't getting back a deposit it put down for an appearance by singer James Brown.
"I remember in November I had planned a big fraternity dance in the gym, and we had spent all our budget hiring James Brown and the Flames to play, and then Kennedy got shot and we canceled the dance and couldn't get our deposit back," Bloomberg said. "Never got the deposit back."
Kennedy, he added, "was not popular," and is remembered positively today only because he was assassinated. "There were stories that he wouldn't even get the Democratic nomination, much less get reelected," Bloomberg said. "How quickly we forget."
Bloomberg recalled that he was in the Hamptons the day Princess Diana died when a friend called him to the television to watch the news unfold and told him, "Nothing will ever be the same again, Princess Diana has died in a crash."
"You know, it's just one life," Bloomberg recalled saying. "There's a lot of people that died today."
"No, I didn't understand the world was never going to be the same again," Bloomberg said. "Well, never the same again for Princess Diana, but everybody else went on, thank you."
Bloomberg was candid in the interview, even remarking in an off-the-record aside that he was fighting a student-led push to boost the university's minimum wage to $7.90. Bloomberg, at the time on the university's board of trustees, had long opposed minimum wage laws, calling them "misguided" policy that hurts the poor by killing jobs. He now endorses raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
The Bloomberg campaign declined to comment on the 1999 interview.
Bloomberg reportedly maintained his callous perspective on death into his successful business career, adopting "get over it" as his default advice for those facing tragedy. He has, however, struck a more empathetic tone as a presidential candidate.
In response to the Sunday helicopter crash that killed NBA star Kobe Bryant and eight others, Bloomberg joined the majority of his Democratic opponents, as well as President Donald Trump, and immediately offered his condolences.
"We are watching the news out of California with heavy hearts and thinking of the Bryants and all the families who are devastated by this terrible tragedy," Bloomberg said in a social media post hours after the crash.
Bloomberg's controversial remarks have raised eyebrows since his first run for office in 2001, when a pamphlet of Bloomberg one-liners compiled as a gag gift by colleagues was obtained by New York magazine. A separate set of remarks about women's appearances have surfaced through lawsuits from women who worked for Bloomberg and allege that his company, in its early days, resembled a frat house.
That side of Bloomberg is reflected in the 1999 interview, in which the businessman talked at length about the importance of appearances.
"Unfortunately, in the world we live in, physical looks do have something to do with people's perception of you, and you'd be better off if they perceived you in a more favorable light before you opened your mouth as opposed to coming around to understand you after you talk for a while," Bloomberg said. "It's just more efficient."
"Unfortunately, we're human beings and we all judge people by their clothing, by their looks, by their accents."
His current campaign has attempted to distance Bloomberg from his past remarks, saying the billionaire regrets much of what has come from his mouth.
"Mike has come to see that some of what he has said is disrespectful and wrong," campaign spokesman Stu Loeser told the New York Times last November. "He believes his words have not always aligned with his values and the way he has led his life."


