freebeacon--2020-03-04--McCaskill Accuses Sanders of ‘Demonizing’ Black Voters Who Don’t Support Him

Former Missouri senator Claire McCaskill ( D. ) criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) on Wednesday for alienating suburban and black voters , arguing it contributed to the Vermont senator 's poor performance on Super Tuesday .
On NBC 's Today , McCaskill said Sanders has disparaged black and suburban voters for supporting establishment candidates other than himself .
`` If you 're the front-runner , it 's not smart to demonize everyone who is for someone else , '' McCaskill said .
`` And he 's so busy calling black voters institutional and corporate . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ own base of support to include more black and suburban voters , many of whom have flocked to former vice president Joe Biden in recent days .
The former senator also said Sanders 's message was n't working for many women and African-American voters and is a losing strategy for the November presidential election .
Biden has had a strong showing with those voters .
McCaskill 's own 2018 reelection defeat came in part due to her difficulty connecting with black voters .
According to Washington Free Beacon reports , McCaskill was attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislature for failing to stand up for black voters during her 2018 campaign .
McCaskill also said Sanders did n't help his case with his insistence on `` kind things to say about the [ Fidel ] Castro regime . ''
His comments are likely to exact a toll on his campaign in Florida , the third-largest state in the union , later this month .
Biden scored major wins on Super Tuesday , following a key victory in South Carolina Saturday that was largely powered by black and suburban voters .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the key southern states of Virginia , North Carolina , and Alabama , according to exit polls .

Former Missouri senator Claire McCaskill (D.) criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) on Wednesday for alienating suburban and black voters, arguing it contributed to the Vermont senator's poor performance on Super Tuesday.
On NBC's Today, McCaskill said Sanders has disparaged black and suburban voters for supporting establishment candidates other than himself.
"If you're the front-runner, it's not smart to demonize everyone who is for someone else," McCaskill said. "And he's so busy calling black voters institutional and corporate."
McCaskill accused Sanders of not growing his own base of support to include more black and suburban voters, many of whom have flocked to former vice president Joe Biden in recent days.
The former senator also said Sanders's message wasn't working for many women and African-American voters and is a losing strategy for the November presidential election. Biden has had a strong showing with those voters.
McCaskill's own 2018 reelection defeat came in part due to her difficulty connecting with black voters. According to Washington Free Beacon reports, McCaskill was attacked twice by members of her state's legislature for failing to stand up for black voters during her 2018 campaign.
McCaskill also said Sanders didn't help his case with his insistence on "kind things to say about the [Fidel] Castro regime." His comments are likely to exact a toll on his campaign in Florida, the third-largest state in the union, later this month.
Biden scored major wins on Super Tuesday, following a key victory in South Carolina Saturday that was largely powered by black and suburban voters. He earned the majority of African-American voters in the key southern states of Virginia, North Carolina, and Alabama, according to exit polls.


freebeacon--2020-03-04--Pentagon Failed to Vet Saudi Military Recruit Who Killed 3 Americans

The Pentagon failed to adequately screen a Saudi military recruit who carried out a deadly 2019 attack at a U.S. military installation in Pensacola , Fla. , officials testified on Wednesday .
Garry Reid , director for defense intelligence at the Pentagon , said during a public congressional hearing that a failure to properly screen and share critical information about Saudi military recruits led to the attack , which killed three American service members and wounded eight others .
In addition to relying too heavily on State Department vetting procedures , the Pentagon found in its review of the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi terrorist to legally obtain a firearm in the United States , despite not being a citizen or having an immigrant visa .
The attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola triggered a nationwide crackdown on foreign nationals participating in U.S. military programs .
Despite security screening of these individuals , it became clear in the wake of the attack that the federal government failed to pick up on clear warning signs , such as the attacker 's anti-American social media posts .
`` We found that the Department of Defense has been overly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of State , '' Reid told the Senate Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities .
`` There is insufficient information sharing in place between DoD and the Department of State in that process , '' he said .
`` We also found that DoD programs meant to detect and mitigate events such as the Pensacola attack did not cover international military students—for instance , our insider threat programs . ''
The government-wide security review also found that `` policies for international military student possession of firearms varied at the installation level , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are ways to bypass firearms restrictions for non-immigrant visa holders . ''
These loopholes should be closed to prevent another attack , officials said .
Following last year 's attack , all Saudi Arabian military students in the United States for training were screened `` using new procedures we had recently put in place as part of our personnel vetting transformation initiative , '' Reid said .
Twenty-one Saudis were also ejected from the country for misconduct as the result of an FBI investigation .
Reid said the new vetting procedures `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that required additional analysis within the Department of Defense . ''
He added that none of the returns `` triggered any remedial action or further investigation by federal authorities relative to the current population . ''
The Defense Department is currently using these enhanced screening techniques to review the 5,000 or so other foreign military students from more than 150 countries who are currently in the United States .
Continuous screening will also take place under the new security plan .
Sen. Joni Ernst ( R. , Iowa ) , a combat veteran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the hearing that more must be done to ensure an attack of this nature does not take place again .
While the foreign military exchange programs are vital to building closer global alliances , they can not come at the risk of American service members ' lives , she said .
`` The attacker … arrived in the United States in 2017 and harbored anti-U.S. sentiments , which he broadcasted on social media , '' Ernst said .
`` All the while he was able to purchase a firearm , access U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deadly attack against Americans .
We must do more to protect our military personnel . ''
Following the hearing , the Defense Department official and members of Congress later participated in a closed-door session to discuss sensitive national security matters relating to the attack .

The Pentagon failed to adequately screen a Saudi military recruit who carried out a deadly 2019 attack at a U.S. military installation in Pensacola, Fla., officials testified on Wednesday.
Garry Reid, director for defense intelligence at the Pentagon, said during a public congressional hearing that a failure to properly screen and share critical information about Saudi military recruits led to the attack, which killed three American service members and wounded eight others.
In addition to relying too heavily on State Department vetting procedures, the Pentagon found in its review of the incident that gaps in federal law enabled the Saudi terrorist to legally obtain a firearm in the United States, despite not being a citizen or having an immigrant visa.
The attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola triggered a nationwide crackdown on foreign nationals participating in U.S. military programs. Despite security screening of these individuals, it became clear in the wake of the attack that the federal government failed to pick up on clear warning signs, such as the attacker's anti-American social media posts.
"We found that the Department of Defense has been overly reliant on the vetting conducted by the Department of State," Reid told the Senate Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.
"There is insufficient information sharing in place between DoD and the Department of State in that process," he said. "We also found that DoD programs meant to detect and mitigate events such as the Pensacola attack did not cover international military students—for instance, our insider threat programs."
The government-wide security review also found that "policies for international military student possession of firearms varied at the installation level, and that at the federal level, there are ways to bypass firearms restrictions for non-immigrant visa holders."
These loopholes should be closed to prevent another attack, officials said.
Following last year's attack, all Saudi Arabian military students in the United States for training were screened "using new procedures we had recently put in place as part of our personnel vetting transformation initiative," Reid said. Twenty-one Saudis were also ejected from the country for misconduct as the result of an FBI investigation.
Reid said the new vetting procedures "produced only a small number of returns that required additional analysis within the Department of Defense." He added that none of the returns "triggered any remedial action or further investigation by federal authorities relative to the current population."
The Defense Department is currently using these enhanced screening techniques to review the 5,000 or so other foreign military students from more than 150 countries who are currently in the United States.
Continuous screening will also take place under the new security plan.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), a combat veteran and the subcommittee's chair, said in the hearing that more must be done to ensure an attack of this nature does not take place again. While the foreign military exchange programs are vital to building closer global alliances, they cannot come at the risk of American service members' lives, she said.
"The attacker … arrived in the United States in 2017 and harbored anti-U.S. sentiments, which he broadcasted on social media," Ernst said. "All the while he was able to purchase a firearm, access U.S. military installations, and ultimately carry out a deadly attack against Americans. We must do more to protect our military personnel."
Following the hearing, the Defense Department official and members of Congress later participated in a closed-door session to discuss sensitive national security matters relating to the attack.


freebeacon--2020-03-04--Former Cuban Political Prisoner Says Sanders Defended Communist Nation During Visit

A former political prisoner held by Cuba says that Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders defended the country 's communist regime when he visited him in prison .
Sanders was part of a congressional delegation that traveled to Cuba in 2014 and visited American prisoner Alan Gross .
Gross told NPR Wednesday that Sanders defended the totalitarian country holding him hostage and said to him , `` I do n't know what 's so wrong with this country . ''
Gross , who was released later that year as part of a prisoner exchange , says that he had a pleasant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegation , former senator Heidi Heitkamp ( D. , N.D. ) and Senator Jon Tester ( D. , Mont. )
.
Sanders was mostly quiet during the visit , but toward the end of the one-hour meeting , he pitched in with his defense of Cuba .
`` I just think , you know , it was a stupid thing for him to do , '' Gross says .
`` First , how could he not see the incredible deterioration of what was once the grandeur of the pre-Castro era .
And two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make that remark to a political hostage—me ! ''
A source close to Heitkamp told NPR that the former senator remembered that Sanders `` seemed to disregard the meeting with Gross '' and that there was an uncomfortable exchange , but she does n't remember the exact words .
Tester told NPR he does n't recall the conversation .
Gross , who was convicted on trumped-up espionage charges after he provided communications equipment to the local Jewish population , alluded to his experience in a 2016 Politico interview .
`` I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there was so much wrong with the country that he was visiting , '' he said , before backtracking and adding , `` He did n't say so much as that . ''
Gross now says that he backtracked his remarks to Politico because he did n't want to cause a stir—at the time Sanders was in a heated presidential primary with Hillary Clinton .
`` I wanted to soften the blow at the time because I did n't really think it was all that relevant to what we were talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NPR .
The newly revealed Sanders comments come after the Vermont senator faced intense criticism for defending the Cuban regime in a 60 Minutes interview , saying it was `` unfair to simply say that everything is bad '' in Cuba and praising late dictator Fidel Castro 's `` literacy program . ''