Beacon Extra

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
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IMPEACHMENT UPDATE … Donald J. Trump is still President of the United States .
DEMS TRY TO BEAT MIDNIGHT MITCH AT HIS OWN GAME … `` Steyer , Soros-Funded Groups Part of New Coalition Launched to Attack McConnell , '' by WFB ’ s Joe Schoffstall : Despite their focus on `` inequality , '' the groups behind Fix Our Senate are themselves fueled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful donors to the Democratic party … It also indicates that these groups see [ Majority Leader Mitch ] McConnell—who has repeatedly frustrated the left 's agenda in the Senate—as a prime target in November … Fix Our Senate will be registered as a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) nonprofit , which will allow it to hide the identity of its donors .
AGAINST IT BEFORE THEY WERE FOR IT … `` Majority Of Top 2020 Democrats Backed By Outside Groups As Early Primaries Near , '' via OPEN SECRETS : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House with the promise to reject support from outside groups .
But with just a few days left till the early primaries , yet another TV ad campaign by an outside group––this time in support of former South Bend , Ind.
, mayor Pete Buttigieg––indicates the 2020 Democrats are opening up to outside money .
Three of the top five candidates are refusing to disavow outside groups spending on their behalf .
HOW SAY IRONY IN CHEROKEE ?
… `` Elizabeth Warren proposes criminal penalties for spreading voting disinformation online , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online foreign interference erode our democracy , and Donald Trump has invited both , '' Warren said in a Tweet Wednesday .
`` Anyone who seeks to challenge and defeat Donald Trump in the 2020 election must be fully prepared to take this on—and I ’ ve got a plan to do it . ''
Warren proposed to combat disinformation by holding big tech companies like Facebook , Twitter , and Google responsible for spreading misinformation designed to suppress voters from turning out .
SWAMPSPEAK … `` Schumer on the likelihood of witnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via NYT : [ Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ] maintained he held out hope that enough Republican senators would agree .
`` Is it more likely than not ? ''
he said .
`` Probably no .
But is it a decent , good chance ?
Yes . ''
YOU KNOW WHAT ’ S COOL ?
A SECOND TERM … `` Trump ’ s Digital Advantage Is Freaking Out Democratic Strategists , '' via NYT : Republicans `` have a big advantage this time , '' Ben Nuckels , a Democratic media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They not only have all the data from 2016 but they have been building this operation into a nonstop juggernaut . ''
… Tara McGowan , executive director of the recently created pro-Democratic group Acronym … replied to my questions by email : `` There ’ s no digital dark magic being deployed by Brad Parscale and the Trump campaign .
They just have near unlimited resources and are spending them wisely to reach their voters where they are—online , and especially on platforms like Facebook . ''
YOU ’ LL GET @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NEXT TIME , OR THE NEXT TIME … '' The Humbling of Texas Democrats , '' via THE ATLANTIC : Republicans [ Tuesday ] swamped Democrats in what one progressive group had hyped as `` the most important special election since the midterms , '' winning by 16 points a key state legislative race that both parties had viewed as a test run for the much bigger campaign this fall … Former representative Beto O ’ Rourke , who nearly carried the district in his close Senate race in 2018 , campaigned aggressively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own White House bid in the fall .
Yet she not only failed to match O ’ Rourke ’ s performance two years ago against Senator Ted Cruz , she fell short of the 43 percent of the vote that Hillary Clinton earned in the district in 2016 .
FAILED EXEC TO GET GOLDEN PARACHUTE … `` The DNC Approved And Kept Private A Generous Exit Package For Tom Perez And Two Top Deputies , '' via BUZZFEED : Outside the party ’ s budget and finance committee , DNC leadership who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they were astounded to learn that on the eve of the presidential primary , and at a time when the Democratic Party is facing a tremendous fundraising deficit , plans were being made to propose a generous compensation package for Perez and such a select group of his top deputies .
`` I think it is completely short-sighted and really stupid , '' one senior official said .
CHAI TIMES … `` Russian President Putin signed decree to pardon Naama Issachar , '' via JERUSALEM POST : Russian president Vladimir Putin signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Issachar , who was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for possession and smuggling of drugs , the Kremlin [ said ] in a statement … Issachar , 26 , is an Israeli-American who was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison in Russia after 9.5 grams of cannabis were found in [ her ] suitcase during a stopover in Moscow en route home to Israel from a trip to India .
CNN MAKES IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION TO TRUMP VICTORY … `` RNC Releases Ad Showing CNN Panel Mocking Trump Voters as ‘ Rubes ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Joke ’ , '' via NRO : The Republican National Committee released an ad on Tuesday using footage of a CNN contributor mocking Trump voters as `` credulous rubes . ''
… In the CNN segment , contributor Rick Wilson says the Trump administration is `` defined by ignorance of the world '' and referred to the `` credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump . ''
Anchor Don Lemon bends over laughing in response to Wilson ’ s jibes .
BIRDS OF A FEATHER … `` Tlaib Donor Praised Terror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' by WFB ’ s Camerone Cawthorne : Salah Sarsour , an alleged Hamas sympathizer who once boasted about meeting a Muslim Brotherhood leader known for advocating violence against Jews , donated $ 1,000 to Tlaib 's reelection campaign on Dec. 12 , the Federal Election Commission 's website shows … In 2016 , Sarsour posted a clip on his personal Facebook page of al-Qaradawi speaking … During a 2009 speech that aired on Al Jazeera , al-Qaradawi said he wants Muslims to be responsible for the next Holocaust , adding he `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Jews , and they will throw a bomb at me , and thus I will seal my life with martyrdom . ''
DOZENS OF VOTES AT STAKE … `` Supporting Sanders a Bridge Too Far for ( Some ) Never Trump Republicans , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : The Lincoln Project , launched recently by a group of failed Republican strategists and Kellyanne Conway 's husband , stated explicitly that its goal was to `` ensure a victory in the Electoral College '' for the Democratic presidential candidate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president Joe Biden , who still has a shot at winning , but a Sanders nomination is looking increasingly likely .
Trump has already caused many of his former-Republican opponents—Max Boot , Jennifer Rubin , and Matthew Dowd , among others—to lose their minds .
There would be a certain poetry to watching them become shills for a socialist who spent his honeymoon in the Soviet Union .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,145 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ —Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
MENSHEVIKS PREPARE FOR LAST STAND … "Democratic Leaders Willing to Risk Party Damage to Stop Bernie Sanders," via NYT: Since Mr. Sanders’s victory in Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, the Times has interviewed 93 party officials—all of them superdelegates … and found overwhelming opposition to handing the Vermont senator the nomination if he arrived with the most delegates but fell short of a majority …
Since Mr. Sanders won Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, four donors have approached former representative Steve Israel of New York to ask if he can suggest someone to run a super PAC aimed at blocking Mr. Sanders. He declined their offer.
THE NEW NEW DEMOCRATS … "2020 Dem Plans Reflect Party of the ‘Professional Class’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: The [Manhattan Institute] report examines the distributive impacts of major proposals, including Medicare for All, student debt forgiveness, and the repeal of key components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It argues that while Democratic candidates talk big about supporting workers and the poor, these programs primarily serve the interests of the wealthy …
Long branded as representatives of the working class, the Democratic Party has come to appeal primarily to the college-educated, often affluent residents of urban America, data indicate.
MIKE GOT IT DONE … "Bloomberg Locked Up Nearly Half a Million People on Marijuana Charges," by WFB’s Yuichiro Kakutani: The administrations of [Michael] Bloomberg's three predecessors … collectively arrested 226,000 people, or 25 people daily, for the same charge over a 24-year period between 1978 and 2001. During Bloomberg's tenure, approximately 471,000 people were arrested on possession charges …
The possession arrests for Bloomberg's tenure peaked in 2011 when the police hauled in more than 50,000 New Yorkers.
DOWNLOAD UNAVAILABLE IN WISCONSIN … "Coming to a podcast near you: Hillary Clinton," via POLITICO: The former first lady, secretary of State, and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee is planning to launch a new audio program in late spring, just in time for her to have a powerful new megaphone during the 2020 election …
Clinton’s show will feature her in conversation with a brand-name guest, who might be drawn from world leaders and politicians, of course, but also celebrities, authors and perhaps famous chefs.
BOOK THROWN … "Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh sentenced to 3 years for ‘Healthy Holly’ children’s book fraud scheme," via BALTIMORE SUN: [Pugh] told reporters: "This is not the last you’ll see of Catherine Pugh" …
Pugh’s political fall began in March when the Baltimore Sun revealed she had entered into a no-bid deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, where Pugh sat on the board of directors, to buy 100,000 copies of her sloppily self-published "Healthy Holly" books for $500,000.
YANG HOLDS OUT FOR BETTER OFFER … "Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Sought Andrew Yang’s Backing, Floated Vice- Presidential Slot," via WSJ: Aides to the former New York City mayor reached out to discuss ways the two entrepreneurs-turned-politicians could work together as Mr. Bloomberg seeks the Democratic nomination, these people said.
Mr. Yang, who dropped out of the race earlier this month, didn’t commit to join forces, as he considers his own political future, a third person familiar with the discussions said.
NO SURRENDER … "Congressional Republicans Warn Trump Against Inking Peace Deal With Taliban," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: The lawmakers … are demanding they receive assurances the administration "will not place the security of the American people into the hands of the Taliban" …
The lawmakers are also demanding the release of so-called secret annexes in the draft agreement that they claim establish a set of unknown side deals with the Taliban, a move reminiscent of the Obama administration's secret agreements with Iran when the Iran nuclear deal was being negotiated.
TEHRAN MARY … "Iran Vice President Is One of 7 Officials to Contract Coronavirus," via NYT: The disclosure came a day after a cabinet meeting in which she was in close contact with other government leaders, including [Hassan] Rouhani. A photo posted by a BBC Persia reporter on Twitter showed she had been sitting a few yards from the president.
[Masoumeh] Ebtekar, one of four vice presidents, was known to Americans as "Mary" during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy.
PICTURE OF COWARDICE … "Sony World Photography Awards Removes Hong Kong Protest Images," via HYPERALLERGIC: Since pro-democracy protests prompted by the Hong Kong government’s now-scrapped extradition bill erupted across the city in spring 2019, China has tightened its grip on the media …
Now, some speculate WPO yielded to pressure from China to take down the photographs, especially because other entries featuring arguably graphic or politically sensitive content have not faced a similar fate in past competitions.
THE REAL VICTIMS … "Mark Halperin Says Murderers Are Treated More Fairly Than Canceled People," via MOTHER JONES: "I haven’t had a job interview in two years," Halperin said, adding that he has applied to work at restaurants and Target, trying to get health insurance for his three-year-old son …
When [asked to] differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate ways that he had been held accountable for his behavior … he said victims deserve "top priority" but complained again that there isn’t a mechanism for reintegrating canceled people.
THIS IS CNN … "Sasse Criticizes CNN for Referring to a Baby as a ‘Fetus That Was Born’," via CNN: "The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is about babies who have already been born," [Sen. Ben] Sasse said to the Washington Free Beacon. "I’m glad CNN finally made the correction, but there’s no reason this needed to take two days. Planned Parenthood desperately wants to misrepresent this bipartisan, pro-babies bill, and unfortunately too many reporters have bought their spin hook, line, and sinker."
PUNK IS DEAD … "Billy Idol is helping de Blasio take on idling cars in new campaign," via NY POST: Billy Idol has a new Rebel Yell: helping Mayor Bill de Blasio fight fume-spewing vehicles that idle on Big Apple streets …
The campaign will also publicize the city’s 2018 "Citizens Air Complaint Program," where individuals who see a bus or delivery truck idling for longer than four minutes can file a complaint and collect a 25 percent bounty off the fine, worth $87.50.
"The First Postmodern Pandemic," via WFB’s Matthew Continetti: We were better off when the media focused on impeachment. Now that it is interested in coronavirus, a familiar pattern will set in. Data will be publicized without the slightest sense of proportion. The most outrageous scenarios will receive the most attention. Speculation will be paraded as fact …
The Washington Post transcribes Democratic Party talking points when it suggests Vice President Mike Pence is incapable of overseeing the government's efforts because he opposes needle-sharing programs. Among the reasons [President Donald] Trump is said to have weakened public health? He defunded Planned Parenthood.
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Steyer, Soros-Funded Groups Part of New Coalition Launched to Attack McConnell

Liberal groups heavily financed by Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer and billionaire George Soros are part of a new coalition launched to attack Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) and Republicans ahead of the 2020 elections .
Fix Our Senate , an alliance of liberal groups launched Tuesday , said that it intends to `` shine a light on McConnell and every ally who supports him , '' Axios reported .
The group plans to push out damaging research against McConnell in hopes of pinning responsibility for `` wealth inequality , '' drug prices , conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kentucky senator .
Despite their focus on `` inequality , '' the groups behind Fix Our Senate are themselves fueled by some of the wealthiest and most powerful donors to the Democratic party .
The new effort is part of a wave of dark money being poured into progressive coffers by deep-pocketed financiers , activist networks , and labor unions in advance of the 2020 election .
It also indicates that these groups see McConnell—who has repeatedly frustrated the left 's agenda in the Senate—as a prime target in November .
Fix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) nonprofit , which will allow it to hide the identity of its donors .
It will be led by Joshua Karp , a former communications director at American Bridge , the opposition research group founded and run by liberal operative David Brock .
Fix Our Senate did not respond to requests for comment on the project and its coalition .
One of the groups in the Fix Our Senate coalition , For Our Future , was launched by Steyer and four labor unions during the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political action committee is bankrolled almost entirely by Steyer 's NextGen Climate Action Committee , which has paid out $ 25.9 million over the last four years .
NextGen has provided 83 percent of the group 's total contributions in the 2020 cycle thus far , money that will go toward Democratic campaigns in seven swing states .
Another activist group that is part of the new coalition , Demand Justice , received $ 2.5 million from Soros around the time of its launch in 2018 .
It is led by Brian Fallon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's failed 2016 presidential campaign , who the Washington Free Beacon spotted in 2018 at a secretive gathering of the Democracy Alliance , the progressive billionaire donor club cofounded by Soros and of which Steyer is also a member .
Demand Justice operates under the umbrella of Arabella Advisors , a massive network that has become a major Democratic dark money force .
Arabella funneled more than $ 600 million in hidden funds from wealthy Democratic donors to dozens of groups and initiatives across the United States in 2018 .
Confidential Democracy Alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members to pass money through Arabella 's network as part of its 2020 efforts to expand its influence .
Another group involved with the Fix Our Senate coalition , Indivisible , received $ 500,000 from Soros in late 2018 .
Indivisible previously worked alongside Bend the Arc , a `` Jewish resistance '' group founded by Soros 's son Alexander .
Bend the Arc privately met with Democratic presidential candidates to urge them to support decriminalizing border crossings and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
The new anti-McConnell coalition is rounded out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the largest labor unions in the country , and by Protect Our Care , which also falls under Arabella 's dark money umbrella and was created to `` reject Republican efforts to rip away healthcare from millions of people . ''
The formation of Fix Our Senate indicates that McConnell remains a key foil for Democratic moneyed interests .
This is likely because of the Senate majority leader 's quiet legislative effectiveness , particularly his confirmation of dozens of circuit court judges over the past three years .
Progressive billionaires ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , as when Steyer claimed that `` there is blood on Mitch McConnell 's hands '' last September following the Midland-Odessa , Texas , shootings .
Fix Our Senate is just the latest of a number of efforts by well-funded groups and wealthy donors to push Trump and Republicans out of office .
Soros and Scott Wallace , a failed congressional candidate in Pennsylvania who is also tied to the Democracy Alliance , are helping bankroll a fund housed at Arabella focused on helping Democrats make inroads with Midwestern voters for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Majority , is attempting to help `` rebrand '' the Democratic party and provide support to activist organizations with plans to spend $ 60 million leading up to the elections .
American Bridge has mapped out a $ 50 million plan to `` weaken '' Trump in the region .
Priorities USA , the largest liberal super PAC , will spend north of $ 100 million on the 2020 elections , including in Michigan and Wisconsin .

Liberal groups heavily financed by Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer and billionaire George Soros are part of a new coalition launched to attack Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and Republicans ahead of the 2020 elections.
Fix Our Senate, an alliance of liberal groups launched Tuesday, said that it intends to "shine a light on McConnell and every ally who supports him," Axios reported. The group plans to push out damaging research against McConnell in hopes of pinning responsibility for "wealth inequality," drug prices, conservative judicial nominations, and legislative gridlock on the Kentucky senator.
Despite their focus on "inequality," the groups behind Fix Our Senate are themselves fueled by some of the wealthiest and most powerful donors to the Democratic party. The new effort is part of a wave of dark money being poured into progressive coffers by deep-pocketed financiers, activist networks, and labor unions in advance of the 2020 election. It also indicates that these groups see McConnell—who has repeatedly frustrated the left's agenda in the Senate—as a prime target in November.
Fix Our Senate will be registered as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, which will allow it to hide the identity of its donors. It will be led by Joshua Karp, a former communications director at American Bridge, the opposition research group founded and run by liberal operative David Brock.
Fix Our Senate did not respond to requests for comment on the project and its coalition.
One of the groups in the Fix Our Senate coalition, For Our Future, was launched by Steyer and four labor unions during the 2016 election cycle. For Our Future's political action committee is bankrolled almost entirely by Steyer's NextGen Climate Action Committee, which has paid out $25.9 million over the last four years. NextGen has provided 83 percent of the group's total contributions in the 2020 cycle thus far, money that will go toward Democratic campaigns in seven swing states.
Another activist group that is part of the new coalition, Demand Justice, received $2.5 million from Soros around the time of its launch in 2018. It is led by Brian Fallon, former press secretary for Hillary Clinton's failed 2016 presidential campaign, who the Washington Free Beacon spotted in 2018 at a secretive gathering of the Democracy Alliance, the progressive billionaire donor club cofounded by Soros and of which Steyer is also a member.
Demand Justice operates under the umbrella of Arabella Advisors, a massive network that has become a major Democratic dark money force. Arabella funneled more than $600 million in hidden funds from wealthy Democratic donors to dozens of groups and initiatives across the United States in 2018. Confidential Democracy Alliance documents show that the club directs its members to pass money through Arabella's network as part of its 2020 efforts to expand its influence.
Another group involved with the Fix Our Senate coalition, Indivisible, received $500,000 from Soros in late 2018. Indivisible previously worked alongside Bend the Arc, a "Jewish resistance" group founded by Soros's son Alexander. Bend the Arc privately met with Democratic presidential candidates to urge them to support decriminalizing border crossings and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The new anti-McConnell coalition is rounded out by the Service Employees International Union, one of the largest labor unions in the country, and by Protect Our Care, which also falls under Arabella's dark money umbrella and was created to "reject Republican efforts to rip away healthcare from millions of people."
The formation of Fix Our Senate indicates that McConnell remains a key foil for Democratic moneyed interests. This is likely because of the Senate majority leader's quiet legislative effectiveness, particularly his confirmation of dozens of circuit court judges over the past three years. Progressive billionaires' distaste for McConnell has occasionally erupted in public, as when Steyer claimed that "there is blood on Mitch McConnell's hands" last September following the Midland-Odessa, Texas, shootings.
Fix Our Senate is just the latest of a number of efforts by well-funded groups and wealthy donors to push Trump and Republicans out of office. Soros and Scott Wallace, a failed congressional candidate in Pennsylvania who is also tied to the Democracy Alliance, are helping bankroll a fund housed at Arabella focused on helping Democrats make inroads with Midwestern voters for the 2020 elections.
Another group, Future Majority, is attempting to help "rebrand" the Democratic party and provide support to activist organizations with plans to spend $60 million leading up to the elections. American Bridge has mapped out a $50 million plan to "weaken" Trump in the region. Priorities USA, the largest liberal super PAC, will spend north of $100 million on the 2020 elections, including in Michigan and Wisconsin.