A former political prisoner held by Cuba says that Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders defended the country's communist regime when he visited him in prison.
Sanders was part of a congressional delegation that traveled to Cuba in 2014 and visited American prisoner Alan Gross. Gross told NPR Wednesday that Sanders defended the totalitarian country holding him hostage and said to him, ''I don't know what's so wrong with this country."
Gross, who was released later that year as part of a prisoner exchange, says that he had a pleasant conversation with the other members of the delegation, former senator Heidi Heitkamp (D., N.D.) and Senator Jon Tester (D., Mont.). Sanders was mostly quiet during the visit, but toward the end of the one-hour meeting, he pitched in with his defense of Cuba.
"I just think, you know, it was a stupid thing for him to do," Gross says. "First, how could he not see the incredible deterioration of what was once the grandeur of the pre-Castro era. And two, how could he be so insensitive to make that remark to a political hostage—me!"
A source close to Heitkamp told NPR that the former senator remembered that Sanders "seemed to disregard the meeting with Gross" and that there was an uncomfortable exchange, but she doesn't remember the exact words. Tester told NPR he doesn't recall the conversation.
Gross, who was convicted on trumped-up espionage charges after he provided communications equipment to the local Jewish population, alluded to his experience in a 2016 Politico interview. "I had the impression that Bernie didn't see that there was so much wrong with the country that he was visiting," he said, before backtracking and adding, "He didn't say so much as that."
Gross now says that he backtracked his remarks to Politico because he didn't want to cause a stir—at the time Sanders was in a heated presidential primary with Hillary Clinton. "I wanted to soften the blow at the time because I didn't really think it was all that relevant to what we were talking about for the podcast," he told NPR.
The newly revealed Sanders comments come after the Vermont senator faced intense criticism for defending the Cuban regime in a 60 Minutes interview, saying it was "unfair to simply say that everything is bad" in Cuba and praising late dictator Fidel Castro's "literacy program."


freebeacon--2020-03-04--Short-Lived: Bloomberg Quits Race After Spending More Than Half a Billion

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg ended his run of record spending Wednesday , with American Samoa the only win in his presidential primary column after a Super Tuesday bust .
Bloomberg came into the race late , not even competing in the first four primary states , after concluding that former vice president Joe Biden was likely to fade as the top challenger to democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
But after a morning meeting with his top advisers , Bloomberg concluded `` the delegate math has become virtually impossible '' and threw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it .
After yesterday 's vote , it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American , Joe Biden , '' Bloomberg said in a statement .
`` I 've known Joe for a very long time .
I know his decency , his honesty , and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country—including gun safety , health care , climate change , and good jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented fortune putting his advertisements on every corner of television and the internet , along with billboards and even professional memes .
But when that spending failed to translate into primary victories Tuesday night , President Donald Trump was quick to sum up his campaign as `` $ 700 million washed down the drain , and he got nothing for it but the nickname Mini Mike , and the complete destruction of his reputation . ''
Less than 12 hours later , Bloomberg was out .
Democratic rivals accused Bloomberg of trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spite of his eventual poor showing .
The toughest shots he took from Democratic rivals may have come from Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, whose Super Tuesday failures even in Massachusetts left many speculating that she is also soon to depart from the race .

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg ended his run of record spending Wednesday, with American Samoa the only win in his presidential primary column after a Super Tuesday bust.
Bloomberg came into the race late, not even competing in the first four primary states, after concluding that former vice president Joe Biden was likely to fade as the top challenger to democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.). But after a morning meeting with his top advisers, Bloomberg concluded "the delegate math has become virtually impossible" and threw his support behind Biden.
"I've always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. After yesterday's vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden," Bloomberg said in a statement. "I've known Joe for a very long time. I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country—including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs."
The Bloomberg campaign spent an unprecedented fortune putting his advertisements on every corner of television and the internet, along with billboards and even professional memes. But when that spending failed to translate into primary victories Tuesday night, President Donald Trump was quick to sum up his campaign as "$700 million washed down the drain, and he got nothing for it but the nickname Mini Mike, and the complete destruction of his reputation."
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1235043280846381058
Less than 12 hours later, Bloomberg was out.
Democratic rivals accused Bloomberg of trying to "buy" the election, in spite of his eventual poor showing. The toughest shots he took from Democratic rivals may have come from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), whose Super Tuesday failures even in Massachusetts left many speculating that she is also soon to depart from the race.


freebeacon--2020-03-04--Justice Dem Once Hailed as Second AOC Defeated in Primary

In a race viewed as a bellwether for the Democratic Party 's future , eight-term incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar ( D. , Tex . )
defeated Jessica Cisneros despite an influx of out-of-state cash and high-profile endorsements for the progressive challenger .
Cuellar 's campaign claimed victory early Wednesday morning , holding off Cisneros by a 52-48 margin .
The result adds to an already rough night in Texas for Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) , who endorsed Cisneros in January .
The Vermont democratic socialist was upset in the Lone Star state 's primary by former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss also comes as a blow to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and the `` squad '' of far-left lawmakers that have rallied around her .
The 26-year-old immigration attorney was handpicked to challenge Cuellar by Justice Democrats , the progressive group that backed Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) in 2018 .
The group painted Cuellar as `` Trump 's favorite Democrat , '' contrasting his pro-life stance and `` A '' NRA rating with Cisneros 's liberal positions , emphasizing the challenger 's support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Deal , and a $ 15 minimum wage .
The race drew intense national attention .
Cisneros landed endorsements from a who 's who of progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups .
Ocasio-Cortez , Sanders , Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, Rep. Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal ( D. , Wash. ) all backed Cisneros , as did the environmentalist Sierra Club and abortion industry giants EMILY 's List , NARAL Pro-Choice , and Planned Parenthood Action Fund .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) endorsed Cuellar , with Pelosi calling for a `` resounding victory '' for the incumbent Democrat during a February campaign event .
The Cuellar campaign criticized Cisneros for her outside support , painting the progressive challenger as out of touch with south Texas .
While the state 's 28th Congressional District is deep blue—Hillary Clinton won it by 20 points in 2016—it boasts a large population of socially conservative Catholic and Latino voters .
Cisneros and Justice Democrats cited Clinton 's landslide victory as evidence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a mistake according to Cuellar .
`` I 've been polling and my district is more moderate , conservative Democrats , '' Cuellar said in January .
`` I think an outside group that thinks that they know South Texas politics better than I do are going to find [ that ] out . ''
Cuellar outspent Cisneros , disbursing $ 2.2 million during the campaign compared to Cisneros 's $ 1 million .
The incumbent Democrat had $ 2 million on hand as of February 12 , while Cisneros had just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy outside spending .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Workers for Progress spent nearly $ 1 million on combined ad buys to back Cuellar , while the Voter Protection Project used a $ 250,000 contribution from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to disseminate anti-Cisneros mailers .
Texas Forward , a super PAC linked to EMILY 's List , spent more than $ 1.2 million on ads supporting Cisneros .
Cuellar will now take on Republican challenger Sandra Whitten in November 's general election .
Whitten has raised less than $ 10,000 as @ @ @ @

In a race viewed as a bellwether for the Democratic Party's future, eight-term incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar (D., Texas) defeated Jessica Cisneros despite an influx of out-of-state cash and high-profile endorsements for the progressive challenger.
Cuellar's campaign claimed victory early Wednesday morning, holding off Cisneros by a 52-48 margin. The result adds to an already rough night in Texas for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who endorsed Cisneros in January. The Vermont democratic socialist was upset in the Lone Star state's primary by former vice president Joe Biden.
Cisneros's loss also comes as a blow to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and the "squad" of far-left lawmakers that have rallied around her. The 26-year-old immigration attorney was handpicked to challenge Cuellar by Justice Democrats, the progressive group that backed Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) in 2018. The group painted Cuellar as "Trump's favorite Democrat," contrasting his pro-life stance and "A" NRA rating with Cisneros's liberal positions, emphasizing the challenger's support for Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and a $15 minimum wage.
The race drew intense national attention. Cisneros landed endorsements from a who's who of progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups. Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.), and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) all backed Cisneros, as did the environmentalist Sierra Club and abortion industry giants EMILY's List, NARAL Pro-Choice, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) endorsed Cuellar, with Pelosi calling for a "resounding victory" for the incumbent Democrat during a February campaign event.
The Cuellar campaign criticized Cisneros for her outside support, painting the progressive challenger as out of touch with south Texas. While the state's 28th Congressional District is deep blue—Hillary Clinton won it by 20 points in 2016—it boasts a large population of socially conservative Catholic and Latino voters. Cisneros and Justice Democrats cited Clinton's landslide victory as evidence of the district's support for progressive policies, a mistake according to Cuellar.
"I've been polling and my district is more moderate, conservative Democrats," Cuellar said in January. "I think an outside group that thinks that they know South Texas politics better than I do are going to find [that] out."
Cuellar outspent Cisneros, disbursing $2.2 million during the campaign compared to Cisneros's $1 million. The incumbent Democrat had $2 million on hand as of February 12, while Cisneros had just $296,000.
Both candidates benefited from heavy outside spending. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Workers for Progress spent nearly $1 million on combined ad buys to back Cuellar, while the Voter Protection Project used a $250,000 contribution from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to disseminate anti-Cisneros mailers. Texas Forward, a super PAC linked to EMILY's List, spent more than $1.2 million on ads supporting Cisneros.
Cuellar will now take on Republican challenger Sandra Whitten in November's general election. Whitten has raised less than $10,000 as of February 12.