Beacon Extra 1/29/20

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
IMPEACHMENT UPDATE … Donald J. Trump is still President of the United States .
THE OLDEST HATRED … `` New Koch Group Dogged by Charges of Anti-Semitism , '' by WFB ’ s Eliana Johnson : Yet the Quincy Institute ’ s hires include a string of figures who have courted controversy due to their views of Israel and American Jews .
Lawrence Wilkerson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a 2007 documentary that `` the Jewish lobby in America '' and `` AIPAC in particular '' played an outsize influence in the run-up to the war—and , in fact , had more of an impact than the administration 's belief that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction or the president 's belief in spreading democracy … The Quincy Institute is also home to several experts who have accused American Jews of being loyal primarily to Israel , a charge that has often been used to slur Jews .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa Voter : ‘ Go Vote for Someone Else ’ , '' by WFB ’ s Graham Piro : Former vice president Joe Biden told a Democratic voter asking about climate change to `` go vote for someone else '' and then wrongfully accused him of supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) … Biden told [ Ed Fallon ] he was looking for primary supporters , not general election supporters .
Biden then started to criticize what Sanders has promised to do about climate change , seeming to assume Fallon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say he is actually a Tom Steyer supporter .
BETO BUSTS … `` Republican Gary Gates handily beats Democrat Eliz Markowitz in Texas House District 28 runoff , '' via TEXAS TRIBUNE : Republican Gary Gates has decisively beaten Democrat Eliz Markowitz in the nationally targeted special election runoff for Texas House District 28 , a disappointing loss for Democrats who had hoped to use the race to build momentum toward capturing control of the lower chamber in November .
With all vote centers reporting Tuesday night , Gates defeated Markowitz by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 42 % , according to unofficial results … The overtime round drew massive attention from Democrats .
At least three presidential candidates got involved , national and state groups poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race , and Beto O'Rourke made it his top political priority since ending his White House bid in November .
CLASSY … `` Exclusive Audio : Michael Bloomberg ’ s Concern After JFK Assassination Was Cancelled Frat Party , '' by WFB 's Brent Scher : Michael Bloomberg was unfazed by news of Princess Diana 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immediate aftermath of her 1997 passing that it was `` just one life '' and the world would go on just the same .
Bloomberg 's remarks , reported by the Washington Free Beacon for the first time , came during a 1999 interview with his alma mater , Johns Hopkins University .
Recalling his comments to a grieving friend who told him `` life will never be the same again , '' Bloomberg remarked , `` Well , never the same again for Princess Diana , but everyone else went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BODY PRESIDENT … `` Facing Racial Tensions , Buttigieg Camp Surveyed Staff About Microaggressions , '' by WFB ’ s Alex Griswold : The New York Times reported Tuesday that [ Pete ] Buttigieg national engagement coordinator Raven Hollins circulated a survey to employees in January after numerous staffers of color reported `` feeling disrespected '' by colleagues .
Hollins asked that only minority staffers fill out the survey … The list of microaggressions included `` Been interrupted / talked over , '' `` Left off a relevant email chain , '' `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or insight ( even accidentally ) , '' and `` Been called the name of a different staff member of color . ''
ONLY THE BEST PEOPLE … `` Top Sanders Surrogate Appears to Parrot 9/11 Conspiracy Theory , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Kugle : Phillip Agnew , a self-described `` militant '' who has made multiple appearances on the campaign trail for Sanders since joining the campaign in July , tweeted on the eve of the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that America remembers the day `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitution , and killed her own citizens in the name of money . ''
SH*T LIBERALS DO … `` Steyer Slams Private Education , Sent Kids to Pricey Prep School , '' by WFB ’ s Charles Fain Lehman : Tom Steyer has promised to put government money where his mouth is , telling the Washington Post that he `` does not support using public money for private or religious education . ''
In doing so , Steyer would deny parents of lesser means the ability to do as he did when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University High School , whose annual tuition costs $ 49,496 … At the same time , it recalls Steyer 's opponents ' own dishonesty on the topic , particularly Sen. Elizabeth Warren 's ( D. , Mass. )
.
JUSTICE FOR JUSSIE … `` Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx ’ s reelection bid , '' via CHICAGO TRIBUNE : As a first-term prosecutor on the campaign trail , Foxx has touted her philosophy and record on criminal justice reforms .
But her handling of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year drew national attention .
In an emailed statement , Warren talked about why she ’ s endorsing Foxx : `` When Cook County first elected Kim Foxx to the state attorney ’ s office , it not only gained a seasoned advocate but a champion invested in rethinking the county ’ s approach to criminal justice reform . ''
IT ’ S HAPPENING … `` Hillary Clinton admits she feels an ‘ urge ’ to run against Trump again , '' via NY POST : `` Yeah .
I certainly feel the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a really odd time and an odd outcome , '' she told [ Variety ] in an interview published online Monday .
`` And the more we learn , the more that seems to be the case .
But I ’ m going to support the people who are running now and do everything I can to help elect the Democratic nominee . ''
BUSINESS WITH THE BIDENS … `` Lobbyist bought tropical land from Biden ’ s brother , '' via POLITICO : In 2005 , Joe Biden ’ s brother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ocean views on a remote island in the Caribbean for $ 150,000 .
He divided it into three parcels , and the next year a lobbyist close to the Delaware senator bought one of the parcels for what had been the cost of the entire property .
Later , the lobbyist gave Biden ’ s brother a mortgage loan on the remaining parcels .
The Virgin Islands land deal , reported here for the first time , furthers a pattern in which members of the Biden family have engaged in financial dealings with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former vice president .
HAMAS STILL DEVOTED TO PUSHING ISRAEL INTO SEA … `` Palestinians Reject Trump Administration ’ s Middle East Peace Plan , '' via WSJ : In anticipation that the plan would strongly favor the Israelis , the Palestinian Authority has threatened to cut its security and economic relations with Israel formed in previous peace talks .
Hamas , the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip , said Mr. Trump ’ s speech hasn ’ t changed its goals .
`` After Trump ’ s speech , as before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggle to regain its lands and holy sites and seize its freedom , '' Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem wrote in a Tweet .
CHICOMS INFILTRATE FRIENDLY INSTITUTION … `` U.S .
Accuses Harvard Scientist of Concealing Chinese Funding , '' via NYT : Charles M. Lieber , the chair of Harvard ’ s department of chemistry and chemical biology , was charged on Tuesday with making false statements about money he had received from a Chinese government-run program , part of a broad-ranging F.B.I .
effort to root out theft of biomedical research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a leader in the field of nanoscale electronics , was one of three Boston-area scientists accused on Tuesday of working on behalf of China .
BLOODY HELL … `` UK will allow Huawei to help build its 5G network despite US pressure , '' via CNN : The British government said Tuesday that it will allow China 's Huawei to help build the country 's next generation of super-fast wireless networks , a decision that could undermine trade and intelligence ties with the United States … The Trump administration had been pressing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleging that Beijing could use the equipment for snooping … Under Chinese law , Chinese companies can be ordered to act under the direction of Beijing .
THE FIX IS IN … `` NYT Columnist Fails to Disclose Husband ’ s Work for Warren in Attack on Sanders , '' by WFB ’ s Brent Scher : New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg failed to disclose in her Monday column criticizing Bernie Sanders that her husband is a high-paid consultant for campaign rival Elizabeth Warren .
Goldberg wrote … that she is `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general election contest with President Donald Trump … Unmentioned in the column is that Goldberg 's husband Matthew Ipcar is a top executive at Blue State Digital , a design firm that has been paid $ 1,080,972 by Warren 's presidential campaign , according to Federal Election Commission records .
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT … `` Business Expert Says You Should n't Talk Sports at Work Because Women Ca n't Understand It , '' via BARSTOOL and BBC : Chartered Management Institute head Ann Francke said sports banter can exclude women and lead to laddish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` A lot of women , in particular , feel left out , '' she told the BBC 's Today programme .
BERNIE WAS RIGHT … `` SHE CAN ’ T WIN : Early State Dems Prefer White Male Billionaire to Warren in New Poll , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : Among Democratic voters in Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada , and South Carolina , [ Elizabeth Warren ] placed fourth , polling at 11 percent .
Tom Steyer , one of two white male billionaires in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 percent , presumably thanks to the massive amounts of money he has spent on advertising in those early primary states … Oh , and it turns out the New York Times ‘ s stupid double endorsement of Warren and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) had precisely zero impact on Warren 's standing in the race .
In fact , the biggest post-endorsement change among Democratic voters who read the Times was a five-point increase in support for Joe Biden .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Biden tells a voter to choose someone else, Beto busts again, and Bloomberg's strange reaction to Princess Diana's death
Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
IMPEACHMENT UPDATE … Donald J. Trump is still President of the United States.
THE OLDEST HATRED … "New Koch Group Dogged by Charges of Anti-Semitism," by WFB’s Eliana Johnson: Yet the Quincy Institute’s hires include a string of figures who have courted controversy due to their views of Israel and American Jews.
Lawrence Wilkerson, a nonresident fellow at the institute, said in a 2007 documentary that "the Jewish lobby in America" and "AIPAC in particular" played an outsize influence in the run-up to the war—and, in fact, had more of an impact than the administration's belief that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction or the president's belief in spreading democracy …
The Quincy Institute is also home to several experts who have accused American Jews of being loyal primarily to Israel, a charge that has often been used to slur Jews.
RETAIL POLITICS 101 … "Biden to Iowa Voter: ‘Go Vote for Someone Else’," by WFB’s Graham Piro: Former vice president Joe Biden told a Democratic voter asking about climate change to "go vote for someone else" and then wrongfully accused him of supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) …
Biden told [Ed Fallon] he was looking for primary supporters, not general election supporters. Biden then started to criticize what Sanders has promised to do about climate change, seeming to assume Fallon was a Sanders supporter. Fallon interrupted to say he is actually a Tom Steyer supporter.
BETO BUSTS … "Republican Gary Gates handily beats Democrat Eliz Markowitz in Texas House District 28 runoff," via TEXAS TRIBUNE: Republican Gary Gates has decisively beaten Democrat Eliz Markowitz in the nationally targeted special election runoff for Texas House District 28, a disappointing loss for Democrats who had hoped to use the race to build momentum toward capturing control of the lower chamber in November.
With all vote centers reporting Tuesday night, Gates defeated Markowitz by 16 percentage points, 58% to 42%, according to unofficial results …
The overtime round drew massive attention from Democrats. At least three presidential candidates got involved, national and state groups poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race, and Beto O'Rourke made it his top political priority since ending his White House bid in November.
CLASSY ... "Exclusive Audio: Michael Bloomberg’s Concern After JFK Assassination Was Cancelled Frat Party," by WFB's Brent Scher: Michael Bloomberg was unfazed by news of Princess Diana's tragic death, telling a friend in the immediate aftermath of her 1997 passing that it was "just one life" and the world would go on just the same.
Bloomberg's remarks, reported by the Washington Free Beacon for the first time, came during a 1999 interview with his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University. Recalling his comments to a grieving friend who told him "life will never be the same again," Bloomberg remarked, "Well, never the same again for Princess Diana, but everyone else went on."
INSIDE THE RACE FOR STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT … "Facing Racial Tensions, Buttigieg Camp Surveyed Staff About Microaggressions," by WFB’s Alex Griswold: The New York Times reported Tuesday that [Pete] Buttigieg national engagement coordinator Raven Hollins circulated a survey to employees in January after numerous staffers of color reported "feeling disrespected" by colleagues. Hollins asked that only minority staffers fill out the survey …
The list of microaggressions included "Been interrupted / talked over," "Left off a relevant email chain," "Someone else taking credit for your idea or insight (even accidentally)," and "Been called the name of a different staff member of color."
ONLY THE BEST PEOPLE … "Top Sanders Surrogate Appears to Parrot 9/11 Conspiracy Theory," by WFB’s Andrew Kugle: Phillip Agnew, a self-described "militant" who has made multiple appearances on the campaign trail for Sanders since joining the campaign in July, tweeted on the eve of the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that America remembers the day "she turned on herself, dismantled her constitution, and killed her own citizens in the name of money."
SH*T LIBERALS DO … "Steyer Slams Private Education, Sent Kids to Pricey Prep School," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: Tom Steyer has promised to put government money where his mouth is, telling the Washington Post that he "does not support using public money for private or religious education." In doing so, Steyer would deny parents of lesser means the ability to do as he did when he sent his children to the San Francisco University High School, whose annual tuition costs $49,496 …
At the same time, it recalls Steyer's opponents' own dishonesty on the topic, particularly Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D., Mass.).
JUSTICE FOR JUSSIE … "Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s reelection bid," via CHICAGO TRIBUNE: As a first-term prosecutor on the campaign trail, Foxx has touted her philosophy and record on criminal justice reforms. But her handling of the controversial case against actor Jussie Smollett last year drew national attention.
In an emailed statement, Warren talked about why she’s endorsing Foxx: "When Cook County first elected Kim Foxx to the state attorney’s office, it not only gained a seasoned advocate but a champion invested in rethinking the county’s approach to criminal justice reform."
IT’S HAPPENING … "Hillary Clinton admits she feels an ‘urge’ to run against Trump again," via NY POST: "Yeah. I certainly feel the urge because I feel the 2016 election was a really odd time and an odd outcome," she told [Variety] in an interview published online Monday.
"And the more we learn, the more that seems to be the case. But I’m going to support the people who are running now and do everything I can to help elect the Democratic nominee."
BUSINESS WITH THE BIDENS … "Lobbyist bought tropical land from Biden’s brother," via POLITICO: In 2005, Joe Biden’s brother bought an acre of land with excellent ocean views on a remote island in the Caribbean for $150,000. He divided it into three parcels, and the next year a lobbyist close to the Delaware senator bought one of the parcels for what had been the cost of the entire property. Later, the lobbyist gave Biden’s brother a mortgage loan on the remaining parcels.
The Virgin Islands land deal, reported here for the first time, furthers a pattern in which members of the Biden family have engaged in financial dealings with people with an interest in influencing the former vice president.
HAMAS STILL DEVOTED TO PUSHING ISRAEL INTO SEA … "Palestinians Reject Trump Administration’s Middle East Peace Plan," via WSJ: In anticipation that the plan would strongly favor the Israelis, the Palestinian Authority has threatened to cut its security and economic relations with Israel formed in previous peace talks.
Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, said Mr. Trump’s speech hasn’t changed its goals.
"After Trump’s speech, as before it, our people will continue to struggle to regain its lands and holy sites and seize its freedom," Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem wrote in a Tweet.
CHICOMS INFILTRATE FRIENDLY INSTITUTION … "U.S. Accuses Harvard Scientist of Concealing Chinese Funding," via NYT: Charles M. Lieber, the chair of Harvard’s department of chemistry and chemical biology, was charged on Tuesday with making false statements about money he had received from a Chinese government-run program, part of a broad-ranging F.B.I. effort to root out theft of biomedical research from American laboratories.
Dr. Lieber, a leader in the field of nanoscale electronics, was one of three Boston-area scientists accused on Tuesday of working on behalf of China.
BLOODY HELL … "UK will allow Huawei to help build its 5G network despite US pressure," via CNN: The British government said Tuesday that it will allow China's Huawei to help build the country's next generation of super-fast wireless networks, a decision that could undermine trade and intelligence ties with the United States …
The Trump administration had been pressing for a total ban on Huawei products, alleging that Beijing could use the equipment for snooping … Under Chinese law, Chinese companies can be ordered to act under the direction of Beijing.
THE FIX IS IN … "NYT Columnist Fails to Disclose Husband’s Work for Warren in Attack on Sanders," by WFB’s Brent Scher: New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg failed to disclose in her Monday column criticizing Bernie Sanders that her husband is a high-paid consultant for campaign rival Elizabeth Warren.
Goldberg wrote … that she is "terrified" about his chances in a general election contest with President Donald Trump … Unmentioned in the column is that Goldberg's husband Matthew Ipcar is a top executive at Blue State Digital, a design firm that has been paid $1,080,972 by Warren's presidential campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT … "Business Expert Says You Shouldn't Talk Sports at Work Because Women Can't Understand It," via BARSTOOL and BBC: Chartered Management Institute head Ann Francke said sports banter can exclude women and lead to laddish behaviour such as chat about sexual conquests.
"A lot of women, in particular, feel left out," she told the BBC's Today programme.
BERNIE WAS RIGHT … "SHE CAN’T WIN: Early State Dems Prefer White Male Billionaire to Warren in New Poll," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: Among Democratic voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, [Elizabeth Warren] placed fourth, polling at 11 percent. Tom Steyer, one of two white male billionaires in the race, was in third place at 17 percent, presumably thanks to the massive amounts of money he has spent on advertising in those early primary states …
Oh, and it turns out the New York Times‘s stupid double endorsement of Warren and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) had precisely zero impact on Warren's standing in the race. In fact, the biggest post-endorsement change among Democratic voters who read the Times was a five-point increase in support for Joe Biden.
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 1,144. Come back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Warren Can’t Name Any GOP Senate Colleagues With Character