freebeacon--2020-03-04--U.S. Carries Out First Airstrike on Taliban Since Doha Deal

KABUL ( Reuters ) – The United States conducted an airstrike on Wednesday against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan 's southern Helmand province , a U.S. forces spokesman said , the first such attack since a troop withdrawal agreement was signed between the two sides on Saturday .
The Taliban fighters were `` were actively attacking an ( Afghan National Security Forces ) checkpoint .
This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack , '' said Colonel Sonny Leggett , a spokesman for the U.S .
Forces in Afghanistan in a tweet .
He said Washington was committed to peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Taliban leadership promised the ( international ) community they would reduce violence and not increase attacks .
We call on the Taliban to stop needless attacks and uphold their commitments , '' he said .
The airstrike was the first by the United States against the Taliban in 11 days , when a reduction in violence agreement had begun between the sides in the lead up to Saturday 's pact .
Since the signing , the Taliban had decided on Monday to resume normal operations against Afghan forces , though sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on attacks on foreign forces .
The Taliban has so far declined to confirm or deny responsibility for any of the attacks and did not immediately respond to request for comment on the airstrike .
On Tuesday , there were several attacks against Afghan officials blamed on the Taliban , including one at a security checkpoint near a copper mine that killed five Afghan policemen .
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said on Wednesday that in the past 24 hours there had been clashes between the Taliban and Afghan security forces in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for Helmand 's provincial governor said that the Taliban had attacked a security checkpoint in Washer district – a different district to the one in which the U.S. carried out its airstrike – on Tuesday evening , killing two police officers .
A defense ministry spokesman also confirmed an attack against an Afghan army base in the city of Kunduz and said there were seven casualties .
The weekend agreement envisages a full withdrawal of all U.S. and coalition forces within 14 months , dependent on security guarantees by the Taliban , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States tries to shepherd the Taliban and Afghan government towards talks .

By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Charlotte Greenfield
KABUL (Reuters) - The United States conducted an airstrike on Wednesday against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, a U.S. forces spokesman said, the first such attack since a troop withdrawal agreement was signed between the two sides on Saturday.
The Taliban fighters were "were actively attacking an (Afghan National Security Forces) checkpoint. This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack," said Colonel Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan in a tweet.
He said Washington was committed to peace but would defend Afghan forces if needed.
"Taliban leadership promised the (international) community they would reduce violence and not increase attacks. We call on the Taliban to stop needless attacks and uphold their commitments," he said.
The airstrike was the first by the United States against the Taliban in 11 days, when a reduction in violence agreement had begun between the sides in the lead up to Saturday's pact.
Since the signing, the Taliban had decided on Monday to resume normal operations against Afghan forces, though sources have said they would continue to hold back on attacks on foreign forces.
The Taliban has so far declined to confirm or deny responsibility for any of the attacks and did not immediately respond to request for comment on the airstrike.
On Tuesday, there were several attacks against Afghan officials blamed on the Taliban, including one at a security checkpoint near a copper mine that killed five Afghan policemen.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said on Wednesday that in the past 24 hours there had been clashes between the Taliban and Afghan security forces in nine provinces, including Helmand.
A spokesman for Helmand's provincial governor said that the Taliban had attacked a security checkpoint in Washer district - a different district to the one in which the U.S. carried out its airstrike - on Tuesday evening, killing two police officers.
A defense ministry spokesman also confirmed an attack against an Afghan army base in the city of Kunduz and said there were seven casualties.
The weekend agreement envisages a full withdrawal of all U.S. and coalition forces within 14 months, dependent on security guarantees by the Taliban, but faces a number of hurdles as the United States tries to shepherd the Taliban and Afghan government towards talks.
(Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Charlotte Greenfield in Kabul; additional reporting by Zainullah Stanekzai in Helmand, Sardar Razmal in Kunduz and Orooj Hakimi in Kabul; editing by John Stonestreet, William Maclean)


freebeacon--2020-03-05--In Wake of Terror Attack, New Legislation Would Tighten Security Screening for Foreign Military Stud

In Wake of Terror Attack, New Legislation Would Tighten Security Screening for Foreign Military Students

New legislation being considered by Congress would significantly tighten security screening for foreign military students who travel to the United States on exchange programs , according to a copy of that legislation previewed by the Washington Free Beacon .
In the wake of a deadly 2019 terror attack by a Saudi military exchange student stationed at a military installation in Pensacola , Fla. , Senators Joni Ernst ( R. , Iowa ) and Rick Scott ( R. , Fla. ) have crafted legislation aimed at ensuring this type of attack never again takes place .
The legislation , dubbed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require strenuous background checks for all foreign military students before they are permitted to enter the United States .
It also would create a new class of visas for these students that severely limits the activities they can engage in while on U.S. soil , such as possessing a firearm .
During a congressional hearing Wednesday , Pentagon officials admitted that a series of failures in the current vetting process ultimately cleared the Saudi student who engaged in a shooting spree at Naval Air Station Pensacola that killed three Americans and left eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incomplete background checks , the Pentagon said it did not have a system in place to detect red flags among foreign students , such as social media postings expressing anti-American sentiment .
The new legislation acknowledges the value of joint military workshops between allies , but places the security of American personnel first and foremost , the lawmakers said .
Currently , there are around 5,000 foreign military students from 153 countries stationed at U.S. bases across the country .
The Pentagon is currently performing in-depth background checks on many of these individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits—providing our partners around the world the opportunity to train and learn from the best here in the U.S.—but the tragic events at Pensacola underscore the unacceptable shortfalls in our security standards and vetting procedures , '' Ernst said in a statement .
`` We must do more to protect our military personnel and ensure the security of our facilities .
This bill addresses those shortfalls—creating a more thorough vetting and monitoring process that keeps our service members and military bases secure and safe . ''
In addition to enhanced background checks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for foreign students , a requirement that would prevent them from purchasing firearms and ammunition , as the Saudi national did before the 2019 attack .
It also would initiate a review of these military exchange programs to determine if certain programs would be better placed in foreign countries .
`` The safety and security of American men and women in uniform is always a priority for me , and it should be a priority of our entire government .
The tragic terrorist attack in Pensacola last year revealed an unnecessary risk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This terrorist should never have been allowed in our country , let alone on an American military base with easy access to American military men and women .
The Secure U.S .
Bases Act will make sure foreign military students training at U.S. bases are thoroughly vetted and monitored , and that our troops are protected and never have to experience a tragedy like this again . ''
A range of failures by the U.S. government led to the 2019 attack in Pensacola .
`` There is insufficient information sharing in place between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that process , '' Garry Reid , director for defense intelligence at the Pentagon , testified on Wednesday .
`` We also found that DoD programs meant to detect and mitigate events such as the Pensacola attack did not cover international military students—for instance , our insider threat programs . ''
The new legislation offered by Ernst and Scott would tighten the standards for acceptance into all programs based in the United States .
Applicants , for instance , would be forced to provide an official endorsement letter from the chief of intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill .
It also would mandate U.S. authorities review an applicant 's social media postings and task the U.S. director of national intelligence with signing off on each foreign student .