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( Mass . )
on Wednesday said she could n't name any Republican senators that she believed had character .
MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews said Republican Sens .
Mitt Romney ( Utah ) , Lamar Alexander ( Tenn. ) , and Lisa Murkowski ( Alaska ) seemed to have character , asked Warren whether they could form a group to buck their party and impeach President Donald Trump .
`` Who 's got character ?
I mean is it [ Sen. Richard ] Burr ? ''
Matthews asked .
`` Why do n't they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We four Republicans have character .
We 're getting rid of this president . '
'' Warren expressed doubt that anyone would satisfy Matthews 's hopes .
`` One of the hardest things really over the last three years with Donald Trump as president has been how the Republicans just almost—I say almost—without exception have been willing to just line up behind him , '' Warren said .
`` And I 'm not just talking about when it 's a big vote and the big pressure is on . ''
As an example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her Republican colleagues have voted to confirm federal judges that are sexist , racist , homophobic , and supportive of voter suppression .
`` Those people pass through with every single Republican—every single Republican—voting in favor of them , '' Warren said , not naming any specific judges .
`` I just do n't understand how you can do that , and I do n't understand how you can say , ‘ That 's going to be a part of my legacy . '
'' Warren , who vehemently opposed Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by suggesting that his judicial appointments have been `` unqualified '' and would have been `` unthinkable '' in the George W. Bush administration .
However , Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch were both confirmed to other federal courts during the Bush administration , with the latter passing in 2006 by unanimous consent .

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) on Wednesday said she couldn't name any Republican senators that she believed had character.
MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews said Republican Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) seemed to have character, asked Warren whether they could form a group to buck their party and impeach President Donald Trump.
"Who's got character? I mean is it [Sen. Richard] Burr?" Matthews asked. "Why don't they just line up and say, 'We four Republicans have character. We're getting rid of this president.'"
Warren expressed doubt that anyone would satisfy Matthews's hopes.
"One of the hardest things really over the last three years with Donald Trump as president has been how the Republicans just almost—I say almost—without exception have been willing to just line up behind him," Warren said. "And I'm not just talking about when it's a big vote and the big pressure is on."
As an example, she argued that every last one of her Republican colleagues have voted to confirm federal judges that are sexist, racist, homophobic, and supportive of voter suppression.
"Those people pass through with every single Republican—every single Republican—voting in favor of them," Warren said, not naming any specific judges. "I just don't understand how you can do that, and I don't understand how you can say, 'That's going to be a part of my legacy.'"
Warren, who vehemently opposed Trump's Supreme Court nominees, concluded the interview by suggesting that his judicial appointments have been "unqualified" and would have been "unthinkable" in the George W. Bush administration. However, Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch were both confirmed to other federal courts during the Bush administration, with the latter passing in 2006 by unanimous consent.


freebeacon--2020-02-04--Steyer and Pelosi Poured Money into Firm Behind Botched Iowa App

Acronym , the dark-money group behind the mobile app that derailed the news cycle by causing widespread delays in the Iowa caucus results , received funding from the political operations of Tom Steyer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , financial records reveal .
Acronym acquired Shadow Inc. , the tech firm that developed the app used to tabulate results in the Iowa caucus , in early 2019 .
According to public records and tax forms reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon , both Acronym 's nonprofit arm and its affiliated political action committee have been the beneficiaries of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among Acronym 's close relationships , the filings show , are powerful politicians and wealthy donors who frequently come under fire from the Democratic Party 's left-wing .
Those tight connections with the Democratic establishment could lead to more questions amid the post-Iowa furor and may provoke further outrage from supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
Acronym 's nonprofit arm—which does not disclose its funders—received $ 300,000 in donations in 2018 from the House Majority PAC , a Pelosi-affiliated committee that works to elect Democrats to the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Election Commission records show , Steyer 's NextGen Climate Action Committee made a $ 45,000 donation to the nonprofit and paid another $ 90,000 for its data consulting services .
The group 's tax documents , which were provided to the Free Beacon last September and are not yet publicly available , show that the nonprofit raised more than $ 1.2 million from 12 anonymous donors during its first year in operation in 2017 .
A representative from the group said at the time that its 2018 tax forms would be filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Acronym 's PAC , Pacronym , was also a major beneficiary of wealthy Democrats ' funding .
The committee received six-figure contributions from director Steven Spielberg , former actress Kate Capshaw , and liberal billionaire George Soros 's Democracy PAC in late 2019 .
The forms obtained by the Free Beacon also indicate that Acronym is affiliated with digital media company Lockwood Strategy Inc. , with the two sharing a Washington , D.C. , address .
Both groups are led by Tara McGowan , who previously worked for Priorities USA , Steyer 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection campaign .
Lockwood Strategy received $ 145,000 for consulting services in 2018 from the Win Justice PAC , which was first bankrolled with a $ 3 million check from liberal billionaire George Soros as part of a campaign to target infrequent voters in swing states .
Acronym , House Majority PAC , and NextGen did not immediately respond to requests for comment on their relationship or funding .
Acronym was created following the Democrats ' historic defeat in the 2016 elections and was meant as a digital outfit to rival the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one Facebook executive called `` the single best digital ad campaign he 's ever seen . ''
In 2018 , it pulled in $ 18 million , registered 60,000 voters , and produced more than 10,000 Facebook ads .
Acronym poured large sums into Virginia 's 2019 elections and helped bankroll a news site in the state that drew scrutiny for pushing a pro-Democratic message while billing itself as unaffiliated news .
Shadow , the tech firm Acronym acquired , developed a mobile app that the Iowa Democratic Party expected to use to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But as results began to pour in from across the Hawkeye state , the software malfunctioned , leading to severe delays in tabulating the results and driving up tempers among Democratic activists .
By Tuesday morning , hours after the Republican party had called its own caucus , there was still no clear victor in sight .
Following the tumult of Monday evening , Acronym now finds itself at the center of the Iowa firestorm .
Recent reports indicated that Democratic officials in the state were warned about significant issues with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the caucuses .
Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said Tuesday morning that the department 's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency had previously offered to test the app but was rebuffed .
Acronym released a statement claiming they did not provide technology to the state or national parties and that it only `` invested '' in Shadow .
McGowan , however , in January 2019 tweeted about Acronym `` launching Shadow , a new tech company to build smarter infrastructure for campaigns . ''
David Plouffe , the former Obama campaign manager who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday that he did not know about the app .
Acronym has additionally attempted to scrub its website and downplay its connections to Shadow , the Daily Beast reported .
Nonetheless , the Iowa disaster has pushed the Nevada Democratic Party to abandon the app ahead of its own caucuses .
The Iowa fallout has also led to rumblings of getting rid of the caucus altogether , blame for which would fall in large part at Acronym 's feet .