New legislation being considered by Congress would significantly tighten security screening for foreign military students who travel to the United States on exchange programs, according to a copy of that legislation previewed by the Washington Free Beacon.
In the wake of a deadly 2019 terror attack by a Saudi military exchange student stationed at a military installation in Pensacola, Fla., Senators Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) and Rick Scott (R., Fla.) have crafted legislation aimed at ensuring this type of attack never again takes place.
The legislation, dubbed the Secure U.S. Bases Act, would require strenuous background checks for all foreign military students before they are permitted to enter the United States. It also would create a new class of visas for these students that severely limits the activities they can engage in while on U.S. soil, such as possessing a firearm.
During a congressional hearing Wednesday, Pentagon officials admitted that a series of failures in the current vetting process ultimately cleared the Saudi student who engaged in a shooting spree at Naval Air Station Pensacola that killed three Americans and left eight others wounded. In addition to performing incomplete background checks, the Pentagon said it did not have a system in place to detect red flags among foreign students, such as social media postings expressing anti-American sentiment.
The new legislation acknowledges the value of joint military workshops between allies, but places the security of American personnel first and foremost, the lawmakers said. Currently, there are around 5,000 foreign military students from 153 countries stationed at U.S. bases across the country. The Pentagon is currently performing in-depth background checks on many of these individuals.
"Foreign military programs have valuable benefits—providing our partners around the world the opportunity to train and learn from the best here in the U.S.—but the tragic events at Pensacola underscore the unacceptable shortfalls in our security standards and vetting procedures," Ernst said in a statement. "We must do more to protect our military personnel and ensure the security of our facilities. This bill addresses those shortfalls—creating a more thorough vetting and monitoring process that keeps our service members and military bases secure and safe."
In addition to enhanced background checks, the new legislation would establish limited visas for foreign students, a requirement that would prevent them from purchasing firearms and ammunition, as the Saudi national did before the 2019 attack. It also would initiate a review of these military exchange programs to determine if certain programs would be better placed in foreign countries.
"The safety and security of American men and women in uniform is always a priority for me, and it should be a priority of our entire government. The tragic terrorist attack in Pensacola last year revealed an unnecessary risk," Scott in a statement. "This terrorist should never have been allowed in our country, let alone on an American military base with easy access to American military men and women. The Secure U.S. Bases Act will make sure foreign military students training at U.S. bases are thoroughly vetted and monitored, and that our troops are protected and never have to experience a tragedy like this again."
A range of failures by the U.S. government led to the 2019 attack in Pensacola.
"There is insufficient information sharing in place between DoD and the Department of State in that process," Garry Reid, director for defense intelligence at the Pentagon, testified on Wednesday. "We also found that DoD programs meant to detect and mitigate events such as the Pensacola attack did not cover international military students—for instance, our insider threat programs."
The new legislation offered by Ernst and Scott would tighten the standards for acceptance into all programs based in the United States.
Applicants, for instance, would be forced to provide an official endorsement letter from the chief of intelligence of their country, according to the bill.
It also would mandate U.S. authorities review an applicant's social media postings and task the U.S. director of national intelligence with signing off on each foreign student.


freebeacon--2020-03-05--In Echo of Chinese Propaganda, Quincy Institute Targets Retired American Admiral‘s Japanese Ancestry

The Koch-funded Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft recently published a racially charged critique of a retired American admiral that mirrors attacks levied against him by Chinese propaganda outlets .
Nation correspondent Timothy Shorrock last month argued in a piece published by the Quincy Institute that Harry Harris , the former head of U.S. Pacific Command now serving as the American ambassador to South Korea , is overly sympathetic to Japan in its disputes with South Korea .
Harris 's views , he argued , may stem from the fact that he was `` born in Japan , the son of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer who served in Japan and Korea after World War II . ''
Chinese propaganda outlets have made Harris 's Japanese ancestry the focus of their criticism of U.S. policy in the Pacific .
During his tenure as the head of U.S. Pacific Command , Xinhua News Agency , a state propaganda outlet , repeatedly pointed to his ethnicity to explain away U.S. policy positions , citing his `` Japanese ancestry '' and alluding to his alleged ties with Japan 's security and political establishment .
`` Some may say an overemphasis on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a bit unkind , '' read one 2016 report .
`` But to understand the United States ' increasingly aggressive position in the South China Sea , it is simply impossible to ignore Admiral Harris 's blood , background , political inclination , and values . ''
Harris , who did not respond to a request for comment , had previously condemned China for attacking his heritage , calling the talking point `` really ugly . ''
The publication of Shorrock 's article is the latest controversy surrounding the think tank since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Charles Koch and George Soros , the Quincy Institute advocates for a more restrained U.S. foreign policy .
In his piece , Shorrock criticized Harris for pressing South Korea to reenter an intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan that Seoul had left to protest Tokyo over a historical dispute .
The writer said Harris 's Japanese ancestry may explain his `` more benign approach to Japan 's role in Korea . ''
Michael Mazza , a visiting fellow at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute , said that the ambassador was acting in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intelligence-sharing agreement .
`` It 's important for all three countries ' efforts to monitor North Korean activities in particular , '' Mazza said , referring to South Korea , Japan , and the United States .
`` It 's important for making our missile defense capabilities operate more efficiently .
And Harris was certainly advancing U.S. interests and the Trump administration 's policy priorities . ''
The Quincy Institute did not respond to a request for comment .
Born on a U.S. military base in Japan in 1956 to an American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew up in Tennessee and spent four decades in the Navy .
He is an outspoken opponent of Chinese expansionism , asserting that the United States is ready to confront China 's `` provocative and expansionist '' activities in the South China Sea if the need arises .
Chinese news outlets have frequently criticized Harris for what they describe as a bias toward the Japanese .
One 2018 headline , for example , declared that Harris is a `` U.S. admiral with Japanese ancestry who has made the Pacific Ocean unsafe . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had `` built an intimate relationship with the Japanese military and political circles . ''
`` His Japanese origins are consistent with his unfriendly attitude toward China , which has been reflected in Harris 's speeches on the South China Sea and actions of the Pacific Fleet since he assumed office , '' a 2016 People 's Daily article said .
Shorrock denied that his argument was racially charged and told the Washington Free Beacon that his own world views were shaped by his childhood in Japan .
`` Like Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were shaped by my heritage growing up in Tokyo as a child of missionary parents and having a Japanese stepmother , '' he said .
`` Harris has shown in his many public statements , particularly in his criticism of South Korea 's withdrawal from this intelligence-sharing agreement , that he views Japan and its past role in a much more positive light than most Korean citizens . ''
Harris sharply condemned China for the accusations in 2016 as an attempt to tarnish both him and U.S. Pacific Command .
`` When I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not true .
I am not sure why they have to have an adjective in front of admiral , '' he said .
`` In some respects , they try to demonize me , and that 's really ugly , '' he told the New York Times in 2016 .
`` I think in a lot of ways the communications that come out of the Chinese public affairs organ , they are tone-deaf and insulting . ''

The Koch-funded Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft recently published a racially charged critique of a retired American admiral that mirrors attacks levied against him by Chinese propaganda outlets.
Nation correspondent Timothy Shorrock last month argued in a piece published by the Quincy Institute that Harry Harris, the former head of U.S. Pacific Command now serving as the American ambassador to South Korea, is overly sympathetic to Japan in its disputes with South Korea. Harris's views, he argued, may stem from the fact that he was "born in Japan, the son of a Japanese mother and a U.S. Navy officer who served in Japan and Korea after World War II."
Chinese propaganda outlets have made Harris's Japanese ancestry the focus of their criticism of U.S. policy in the Pacific. During his tenure as the head of U.S. Pacific Command, Xinhua News Agency, a state propaganda outlet, repeatedly pointed to his ethnicity to explain away U.S. policy positions, citing his "Japanese ancestry" and alluding to his alleged ties with Japan's security and political establishment.
"Some may say an overemphasis on the Japanese background of an American general is a bit unkind," read one 2016 report. "But to understand the United States' increasingly aggressive position in the South China Sea, it is simply impossible to ignore Admiral Harris's blood, background, political inclination, and values."
Harris, who did not respond to a request for comment, had previously condemned China for attacking his heritage, calling the talking point "really ugly."
The publication of Shorrock's article is the latest controversy surrounding the think tank since its launch in December. Supported by both Charles Koch and George Soros, the Quincy Institute advocates for a more restrained U.S. foreign policy. In his piece, Shorrock criticized Harris for pressing South Korea to reenter an intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan that Seoul had left to protest Tokyo over a historical dispute. The writer said Harris's Japanese ancestry may explain his "more benign approach to Japan's role in Korea."
The State Department strongly defended the ambassador, telling the Free Beacon "there is absolutely no credence to the assertion that Ambassador Harris’s loyalties lie anywhere but with the United States."
"He has spent his entire life dedicated to advancing U.S. peace and prosperity throughout the world, and his tenure as U.S. ambassador to the ROK has been marked by constant effort to strengthen this critical bilateral alliance," said a spokesman for the agency. "There is no one we would rather have as our ambassador to the ROK at this critical time."
Michael Mazza, a visiting fellow at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said that the ambassador was acting in the U.S. interest to pressure South Korea to preserve the intelligence-sharing agreement.
"It's important for all three countries' efforts to monitor North Korean activities in particular," Mazza said, referring to South Korea, Japan, and the United States. "It's important for making our missile defense capabilities operate more efficiently. And Harris was certainly advancing U.S. interests and the Trump administration's policy priorities."
The Quincy Institute did not respond to a request for comment.
Born on a U.S. military base in Japan in 1956 to an American sailor and a Japanese mother, Harris grew up in Tennessee and spent four decades in the Navy. He is an outspoken opponent of Chinese expansionism, asserting that the United States is ready to confront China's "provocative and expansionist" activities in the South China Sea if the need arises.
Chinese news outlets have frequently criticized Harris for what they describe as a bias toward the Japanese. One 2018 headline, for example, declared that Harris is a "U.S. admiral with Japanese ancestry who has made the Pacific Ocean unsafe." A 2017 piece asserted without evidence that he had "built an intimate relationship with the Japanese military and political circles."
"His Japanese origins are consistent with his unfriendly attitude toward China, which has been reflected in Harris's speeches on the South China Sea and actions of the Pacific Fleet since he assumed office," a 2016 People's Daily article said.
Shorrock denied that his argument was racially charged and told the Washington Free Beacon that his own world views were shaped by his childhood in Japan.
"Like Harris, my own views of Japan and Korea were shaped by my heritage growing up in Tokyo as a child of missionary parents and having a Japanese stepmother," he said. "Harris has shown in his many public statements, particularly in his criticism of South Korea's withdrawal from this intelligence-sharing agreement, that he views Japan and its past role in a much more positive light than most Korean citizens."
Harris sharply condemned China for the accusations in 2016 as an attempt to tarnish both him and U.S. Pacific Command. "When I am described as a Japanese admiral it's not true. I am not sure why they have to have an adjective in front of admiral," he said.
"In some respects, they try to demonize me, and that's really ugly," he told the New York Times in 2016. "I think in a lot of ways the communications that come out of the Chinese public affairs organ, they are tone-deaf and insulting."