Acronym, the dark-money group behind the mobile app that derailed the news cycle by causing widespread delays in the Iowa caucus results, received funding from the political operations of Tom Steyer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, financial records reveal.
Acronym acquired Shadow Inc., the tech firm that developed the app used to tabulate results in the Iowa caucus, in early 2019. According to public records and tax forms reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon, both Acronym's nonprofit arm and its affiliated political action committee have been the beneficiaries of huge volumes of liberal dark money.
Among Acronym's close relationships, the filings show, are powerful politicians and wealthy donors who frequently come under fire from the Democratic Party's left-wing. Those tight connections with the Democratic establishment could lead to more questions amid the post-Iowa furor and may provoke further outrage from supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
Acronym's nonprofit arm—which does not disclose its funders—received $300,000 in donations in 2018 from the House Majority PAC, a Pelosi-affiliated committee that works to elect Democrats to the House of Representatives. That same year, Federal Election Commission records show, Steyer's NextGen Climate Action Committee made a $45,000 donation to the nonprofit and paid another $90,000 for its data consulting services.
The group's tax documents, which were provided to the Free Beacon last September and are not yet publicly available, show that the nonprofit raised more than $1.2 million from 12 anonymous donors during its first year in operation in 2017. A representative from the group said at the time that its 2018 tax forms would be filed to the IRS in March 2020.
Acronym's PAC, Pacronym, was also a major beneficiary of wealthy Democrats' funding. The committee received six-figure contributions from director Steven Spielberg, former actress Kate Capshaw, and liberal billionaire George Soros's Democracy PAC in late 2019.
The forms obtained by the Free Beacon also indicate that Acronym is affiliated with digital media company Lockwood Strategy Inc., with the two sharing a Washington, D.C., address. Both groups are led by Tara McGowan, who previously worked for Priorities USA, Steyer's NextGen PAC, and President Obama's reelection campaign. Lockwood Strategy received $145,000 for consulting services in 2018 from the Win Justice PAC, which was first bankrolled with a $3 million check from liberal billionaire George Soros as part of a campaign to target infrequent voters in swing states.
Acronym, House Majority PAC, and NextGen did not immediately respond to requests for comment on their relationship or funding.
Acronym was created following the Democrats' historic defeat in the 2016 elections and was meant as a digital outfit to rival the Trump campaign's own online operation, which one Facebook executive called "the single best digital ad campaign he's ever seen." In 2018, it pulled in $18 million, registered 60,000 voters, and produced more than 10,000 Facebook ads. Acronym poured large sums into Virginia's 2019 elections and helped bankroll a news site in the state that drew scrutiny for pushing a pro-Democratic message while billing itself as unaffiliated news.
Shadow, the tech firm Acronym acquired, developed a mobile app that the Iowa Democratic Party expected to use to report results in Monday evening's caucus. But as results began to pour in from across the Hawkeye state, the software malfunctioned, leading to severe delays in tabulating the results and driving up tempers among Democratic activists. By Tuesday morning, hours after the Republican party had called its own caucus, there was still no clear victor in sight.
Following the tumult of Monday evening, Acronym now finds itself at the center of the Iowa firestorm. Recent reports indicated that Democratic officials in the state were warned about significant issues with the app in the days leading up to the caucuses. Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said Tuesday morning that the department's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency had previously offered to test the app but was rebuffed.
Acronym released a statement claiming they did not provide technology to the state or national parties and that it only "invested" in Shadow. McGowan, however, in January 2019 tweeted about Acronym "launching Shadow, a new tech company to build smarter infrastructure for campaigns." David Plouffe, the former Obama campaign manager who sits on Acronym's board, claimed on Tuesday that he did not know about the app. Acronym has additionally attempted to scrub its website and downplay its connections to Shadow, the Daily Beast reported.
Nonetheless, the Iowa disaster has pushed the Nevada Democratic Party to abandon the app ahead of its own caucuses. The Iowa fallout has also led to rumblings of getting rid of the caucus altogether, blame for which would fall in large part at Acronym's feet.


freebeacon--2020-02-04--IOWA RESULTS: Buttigieg (Kind of) Won. So Did Bernie. Warren Persisted. Biden Definitely Lost.

The Iowa Democratic Party finally announced a winner of the state 's caucus Tuesday afternoon .
With 62 percent of Iowa precincts reporting the results of Monday 's caucus , former South Bend , Indiana , mayor Pete Buttigieg led all candidates with 26.9 percent of state delegate equivalents .
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) was a close second with 25.1 percent , and Sen. Elizabeth Warren came in third with 18.3 percent .
Most notably , former vice president Joe Biden placed a distant fourth at 15.6 percent .
In terms of the ( partial ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28,220 votes to Buttigieg 's 27,030 .
Warren got 22,254 votes , and Biden just 14,176 .
Poll watchers are declaring the race too close to call at this point .
Iowa Democratic Party chairman Tony Price apologized Tuesday for the delay in releasing the results , but expressed confidence in the accuracy of the data .
Those results were expected to be made public Monday evening , but the state party was forced to postpone the release in order to conduct `` quality control '' measures made necessary by `` inconcistencies '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions from the partial results unveiled Tuesday , it is certainty an embarrassing outcome for Biden , who has time and again proven himself unworthy of the `` frontrunner '' status suggested by his strength in national polling .
Many election observers had predicted the outcome in Iowa would be humiliating for Biden , especially after his campaign sought to indefinitely postpone the release of the precinct results after the state Democratic Party scrambled to assess the accuracy of the data .
Biden campaign surrogates took to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legitimacy of the caucus results , while CNN reported that the campaign was considering filing a injunction to prevent the release of those results .
At this point , Biden might be wondering if he should n't have heeded the advice of his former boss , who has thus far refused to endorse him .
`` You do n't have to do this , Joe , you really do n't , '' former President Barack Obama reportedly told Biden before the former vice president launched his campaign .
Even Biden 's traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Joe Biden has run for president before and he 's never done well , '' said CNN 's Anderson Cooper .
`` Even in his prime was still losing presidential races . ''
Biden has never won a Democratic primary or caucus throughout his political career , despite this being his third attempt at running for president since 1988 .
Buttigieg , 38 , was quick to declare victory ( again ) on Tuesday , delivering a short televised address from the campaign trail in New Hampshire .
`` They 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a majority of precincts , and they show our campaign in first place , '' said Buttigieg , robotically .
The Sanders campaign took a victory lap as well .
`` We are gratified that in the partial data released so far it ’ s clear that in the first and second round more people voted for Bernie than any other candidate in the field , '' said senior adviser Jeff Weaver .
The candidate himself , however , said he was disappointed by the lower-than-expected voter turnout in Iowa .
Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were likely to favor Sanders , which would put the socialist candidate in an even stronger position as the primary contest moves to New Hampshire , where Sanders currently enjoys a commanding lead , according to the Real Clear Politics polling average .