freebeacon--2020-03-05--Think Tank Floats Fix for New York’s Disastrous Bail Reform

To fix their rapidly collapsing bail reform law , New York state lawmakers need to hand some discretion back to judges , a Thursday report on the policy 's trajectory argues .
On Jan. 1 , New York became the latest state to largely do away with cash bail , prohibiting its use for all misdemeanors and many felony offenses .
The results have not been encouraging .
Crime rates have spiked in New York City and polling support for bail reform has more or less collapsed .
In the new report , Rafael Mangual , deputy director of legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argues that the state needs to do three things to get bail reform back on track : Allow judges to make algorithmically informed considerations of public safety in bail decisions , allow the revocation of release if someone is rearrested , and give more funding to state courts to process cases faster .
`` The reforms in this paper may not satisfy all supporters or opponents of New York 's bail reform , '' Mangual writes , `` but they are offered as a potential compromise that will help mitigate at least some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governing pretrial release today . ''
First and foremost , Mangual writes , New York needs to permit judges to weigh an offender 's risk to public safety when considering whether to release the offender before a trial .
New York is , he notes , the only state that does not currently allow such calculations , requiring judges only to consider a person 's probability of failing to appear at trial .
Specifically , Mangual calls for the use of an algorithmic Risk Assessment Tool of the sort used successfully in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a judge calculate the risk of dangerousness using race-neutral factors about the offender and the offense .
This , Mangual writes , `` will provide judges with an objective framework to aid them in their pretrial release decisions . ''
Secondly , the report calls for allowing judges to revoke release if an offender is rearrested after release .
This proposal responds to the fact that , since bail reform passed in New York , many criminals know that if apprehended , they will be released—as one fatal DWI offender told the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
That knowledge may have contributed to the post-reform increase in lawlessness .
`` Because pretrial detention and the financial impact of having to post bail are the most immediate consequences associated with an arrest , and because bail reform rendered those consequences much less likely to result from an arrest , the cost associated with certain criminal activity may be perceived as lower by criminal actors , who , in turn , may now be less likely to be deterred by the prospect of an arrest , '' Mangual writes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns about increased detention , the state needs to allocate substantially more funds to the court system .
Higher funding would allow cases to be resolved more quickly , keeping offenders detained before trial for less time .
Such reforms , although likely to curb the law 's worst excesses , may face an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled state legislature .
Democratic lawmakers have floated a plan to grant judges greater discretion while abolishing cash bail altogether .
However , it is unclear whether that discretion will include judgements about dangerousness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D. ) said , `` almost all misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies '' would remain ineligible for pretrial detention .
Mangual 's proposal follows months of turmoil for New York 's bail reform efforts .
The Empire State is one of several that have recently implemented such laws , with the goal of both reducing state jail populations and getting rid of money bail , which critics argue discriminates unfairly against poor offenders .
The bill , signed in April by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D. ) , categorically prohibits judges from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he or she has committed a violent felony , or one of a small handful of other offenses .
The expected effect is substantial—the left-leaning Vera Institute of Justice estimated that 90 percent of arrestees will be released , resulting in a 40 percent reduction in the state jail population .
That , in turn , means more criminals on the street and more crime .
NYPD statistics show a 17 percent bump in major crimes in January 2020 over the preceding January .
It 's hard to know how many of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NYPD noted that 143 individuals released pretrial committed at least 230 crimes in January alone .
Rising crime has translated into collapsing public support for the reform .
A Siena poll found that as of February , a majority of New Yorkers ( 59 percent ) said bail reform was `` bad for New York . ''
At the time of the bill 's signing , 55 percent said bail reform was `` good for New York . ''
Today , majorities of Republicans and Independents oppose the changes , while a bare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in favor , while even Cuomo is considering revamping the law .

To fix their rapidly collapsing bail reform law, New York state lawmakers need to hand some discretion back to judges, a Thursday report on the policy's trajectory argues.
On Jan. 1, New York became the latest state to largely do away with cash bail, prohibiting its use for all misdemeanors and many felony offenses. The results have not been encouraging. Crime rates have spiked in New York City and polling support for bail reform has more or less collapsed.
In the new report, Rafael Mangual, deputy director of legal policy at the conservative Manhattan Institute, argues that the state needs to do three things to get bail reform back on track: Allow judges to make algorithmically informed considerations of public safety in bail decisions, allow the revocation of release if someone is rearrested, and give more funding to state courts to process cases faster.
"The reforms in this paper may not satisfy all supporters or opponents of New York's bail reform," Mangual writes, "but they are offered as a potential compromise that will help mitigate at least some of the risks inherent in the laws governing pretrial release today."
First and foremost, Mangual writes, New York needs to permit judges to weigh an offender's risk to public safety when considering whether to release the offender before a trial. New York is, he notes, the only state that does not currently allow such calculations, requiring judges only to consider a person's probability of failing to appear at trial.
Specifically, Mangual calls for the use of an algorithmic Risk Assessment Tool of the sort used successfully in New Jersey's bail reform, which lets a judge calculate the risk of dangerousness using race-neutral factors about the offender and the offense. This, Mangual writes, "will provide judges with an objective framework to aid them in their pretrial release decisions."
Secondly, the report calls for allowing judges to revoke release if an offender is rearrested after release. This proposal responds to the fact that, since bail reform passed in New York, many criminals know that if apprehended, they will be released—as one fatal DWI offender told the police, "I'll be out tomorrow." That knowledge may have contributed to the post-reform increase in lawlessness.
"Because pretrial detention and the financial impact of having to post bail are the most immediate consequences associated with an arrest, and because bail reform rendered those consequences much less likely to result from an arrest, the cost associated with certain criminal activity may be perceived as lower by criminal actors, who, in turn, may now be less likely to be deterred by the prospect of an arrest," Mangual writes.
Lastly, Mangual argues that to offset concerns about increased detention, the state needs to allocate substantially more funds to the court system. Higher funding would allow cases to be resolved more quickly, keeping offenders detained before trial for less time.
Such reforms, although likely to curb the law's worst excesses, may face an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled state legislature. Democratic lawmakers have floated a plan to grant judges greater discretion while abolishing cash bail altogether. However, it is unclear whether that discretion will include judgements about dangerousness and, state senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D.) said, "almost all misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies" would remain ineligible for pretrial detention.
Mangual's proposal follows months of turmoil for New York's bail reform efforts. The Empire State is one of several that have recently implemented such laws, with the goal of both reducing state jail populations and getting rid of money bail, which critics argue discriminates unfairly against poor offenders. The bill, signed in April by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D.), categorically prohibits judges from holding an arrested offender on bail unless he or she has committed a violent felony, or one of a small handful of other offenses.
The expected effect is substantial—the left-leaning Vera Institute of Justice estimated that 90 percent of arrestees will be released, resulting in a 40 percent reduction in the state jail population. That, in turn, means more criminals on the street and more crime. NYPD statistics show a 17 percent bump in major crimes in January 2020 over the preceding January. It's hard to know how many of those were from released offenders, but the NYPD noted that 143 individuals released pretrial committed at least 230 crimes in January alone.
Rising crime has translated into collapsing public support for the reform. A Siena poll found that as of February, a majority of New Yorkers (59 percent) said bail reform was "bad for New York." At the time of the bill's signing, 55 percent said bail reform was "good for New York." Today, majorities of Republicans and Independents oppose the changes, while a bare plurality of 49 percent of Democrats are in favor, while even Cuomo is considering revamping the law.


freebeacon--2020-03-06--174 House Dems Vote Against Anti-Sexual-Predator Amendment