The Iowa Democratic Party finally announced a winner of the state's caucus Tuesday afternoon.
Sort of.
With 62 percent of Iowa precincts reporting the results of Monday's caucus, former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg led all candidates with 26.9 percent of state delegate equivalents. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) was a close second with 25.1 percent, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren came in third with 18.3 percent. Most notably, former vice president Joe Biden placed a distant fourth at 15.6 percent.
In terms of the (partial) popular vote, Sanders led narrowly with 28,220 votes to Buttigieg's 27,030. Warren got 22,254 votes, and Biden just 14,176. Poll watchers are declaring the race too close to call at this point.
Iowa Democratic Party chairman Tony Price apologized Tuesday for the delay in releasing the results, but expressed confidence in the accuracy of the data. Those results were expected to be made public Monday evening, but the state party was forced to postpone the release in order to conduct "quality control" measures made necessary by "inconcistencies" in the precinct reporting.
While it is difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions from the partial results unveiled Tuesday, it is certainty an embarrassing outcome for Biden, who has time and again proven himself unworthy of the "frontrunner" status suggested by his strength in national polling.
Many election observers had predicted the outcome in Iowa would be humiliating for Biden, especially after his campaign sought to indefinitely postpone the release of the precinct results after the state Democratic Party scrambled to assess the accuracy of the data. Biden campaign surrogates took to the airwaves Tuesday to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the caucus results, while CNN reported that the campaign was considering filing a injunction to prevent the release of those results.
At this point, Biden might be wondering if he shouldn't have heeded the advice of his former boss, who has thus far refused to endorse him. "You don't have to do this, Joe, you really don't," former President Barack Obama reportedly told Biden before the former vice president launched his campaign.
Even Biden's traditional allies in the media were not impressed. "Joe Biden has run for president before and he's never done well," said CNN's Anderson Cooper. "Even in his prime was still losing presidential races." Biden has never won a Democratic primary or caucus throughout his political career, despite this being his third attempt at running for president since 1988.
Buttigieg, 38, was quick to declare victory (again) on Tuesday, delivering a short televised address from the campaign trail in New Hampshire. "They're not complete, but results are in from a majority of precincts, and they show our campaign in first place," said Buttigieg, robotically.
The Sanders campaign took a victory lap as well. "We are gratified that in the partial data released so far it’s clear that in the first and second round more people voted for Bernie than any other candidate in the field," said senior adviser Jeff Weaver. The candidate himself, however, said he was disappointed by the lower-than-expected voter turnout in Iowa.
Election watchers noted that the final Iowa results were likely to favor Sanders, which would put the socialist candidate in an even stronger position as the primary contest moves to New Hampshire, where Sanders currently enjoys a commanding lead, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.


freebeacon--2020-02-04--AOC, Fellow ‘Squad’ Member Will Boycott State of the Union

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) said Tuesday she will boycott President Trump 's State of the Union address because she does not want to `` legitimize '' the president 's `` lawless conduct . ''
Ocasio-Cortez is not alone in sitting out the president 's annual address to Congress .
Fellow freshman congresswoman Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
has also said she will not attend the speech , though she is scheduled to deliver the Working Families Party 's response .
Ocasio-Cortez said that her presence would only serve to `` normalize '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pressley 's statement , which described Trump 's speech as a `` sham . ''
`` On the eve of Senate Republicans covering up transgressions and spreading misinformation , I can not in good conscience attend a sham State of the Union when I have seen firsthand the damage Donald J. Trump 's rhetoric and policies have inflicted on those I love and those I represent , '' Pressley said .
At least five other Democrats have also refused to attend , according to The Hill .
Reps. Al Green ( Texas ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earl Blumenauer ( Ore. ) , Hank Johnson ( Ga. ) , and Frederica Wilson ( Fla. ) will all sit out the Capitol Hill address .
Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley are the only two members of the self-described `` Squad '' of far-left freshman Democrats who have joined the boycott .
Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) called for a media blackout of the pre-address lunch after the president blocked CNN from participating .
She also tweeted a suggestion that Trump 's delivery of the State of the Union in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , failing to acknowledge that President Bill Clinton also delivered the State of the Union while on trial .
President Trump 's address will take place Tuesday night around 9 p.m .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) said Tuesday she will boycott President Trump's State of the Union address because she does not want to "legitimize" the president's "lawless conduct."
Ocasio-Cortez is not alone in sitting out the president's annual address to Congress. Fellow freshman congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) has also said she will not attend the speech, though she is scheduled to deliver the Working Families Party's response.
Ocasio-Cortez said that her presence would only serve to "normalize" the Republican president.
After much deliberation, I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump’s lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution. None of this is normal, and I will not legitimize it. Consequently, I will not be attending the State of the Union. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 4, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez's tweet echoed Pressley's statement, which described Trump's speech as a "sham."
"On the eve of Senate Republicans covering up transgressions and spreading misinformation, I cannot in good conscience attend a sham State of the Union when I have seen firsthand the damage Donald J. Trump's rhetoric and policies have inflicted on those I love and those I represent," Pressley said.
At least five other Democrats have also refused to attend, according to The Hill. Reps. Al Green (Texas), Steve Cohen (Tenn.), Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Hank Johnson (Ga.), and Frederica Wilson (Fla.) will all sit out the Capitol Hill address.
Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley are the only two members of the self-described "Squad" of far-left freshman Democrats who have joined the boycott. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) called for a media blackout of the pre-address lunch after the president blocked CNN from participating. She also tweeted a suggestion that Trump's delivery of the State of the Union in the midst of an impeachment trial was unprecedented, failing to acknowledge that President Bill Clinton also delivered the State of the Union while on trial.
President Trump's address will take place Tuesday night around 9 p.m.


freebeacon--2020-02-04--Tired of Winning? Donald Trump Breaks Obama Approval Record

President Donald J. Trump , fresh off an overwhelming victory in the Iowa Republican caucus , continues to demonstrate the inevitability of his reelection in 2020 and beyond .
Trump has a job approval rating of 49 percent , according to the most recent Gallup survey .
That 's the highest figure reported by Gallup since Trump took office in 2017 , and it comes as the Democratic Party reels from an embarrassing debacle in Iowa , where the results of Monday 's caucuses have yet to be released .
The president also broke a record once held by former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rating among Republicans rose 6 percent since early January , according to Gallup , and currently stands at 94 percent , a new high .
His approval rating among Democrats , meanwhile , is just 7 percent .
That 87-point gap between partisan approval ratings is the highest Gallup has ever recorded , breaking the previous record of 86 points set by former president Obama .
The Gallup survey also found that most Americans are not on board with the Democratic Party 's efforts to impeach the president .
A majority of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be acquitted , which he will be ; 46 percent said Trump should be convicted and removed from office .
Though it appears increasingly unlikely that Trump will face former vice president Joe Biden in the general election , the commander in chief scored a symbolic victory over the former Democratic frontrunner on Monday .
Trump 's victory in the Iowa GOP caucus means that he has now won more caucuses or primaries in 2020 than Biden has won over the course of his entire political career , which includes two previous failed @ @ @

Has now won more primaries/caucuses in 2020 than Joe Biden has in his career
President Donald J. Trump, fresh off an overwhelming victory in the Iowa Republican caucus, continues to demonstrate the inevitability of his reelection in 2020 and beyond.
Trump has a job approval rating of 49 percent, according to the most recent Gallup survey. That's the highest figure reported by Gallup since Trump took office in 2017, and it comes as the Democratic Party reels from an embarrassing debacle in Iowa, where the results of Monday's caucuses have yet to be released.
The president also broke a record once held by former president Barack Obama. Trump's approval rating among Republicans rose 6 percent since early January, according to Gallup, and currently stands at 94 percent, a new high. His approval rating among Democrats, meanwhile, is just 7 percent. That 87-point gap between partisan approval ratings is the highest Gallup has ever recorded, breaking the previous record of 86 points set by former president Obama.
The Gallup survey also found that most Americans are not on board with the Democratic Party's efforts to impeach the president. A majority of Americans (52 percent) said Trump should be acquitted, which he will be; 46 percent said Trump should be convicted and removed from office.
Though it appears increasingly unlikely that Trump will face former vice president Joe Biden in the general election, the commander in chief scored a symbolic victory over the former Democratic frontrunner on Monday. Trump's victory in the Iowa GOP caucus means that he has now won more caucuses or primaries in 2020 than Biden has won over the course of his entire political career, which includes two previous failed presidential campaigns.


freebeacon--2020-02-04--Media Crush Democrats for Iowa Caucus Debacle

Members of the media did n't hold back their derision for the Democratic Party 's handling of Monday 's Iowa @ @ @ @ @ of preparation , a system meltdown involving a new reporting app , and the decision @ @ @ @ @ results generated `` chaos and confusion . ''
`` So awkward , so embarrassing , @ @ @ @ @ Blitzer on Monday night , as viewers and reporters were left wondering why no results @ @ @ @ @ News correspondent Major Garrett said Iowa 's chief political exports on Tuesday were `` uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ 's Ron Brownstein called the debacle `` staggeringly embarrassing and unacceptable , '' and MSNBC @ @ @ @ @ `` pathetic '' and a `` disaster . ''

Members of the media didn't hold back their derision for the Democratic Party's handling of Monday's Iowa caucuses, where a lack of preparation, a system meltdown involving a new reporting app, and the decision to report three sets of results generated "chaos and confusion."
"So awkward, so embarrassing," said CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Monday night, as viewers and reporters were left wondering why no results had been reported.
CBS News correspondent Major Garrett said Iowa's chief political exports on Tuesday were "uncertainty and embarrassment," CNN's Ron Brownstein called the debacle "staggeringly embarrassing and unacceptable," and MSNBC's Joe Scarborough called it "pathetic" and a "disaster."


freebeacon--2020-02-04--House Dem Admits They Block Legislation Because ‘We Don’t Want to Give the President a Win’

Rep. Mikie Sherrill ( D. , N.J. ) expressed frustration with her Democratic colleagues at a recent town hall , admitting they block legislation because they `` do n't want to give the president a win . ''
Speaking at a Livingston , New Jersey , town hall on Thursday , Sherrill revealed the `` shockingly different mindset '' of congressional Democrats who prioritize resisting President Donald Trump over passing legislation that could help their constituents .
`` When I go , you know , I 've gone up to people and said , ‘ I need to get this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they say ‘ Oh yeah , we just passed it , ' '' Sherrill said .
`` I said , ‘ Yeah , we just passed it .
I need the Senate to pass it and I need the president to sign it , ' and they said ‘ Well , we do n't want to give the president a win . '
'' Sherrill 's comments contrast with Democrats ' longstanding criticism of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) for blocking Democratic initiatives in the Senate .
Speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Calif. ) unveiled a visual representation of McConnell 's `` legislative graveyard '' in June , accusing the Kentucky Republican of blocking legislation for political gain .
`` Leader McConnell seems to take great pride in calling himself ‘ The Grim Reaper . '
It 's part of his political campaign , it 's part of the pride he takes as leader of the Senate , '' Pelosi said .
`` The Senate will certainly be hearing from the public on issues , values really , that have bipartisan support across America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee spokesman Michael McAdams , Sherrill 's admission contradicts Democrats ' push for bipartisanship in the Republican-held Senate .
`` Mikie Sherrill ’ s comments confirm that House Democrats would rather block President Trump from getting a win than deliver solutions for their constituents , '' McAdams said .
`` Voters deserve better than this partisan hackery . ''
Sherrill in 2018 became the first Democrat elected to her suburban New Jersey district , which Trump won narrowly in 2016 , in more than 30 years .
She will likely face Republican challenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November .

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D., N.J.) expressed frustration with her Democratic colleagues at a recent town hall, admitting they block legislation because they "don't want to give the president a win."
Speaking at a Livingston, New Jersey, town hall on Thursday, Sherrill revealed the "shockingly different mindset" of congressional Democrats who prioritize resisting President Donald Trump over passing legislation that could help their constituents.
"When I go, you know, I've gone up to people and said, 'I need to get this piece of legislation passed,' and they say 'Oh yeah, we just passed it,'" Sherrill said. "I said, 'Yeah, we just passed it. I need the Senate to pass it and I need the president to sign it,' and they said 'Well, we don't want to give the president a win.'"
Sherrill's comments contrast with Democrats' longstanding criticism of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) for blocking Democratic initiatives in the Senate. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) unveiled a visual representation of McConnell's "legislative graveyard" in June, accusing the Kentucky Republican of blocking legislation for political gain.
"Leader McConnell seems to take great pride in calling himself 'The Grim Reaper.' It's part of his political campaign, it's part of the pride he takes as leader of the Senate," Pelosi said. "The Senate will certainly be hearing from the public on issues, values really, that have bipartisan support across America."
According to National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Michael McAdams, Sherrill's admission contradicts Democrats' push for bipartisanship in the Republican-held Senate.
"Mikie Sherrill’s comments confirm that House Democrats would rather block President Trump from getting a win than deliver solutions for their constituents," McAdams said. "Voters deserve better than this partisan hackery."
Sherrill in 2018 became the first Democrat elected to her suburban New Jersey district, which Trump won narrowly in 2016, in more than 30 years. She will likely face Republican challenger and tax policy attorney Rosemary Becchi in November.


freebeacon--2020-02-04--MSNBC Analyst: ‘Iowa Caucus Is Essentially the Perfect Example of Systemic Racism’

MSNBC political analyst Zerlina Maxwell said Tuesday that Iowa 's majority-white population makes its caucuses `` the perfect example of systemic racism . ''
MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin asked whether the low turnout of first-time caucus-goers in Iowa should concern Democrats , who were hoping President Trump would motivate people to engage .
Maxwell argued the problem lies in the racial makeup of the Midwestern state .
`` Maybe I 'll be the only person to say this today , '' Maxwell said .
`` The Iowa caucus is essentially the perfect example of systemic racism .
Ninety-one percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` It could be perhaps that white children are not in the cages , '' she said , referring to the detention of minors who are illegal immigrants at the southern border .
`` So when you 're talking about the tangible pain that black and brown people are feeling , they feel a sense of urgency because their kids are being put in cages , right ?
So if you have a 91 percent white electorate , that sense of urgency may not be reflected in the turnout numbers . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's 2016 presidential campaign , expanded on her statement later in the show , telling Melvin that democracy is hampered when Iowa receives outsized attention .
`` Structurally , it 's very undemocratic in a country where people of color are historically marginalized , '' she said .
`` What you want is more people participating in the process . ''
`` If we 're just asking white people what they think about the Democratic candidates , then you 're not getting an accurate reflection of what the primary electorate thinks , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulties stopped the Democratic Party from quantifying the results , leading to no declared winner after the caucuses concluded and widespread condemnation of the Democrats ' handling of the voting process .
Democratic officials have said they will announce the results by Tuesday .
The Iowa caucuses have long been the first vote in the presidential primary season .
While Iowa awards few delegates relative to the rest of the country , it is seen as a proving ground for campaigns .

MSNBC political analyst Zerlina Maxwell said Tuesday that Iowa's majority-white population makes its caucuses "the perfect example of systemic racism."
MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin asked whether the low turnout of first-time caucus-goers in Iowa should concern Democrats, who were hoping President Trump would motivate people to engage. Maxwell argued the problem lies in the racial makeup of the Midwestern state.
"Maybe I'll be the only person to say this today," Maxwell said. "The Iowa caucus is essentially the perfect example of systemic racism. Ninety-one percent of the voters in Iowa are white."
"It could be perhaps that white children are not in the cages," she said, referring to the detention of minors who are illegal immigrants at the southern border. "So when you're talking about the tangible pain that black and brown people are feeling, they feel a sense of urgency because their kids are being put in cages, right? So if you have a 91 percent white electorate, that sense of urgency may not be reflected in the turnout numbers."
Maxwell, who worked for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, expanded on her statement later in the show, telling Melvin that democracy is hampered when Iowa receives outsized attention.
"Structurally, it's very undemocratic in a country where people of color are historically marginalized," she said. "What you want is more people participating in the process."
"If we're just asking white people what they think about the Democratic candidates, then you're not getting an accurate reflection of what the primary electorate thinks," she added.
Monday night, technical difficulties stopped the Democratic Party from quantifying the results, leading to no declared winner after the caucuses concluded and widespread condemnation of the Democrats' handling of the voting process. Democratic officials have said they will announce the results by Tuesday.
The Iowa caucuses have long been the first vote in the presidential primary season. While Iowa awards few delegates relative to the rest of the country, it is seen as a proving ground for campaigns.


freebeacon--2020-02-04--Iran Issues Death Sentence for Alleged CIA Spy

Iran announced on Tuesday that it issued a death sentence to an imprisoned individual the country accuses of spying on behalf of the CIA .
Iran 's supreme court signed off on a death sentence for Amir Rahimpour , whom the regime accuses of providing sensitive nuclear secrets to the United States , Gholamhossein Esmaeili , Iran 's judiciary spokesman , said .
`` Rahimpour , a CIA spy who had been paid substantially for disclosing Iran 's nuclear data to the American intelligence agency , had been already identified and sentenced to death , '' Esmaeili was quoted as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iran 's supreme court `` confirmed his sentence . ''
`` Enemies must know that the Islamic Republic does not compromise with such measures and gives a harsh answer to enemies , '' Esmaeili said .
At least two other individuals Iran accuses of working to steal its nuclear secrets and other information were `` identified , prosecuted , and sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage and five years in prison for taking measures against the national security of Iran , '' according to Iranian leaders .
Iran did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals .

Iran announced on Tuesday that it issued a death sentence to an imprisoned individual the country accuses of spying on behalf of the CIA.
Iran's supreme court signed off on a death sentence for Amir Rahimpour, whom the regime accuses of providing sensitive nuclear secrets to the United States, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, Iran's judiciary spokesman, said.
"Rahimpour, a CIA spy who had been paid substantially for disclosing Iran's nuclear data to the American intelligence agency, had been already identified and sentenced to death," Esmaeili was quoted as saying in the country's state-controlled press. Iran's supreme court "confirmed his sentence."
"Enemies must know that the Islamic Republic does not compromise with such measures and gives a harsh answer to enemies," Esmaeili said.
At least two other individuals Iran accuses of working to steal its nuclear secrets and other information were "identified, prosecuted, and sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage and five years in prison for taking measures against the national security of Iran," according to Iranian leaders.
Iran did not disclose the names of the other two individuals.