Forty-two House Democrats bucked party leadership on Thursday to pass an amendment ensuring that individuals convicted of sex crimes , terrorism , and other violent offenses can not be employed by the TSA .
Despite their support for the # MeToo movement against sexual misconduct , 174 House Democrats voted against an amendment to the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act that alters the way TSA disciplines and fires workers .
The amendment divided Democrats on Thursday despite the fact that it was written by Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood ( Ill. ) .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempting to sabotage efforts to safeguard the public from sexual predators .
`` [ The amendment ] was pulled back by leadership because the socialist wing of the party did not want to have that amendment go forward on this bill , '' McCarthy said on Thursday .
`` When it was offered , overwhelmingly the majority of the House would like to see the TSA not hire terrorists or those who have been convicted of sexual misconduct with minors and others .
But the socialist wing of the party , that controls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could not be offered . ''
Republicans were able to include the amendment in the bill only after Underwood and 41 other Democrats broke ranks to insert the language into the bill in a 227-175 vote .
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) , Ilhan Omar ( D , Minn. ) , Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) , and Ayanna Pressley ( D. , Mass . )
, as well as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ( D. , Md . )
, all voted against Underwood 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ariz. ) put it forward in a motion to recommit—the last opportunity for a House bill to be amended before a final passage vote .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) did not vote on the motion .
A top Republican aide criticized Democratic leaders for bowing to party leaders on the measure .
`` It 's no surprise that Democrat logic in 2020 means taking marching orders from Justice Democrats to give TSA the ability to hire the Harvey Weinsteins of the world , '' the aide said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sex offenders should n't include patting down traveling families . ''
Pelosi did not respond to a request for comment on why the amendment was pulled , nor did Underwood .
Ocasio-Cortez , Omar , Tlaib , Pressley , and Hoyer did not respond to requests for comment about the bill .
Lesko argued in favor of the amendment by highlighting troubling examples of sexual misconduct by TSA screeners , including a Los Angeles screener who used fraud to falsely imprison and unclothe a woman going through security .
`` Fortunately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TSA .
However , under this bill … this predator could be on the federal payroll for months or even years , '' Lesko said .
`` We have two options today : Adopt the Underwood amendment and keep sexual predators off of the federal payroll , or reject it and reward sexual predators with a paycheck from the taxpayer . ''
Though Rep. Val Demings ( D. , Fla. ) argued against the amendment by calling it unnecessary , 42 Democrats voted in favor of it , including Underwood .
Demings did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When the TSA was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks , Congress exempted it from salary and workplace policies—known as Title 5—that apply to other federal workers in order to ensure flexibility .
TSA workers unionized under the American Federation of Government Employees ( AFGE ) in 2011 and organizers have lobbied Congress to end the exemption , which would lead not only to pay increases for workers , but increased dues for union coffers .
AFGE hailed the passage of the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women and men who risk their lives to ensure we reach our travel destinations safely . ''
An AFGE spokesman said the union took no position on Lesko 's amendment , though it has previously invoked # MeToo to decry budget cuts at other agencies .
A powerful fixture in Democratic politics , AFGE has already spent nearly $ 1 million on the 2020 election , with 95 percent going to Democrats .
It has made the bargaining power of TSA workers a central point in determining its 2020 endorsements ; both Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former vice president Joe Biden pledged to end the agency 's exemption to Title 5 if elected president in an AFGE questionnaire .
President Donald Trump announced that he plans to veto the bill if it advances past the Senate .

Forty-two House Democrats bucked party leadership on Thursday to pass an amendment ensuring that individuals convicted of sex crimes, terrorism, and other violent offenses cannot be employed by the TSA.
Despite their support for the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct, 174 House Democrats voted against an amendment to the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act that alters the way TSA disciplines and fires workers. The amendment divided Democrats on Thursday despite the fact that it was written by Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood (Ill.). House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) criticized liberal lawmakers for attempting to sabotage efforts to safeguard the public from sexual predators.
"[The amendment] was pulled back by leadership because the socialist wing of the party did not want to have that amendment go forward on this bill," McCarthy said on Thursday. "When it was offered, overwhelmingly the majority of the House would like to see the TSA not hire terrorists or those who have been convicted of sexual misconduct with minors and others. But the socialist wing of the party, that controls now the Democratic Party, said that that could not be offered."
Republicans were able to include the amendment in the bill only after Underwood and 41 other Democrats broke ranks to insert the language into the bill in a 227-175 vote. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D, Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), and Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.), as well as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D., Md.), all voted against Underwood's amendment when Rep. Debbie Lesko (R., Ariz.) put it forward in a motion to recommit—the last opportunity for a House bill to be amended before a final passage vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) did not vote on the motion. A top Republican aide criticized Democratic leaders for bowing to party leaders on the measure.
"It's no surprise that Democrat logic in 2020 means taking marching orders from Justice Democrats to give TSA the ability to hire the Harvey Weinsteins of the world," the aide said. "A 'second chance' for sex offenders shouldn't include patting down traveling families."
Pelosi did not respond to a request for comment on why the amendment was pulled, nor did Underwood. Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib, Pressley, and Hoyer did not respond to requests for comment about the bill.
Lesko argued in favor of the amendment by highlighting troubling examples of sexual misconduct by TSA screeners, including a Los Angeles screener who used fraud to falsely imprison and unclothe a woman going through security.
"Fortunately, this offender was immediately fired by the TSA. However, under this bill ... this predator could be on the federal payroll for months or even years," Lesko said. "We have two options today: Adopt the Underwood amendment and keep sexual predators off of the federal payroll, or reject it and reward sexual predators with a paycheck from the taxpayer."
Though Rep. Val Demings (D., Fla.) argued against the amendment by calling it unnecessary, 42 Democrats voted in favor of it, including Underwood. Demings did not respond to a request for comment.
When the TSA was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks, Congress exempted it from salary and workplace policies—known as Title 5—that apply to other federal workers in order to ensure flexibility. TSA workers unionized under the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) in 2011 and organizers have lobbied Congress to end the exemption, which would lead not only to pay increases for workers, but increased dues for union coffers.
AFGE hailed the passage of the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act as a "huge win for the hardworking women and men who risk their lives to ensure we reach our travel destinations safely." An AFGE spokesman said the union took no position on Lesko's amendment, though it has previously invoked #MeToo to decry budget cuts at other agencies.
A powerful fixture in Democratic politics, AFGE has already spent nearly $1 million on the 2020 election, with 95 percent going to Democrats. It has made the bargaining power of TSA workers a central point in determining its 2020 endorsements; both Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and former vice president Joe Biden pledged to end the agency's exemption to Title 5 if elected president in an AFGE questionnaire. President Donald Trump announced that he plans to veto the bill if it advances past the Senate.


freebeacon--2020-03-05--Frontrunners Emerge for New Vacancy on Influential Appeals Court

Conservatives are seizing the opportunity created by a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit Thursday , culling a shortlist of prospective nominees for a panel frequently called the second most powerful court in the nation .
The frontrunners for the vacancy created by Judge Thomas B. Griffith ’ s retirement are acting assistant attorney general Claire Murray , deputy White House counsel Kate Todd , and U.S. District Judge Justin Walker , according to sources who have worked on judicial confirmations for the Trump administration .
Other candidates are also under consideration , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s stunning gauntlet of judicial confirmation successes will feature prominently in his reelection pitch .
The D.C .
Circuit nomination could mobilize conservatives in much the same way that Justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s confirmation drove Republican energy in 2018 .
The vacancy also aligns with the Trump campaign 's messaging on deregulation and reducing agency power , given the D.C.
Circuit ’ s heavy diet of agency-law cases .
Murray is widely seen as a strong contender for the federal bench and commands admiration across the administration .
Todd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chamber of Commerce Litigation Center , has coordinated the administration ’ s judicial nominations process since 2018 .
Walker was a professor at the University of Louisville School of Law before his appointment to a Kentucky federal trial court in 2019 .
The judge is close to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , and his advocacy for Justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s confirmation is especially appreciated among conservatives .
`` Unless there is a Supreme Court vacancy , this will be the most contentious judicial confirmation fight before the November election , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project , an outside group that supports Trump ’ s judicial nominees .
The shortlist is not exhaustive , and several administration lawyers and private practitioners are also said to be in contention for Griffith 's seat .
`` President Trump has done a phenomenal job finding and credentialing a huge bench of potential D.C .
Circuit nominees , '' Davis added .
The D.C.
Circuit ’ s unique jurisdiction makes the court the primary venue for high stakes disputes over agency regulations and the separation of powers .
The panel is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court .
Four of the nine justices served on the D.C .
Circuit before their elevation to the High Court .
`` The D.C .
Circuit is so important , particularly in this era with important disputes over separation of powers , the role of government , and the growth of the administrative state , '' the Judicial Crisis Network ’ s Carrie Severino told the Washington Free Beacon .
The confirmation process will take approximately two months from the nomination to the final floor vote .
Processing the nomination is sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Judiciary Committee , which has consistently delivered appeals court nominees to the full Senate at a rapid clip .
As of this writing , there are only two vacancies on the federal appeals courts : the D.C .
Circuit seat and a Mississippi seat on the Fifth U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
Approximately two dozen Republican-appointed appeals court judges are eligible for `` senior status , '' a form of quasi-retirement that allows judges to leave active service while retaining the right to participate in cases .
Davis urged those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ensure their succession by a like-minded jurist .
President George W. Bush appointed Griffith to the bench , meaning a Trump-appointed successor would not change the ideological balance of the court .
Democratic appointees currently have a seven to four majority on the D.C .
Circuit .
Griffith made national news in February when he ruled that former White House counsel Don McGahn could defy a subpoena from House Democrats to testify before Congress .
Griffith delivered the opinion for a divided three judge panel over a dissent from Judge Judith Rogers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without peril for the president .
The last D.C .
Circuit confirmation prompted an intramural fight among Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee , when Senators Ted Cruz ( R. , Texas ) and Josh Hawley ( R. , Mo . )
panned Judge Neomi Rao ’ s conservative bona fides .

Conservatives are seizing the opportunity created by a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Thursday, culling a shortlist of prospective nominees for a panel frequently called the second most powerful court in the nation.
The frontrunners for the vacancy created by Judge Thomas B. Griffith’s retirement are acting associate attorney general Claire Murray, deputy White House counsel Kate Todd, and U.S. District Judge Justin Walker, according to sources who have worked on judicial confirmations for the Trump administration. Other candidates are also under consideration, and the situation remains fluid.
President Donald Trump’s stunning gauntlet of judicial confirmation successes will feature prominently in his reelection pitch. The D.C. Circuit nomination could mobilize conservatives in much the same way that Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation drove Republican energy in 2018. The vacancy also aligns with the Trump campaign's messaging on deregulation and reducing agency power, given the D.C. Circuit’s heavy diet of agency-law cases.
Murray is widely seen as a strong contender for the federal bench and commands admiration across the administration. Todd, a former chief counsel for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Litigation Center, has coordinated the administration’s judicial nominations process since 2018.
Walker was a professor at the University of Louisville School of Law before his appointment to a Kentucky federal trial court in 2019. The judge is close to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and his advocacy for Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation is especially appreciated among conservatives.
"Unless there is a Supreme Court vacancy, this will be the most contentious judicial confirmation fight before the November election," said Mike Davis of the Article III Project, an outside group that supports Trump’s judicial nominees.
The shortlist is not exhaustive, and several administration lawyers and private practitioners are also said to be in contention for Griffith's seat.
"President Trump has done a phenomenal job finding and credentialing a huge bench of potential D.C. Circuit nominees," Davis added.
The D.C. Circuit’s unique jurisdiction makes the court the primary venue for high stakes disputes over agency regulations and the separation of powers. The panel is also something of a farm team for the Supreme Court. Four of the nine justices served on the D.C. Circuit before their elevation to the High Court.
"The D.C. Circuit is so important, particularly in this era with important disputes over separation of powers, the role of government, and the growth of the administrative state," the Judicial Crisis Network’s Carrie Severino told the Washington Free Beacon.
The confirmation process will take approximately two months from the nomination to the final floor vote. Processing the nomination is sure to be a top priority for the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has consistently delivered appeals court nominees to the full Senate at a rapid clip.
As of this writing, there are only two vacancies on the federal appeals courts: the D.C. Circuit seat and a Mississippi seat on the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Approximately two dozen Republican-appointed appeals court judges are eligible for "senior status," a form of quasi-retirement that allows judges to leave active service while retaining the right to participate in cases. Davis urged those judges to follow Griffith’s lead and ensure their succession by a like-minded jurist.
President George W. Bush appointed Griffith to the bench, meaning a Trump-appointed successor would not change the ideological balance of the court. Democratic appointees currently have a seven to four majority on the D.C. Circuit.
Griffith made national news in February when he ruled that former White House counsel Don McGahn could defy a subpoena from House Democrats to testify before Congress. Griffith delivered the opinion for a divided three judge panel over a dissent from Judge Judith Rogers.
Griffith’s retirement is not without peril for the president. The last D.C. Circuit confirmation prompted an intramural fight among Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, when Senators Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) panned Judge Neomi Rao’s conservative bona fides.


freebeacon--2020-03-05--Obama Alum Evelyn Farkas Fundraising Off Free Beacon Report

Democratic congressional candidate Evelyn Farkas sent out a fundraising letter on Thursday slamming a Washington Free Beacon report on her ties to a lobbying effort by the Ukrainian gas company Burisma , and arguing that she is the best candidate to stand up against foreign political influence .
Farkas , a former Obama administration official , participated in Burisma 's extensive public relations campaign in Washington , going on a trip to Kharkiv , Ukraine , bankrolled by the gas company while working at a think tank that received funding from Burisma , the Free Beacon reported on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment on her involvement with Burisma prior to publication , blasted the Free Beacon report as `` a false article '' and claimed it tied her to `` a fake scandal . ''
The fundraising email included an image of the Free Beacon website with the article 's headline covered by a large box labeled `` FALSE , '' obscuring any mention of Farkas 's association with Burisma .
`` The GOP knows that Evelyn has the experience , knowledge , and courage of her convictions to take on Trump and protect our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign said .
`` Radical national Republicans are running scared and doing everything they can to stop her from becoming a member of Congress . ''
The campaign asked supporters to `` rush a donation '' to Farkas , who is currently running against over a dozen other Democrats in New York 's 17th Congressional District primary .
She has billed herself as the candidate who can best prevent `` foreign interference '' by the Russian government in U.S. elections , according to her website .
`` We ca n't let them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will you chip in $ 5 , $ 15 , or anything you can to help us fight back against these right-wing smears ? ''
said the email .
Burisma 's founder , Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky , is believed to have fled Ukraine amid suspicions that he embezzled millions of dollars from the government treasury .
Burisma has emerged as a major issue in the U.S. presidential election due to a lucrative board position Hunter Biden received at the company while his father , presidential frontrunner Joe Biden , was overseeing U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration 's attempts to press the Ukrainian government to investigate Burisma .
The controversy led to President Trump 's impeachment and subsequent acquittal .
Farkas has regularly weighed in on Burisma-related political coverage .
During an interview with WBUR in October , Farkas said the fact that the Ukrainian government dropped a prior investigation into Burisma 's owner Zlochevsky `` leaves the impression that there 's nothing to see there .
Who knows . ''
`` Hunter Biden sitting on the board of that company , that does n't necessarily implicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Farkas criticized the Free Beacon on Twitter this week and said that her trip to Kharkiv was paid for by the Atlantic Council , the think tank that organized the trip .
`` Brit , pls [ sic ] do n't fall for this , '' she wrote to Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume after he tweeted a link to the article .
`` I was invited by [ Atlantic Council ] to speak at a conference on Econ dev in Kharkiv .
I was not paid by anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Going to Ukraine is what you do if you are a Ukraine expert and visiting their companies is normal . ''
The Atlantic Council told the Free Beacon that its travel costs were reimbursed by Burisma .
Farkas was an unpaid fellow specializing in Ukraine and Russia policy at the think tank , which has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the gas company .
That partnership ended in 2019 .
During the trip , Farkas spoke at a Burisma-sponsored conference and toured the company 's gas facilities while wearing a jacket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farkas said on Twitter that the `` gear was protective . ''

Democratic congressional candidate Evelyn Farkas sent out a fundraising letter on Thursday slamming a Washington Free Beacon report on her ties to a lobbying effort by the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, and arguing that she is the best candidate to stand up against foreign political influence.
Farkas, a former Obama administration official, participated in Burisma's extensive public relations campaign in Washington, going on a trip to Kharkiv, Ukraine, bankrolled by the gas company while working at a think tank that received funding from Burisma, the Free Beacon reported on Monday.
Farkas, whose campaign had declined to comment on her involvement with Burisma prior to publication, blasted the Free Beacon report as "a false article" and claimed it tied her to "a fake scandal."
The fundraising email included an image of the Free Beacon website with the article's headline covered by a large box labeled "FALSE," obscuring any mention of Farkas's association with Burisma.
"The GOP knows that Evelyn has the experience, knowledge, and courage of her convictions to take on Trump and protect our country from any foreign interference," the campaign said. "Radical national Republicans are running scared and doing everything they can to stop her from becoming a member of Congress."
The campaign asked supporters to "rush a donation" to Farkas, who is currently running against over a dozen other Democrats in New York's 17th Congressional District primary. She has billed herself as the candidate who can best prevent "foreign interference" by the Russian government in U.S. elections, according to her website.
"We can't let them get away this [sic]. Will you chip in $5, $15, or anything you can to help us fight back against these right-wing smears?" said the email.
Burisma's founder, Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, is believed to have fled Ukraine amid suspicions that he embezzled millions of dollars from the government treasury. Burisma has emerged as a major issue in the U.S. presidential election due to a lucrative board position Hunter Biden received at the company while his father, presidential frontrunner Joe Biden, was overseeing U.S. policy on Ukraine, as well as the Trump administration's attempts to press the Ukrainian government to investigate Burisma. The controversy led to President Trump's impeachment and subsequent acquittal.
Farkas has regularly weighed in on Burisma-related political coverage. During an interview with WBUR in October, Farkas said the fact that the Ukrainian government dropped a prior investigation into Burisma's owner Zlochevsky "leaves the impression that there's nothing to see there. Who knows."
"Hunter Biden sitting on the board of that company, that doesn't necessarily implicate him in any wrongdoing," she added.
Farkas criticized the Free Beacon on Twitter this week and said that her trip to Kharkiv was paid for by the Atlantic Council, the think tank that organized the trip.
"Brit,pls [sic] don't fall for this," she wrote to Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume after he tweeted a link to the article. "I was invited by [Atlantic Council] to speak at a conference on Econ dev in Kharkiv. I was not paid by anyone and assured AC paid my airfare. Going to Ukraine is what you do if you are a Ukraine expert and visiting their companies is normal."
The Atlantic Council told the Free Beacon that its travel costs were reimbursed by Burisma. Farkas was an unpaid fellow specializing in Ukraine and Russia policy at the think tank, which has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the gas company. That partnership ended in 2019.
During the trip, Farkas spoke at a Burisma-sponsored conference and toured the company's gas facilities while wearing a jacket and hat featuring the company logo. Farkas said on Twitter that the "gear was protective."


freebeacon--2020-03-05--MSNBC Anchor: Warren Is ‘Most Powerful Person’ in The Democratic Party

MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace said Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
was the most powerful person in the Democratic Party after Warren suspended her campaign on Thursday .
`` There is not a more powerful person right now in the Democratic Party , '' Wallace said .
`` I know a lot has been made about what impact former president Obama 's endorsement could have .
I think that what Elizabeth Warren chooses is , at this hour , one of the most exciting questions on the table . ''
NBC News correspondent Heidi Przybyla agreed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more right . ''
Przybyla said Warren 's base of college-educated suburban women are worried about President Donald Trump winning a second term , adding she is not sure Warren 's supporters would support Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) over former vice president Joe Biden .
`` It is really false to assume that just because she falls further on the progressive horizon towards Bernie Sanders then all of her people are just going to go to Bernie Sanders , '' Przybyla said .
Wallace , who often serves as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage , also said Thursday that Warren 's legacy included `` being the most prepared candidate in the room . ''
She 's previously called Warren a `` really , really , really good candidate '' and `` smarter asleep on Ambien '' than Trump was on coffee .
Warren dropped out of the presidential primary Thursday after failing to win any primaries or caucuses .
The poor showing included a third-place finish in her home state of Massachusetts on Super Tuesday .
She said she will hold off on announcing her endorsement @ @ @ @ @

MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) was the most powerful person in the Democratic Party after Warren suspended her campaign on Thursday.
"There is not a more powerful person right now in the Democratic Party," Wallace said. "I know a lot has been made about what impact former president Obama's endorsement could have. I think that what Elizabeth Warren chooses is, at this hour, one of the most exciting questions on the table."
NBC News correspondent Heidi Przybyla agreed, telling Wallace she "couldn't be more right."
Przybyla said Warren's base of college-educated suburban women are worried about President Donald Trump winning a second term, adding she is not sure Warren's supporters would support Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) over former vice president Joe Biden.
"It is really false to assume that just because she falls further on the progressive horizon towards Bernie Sanders then all of her people are just going to go to Bernie Sanders," Przybyla said.
Wallace, who often serves as a lead anchor for MSNBC's political coverage, also said Thursday that Warren's legacy included "being the most prepared candidate in the room." She's previously called Warren a "really, really, really good candidate" and "smarter asleep on Ambien" than Trump was on coffee.
Warren dropped out of the presidential primary Thursday after failing to win any primaries or caucuses. The poor showing included a third-place finish in her home state of Massachusetts on Super Tuesday.
She said she will hold off on announcing her endorsement in the presidential race.


freebeacon--2020-03-05--Biden Drug Epidemic Plan Out of Touch With Current Crisis

After more than 10 months on the campaign trail , Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden on Wednesday released his plan to address America 's drug crisis .
The Biden plan would pour $ 125 billion into the crisis over the next 10 years , more than any of his 2020 opponents had previously promised to spend .
In many ways , however , the plan mirrors other Democrats ' approaches , focusing heavily on treatment and harm reduction , identifying pharmaceutical firms as the major perpetrators of the crisis while deemphasizing the role of law enforcement .
Biden 's lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lip service to the crisis 's current epicenter in Mexico and China suggests the former vice president is out of touch with the way the drug epidemic has shifted over the past several years .
The new plan debuted just weeks after the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control revealed a slight decline in drug overdose deaths in 2018 , down from roughly 70,000 in 2017 to just over 67,000 .
That figure , however , still makes 2018 the second deadliest year on record for drug overdose deaths .
Prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allusions to the crisis , but had not placed it front and center as President Donald Trump did in his own campaign four years ago .
If enacted , Biden 's plan would represent a substantial investment in combating the drug epidemic .
Of the $ 125 billion , $ 75 billion would be allocated to flexible state grants for education , treatment , and harm reduction measures including needle exchanges .
A further $ 30 billion would be allocated to expand access to medication-assisted treatment—including ending federal regulations that limit doctors ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat opioid dependency—and to increasing access to the overdose-reversing drug naloxone .
The remaining $ 20 billion would go toward other initiatives , including targeted support for veterans and Native Americans .
Law enforcement is conspicuously absent from the list of funding priorities .
Biden would earmark unspecified amounts to `` support first responders '' with naloxone and mental health training , including connecting mental health professionals with police departments .
But there is no mention of added funding for street-level enforcement , a particularly significant omission given the declining size of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration would support its diversion control division , which stops the use of pharmaceutical—i.e.
, licitly produced—drugs for illegal purposes .
That added funding reflects the Biden plan 's focus on prosecuting pharmaceutical firms widely blamed for causing the current crisis .
Biden would instruct the Department of Justice to prosecute pharmaceutical firms and their executives , aligning with other 2020 candidates who promised to crack down on big pharma if elected .
By contrast , Biden would soften other criminal justice system responses to drug crime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incentivizing states to do the same .
( As of the most recently available data , just 3.5 percent of state prisoners and less than 1 percent of federal prisoners were incarcerated for drug possession . )
To its credit , Biden 's plan acknowledges the role that non-pharmaceutical drugs play in the current crisis , promising to slow the flow of fentanyl from China across the Mexican border .
Biden promises to make fentanyl a key component of trade negotiations with China , as Trump has , and to ramp up enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , largely disregards the thousands of pounds of drugs that flow in between those ports .
The focus on treatment and reduction at the expense of interdiction ignores the current dynamics of the drug crisis .
The Biden plan assumes pharmaceutical firms continue to drive the crisis .
In reality , drug overdose deaths associated with prescription opioids fell between 2017 and 2018 , and are now the least common among the major causes of drug overdose death .
The plan also fails to acknowledge the changing composition of the illicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and giving no mention to the increase of cocaine overdose deaths .
Such omissions matter because treatment and harm reduction can only go so far in reducing overdose deaths .
One analysis suggested that such tools could cut the overdose death rate by only about 10 percent through 2025 .
That may even be a high estimate , as overdose deaths move away from opioids , for which there are proven chemical treatments , toward methamphetamine and other stimulants , for which no medications exist .
Biden 's plan , then , mirrors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 contenders Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
and Pete Buttigieg .
Both candidates , likely cowed by the Democratic Party 's increasing hostility toward law enforcement , focused their plans on treatment and harm reduction , leaving major absences in the sort of comprehensive response required to combat a historic crisis .

After more than 10 months on the campaign trail, Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden on Wednesday released his plan to address America's drug crisis.
The Biden plan would pour $125 billion into the crisis over the next 10 years, more than any of his 2020 opponents had previously promised to spend. In many ways, however, the plan mirrors other Democrats' approaches, focusing heavily on treatment and harm reduction, identifying pharmaceutical firms as the major perpetrators of the crisis while deemphasizing the role of law enforcement.
Biden's lack of emphasis on law enforcement and bare lip service to the crisis's current epicenter in Mexico and China suggests the former vice president is out of touch with the way the drug epidemic has shifted over the past several years.
The new plan debuted just weeks after the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control revealed a slight decline in drug overdose deaths in 2018, down from roughly 70,000 in 2017 to just over 67,000. That figure, however, still makes 2018 the second deadliest year on record for drug overdose deaths. Prior to Wednesday's release, Biden made allusions to the crisis, but had not placed it front and center as President Donald Trump did in his own campaign four years ago.
If enacted, Biden's plan would represent a substantial investment in combating the drug epidemic. Of the $125 billion, $75 billion would be allocated to flexible state grants for education, treatment, and harm reduction measures including needle exchanges. A further $30 billion would be allocated to expand access to medication-assisted treatment—including ending federal regulations that limit doctors' abilities to prescribe drugs like buprenorphine to treat opioid dependency—and to increasing access to the overdose-reversing drug naloxone. The remaining $20 billion would go toward other initiatives, including targeted support for veterans and Native Americans.
Law enforcement is conspicuously absent from the list of funding priorities. Biden would earmark unspecified amounts to "support first responders" with naloxone and mental health training, including connecting mental health professionals with police departments. But there is no mention of added funding for street-level enforcement, a particularly significant omission given the declining size of America's police departments. The only added funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration would support its diversion control division, which stops the use of pharmaceutical—i.e., licitly produced—drugs for illegal purposes.
That added funding reflects the Biden plan's focus on prosecuting pharmaceutical firms widely blamed for causing the current crisis. Biden would instruct the Department of Justice to prosecute pharmaceutical firms and their executives, aligning with other 2020 candidates who promised to crack down on big pharma if elected. By contrast, Biden would soften other criminal justice system responses to drug crime, ending federal prosecutions for drug use and incentivizing states to do the same. (As of the most recently available data, just 3.5 percent of state prisoners and less than 1 percent of federal prisoners were incarcerated for drug possession.)
To its credit, Biden's plan acknowledges the role that non-pharmaceutical drugs play in the current crisis, promising to slow the flow of fentanyl from China across the Mexican border. Biden promises to make fentanyl a key component of trade negotiations with China, as Trump has, and to ramp up enforcement at ports of entry. The plan, however, largely disregards the thousands of pounds of drugs that flow in between those ports.
The focus on treatment and reduction at the expense of interdiction ignores the current dynamics of the drug crisis. The Biden plan assumes pharmaceutical firms continue to drive the crisis. In reality, drug overdose deaths associated with prescription opioids fell between 2017 and 2018, and are now the least common among the major causes of drug overdose death. The plan also fails to acknowledge the changing composition of the illicit drug supply, only once mentioning methamphetamine and giving no mention to the increase of cocaine overdose deaths.
Such omissions matter because treatment and harm reduction can only go so far in reducing overdose deaths. One analysis suggested that such tools could cut the overdose death rate by only about 10 percent through 2025. That may even be a high estimate, as overdose deaths move away from opioids, for which there are proven chemical treatments, toward methamphetamine and other stimulants, for which no medications exist.
Biden's plan, then, mirrors the limited scope of those of now-departed 2020 contenders Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Pete Buttigieg. Both candidates, likely cowed by the Democratic Party's increasing hostility toward law enforcement, focused their plans on treatment and harm reduction, leaving major absences in the sort of comprehensive response required to combat a historic crisis.