freebeacon--2020-08-07--At the Atlantic Council, Foreign Money Talks

When Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s bodyguards were arrested after attacking a crowd of protesters outside the Turkish ambassador ’ s residence in May 2017 , Erdogan and his crew were heading inside for a private , off-the-record meeting with Atlantic Council fellows and board members .
That event is just one example of the close relationship between the Washington , D.C. , think tank and the Erdogan government .
Starting in 2008 , the Atlantic Council hosted an `` Istanbul Summit '' bankrolled by several business conglomerates closely aligned with Erdogan ’ s Justice and Development party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been accused of evading U.S. sanctions on Iran .
Calik Holding , another conference sponsor and current Atlantic Council donor , is a Turkish business giant that was until late 2013 led by Erdogan ’ s son-in-law , Berat Albayrak .
Calik acquired the once-reputable Turkish newspaper Sabah in 2008 and , according to Steven Cook , a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations , turned it into `` a wild mouthpiece of the Erdogan government . ''
The Turks have tried to do the same with the Atlantic Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the panelists—and even guests—participating in the organization ’ s Turkey events because their views did not align with those of the Erdogan government .
In 2018 , the Atlantic Council moved the annual conference , now known as the Global Energy Forum , to Abu Dhabi because , according to a source familiar with the conference 's operations , Erdogan ’ s son-in-law `` was basically the shadow organizer of the event . ''
A spokesman for the Atlantic Council , Alex Kisling , said that the move to Abu Dhabi had nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials to influence programming and that the organization `` receives support from a diverse set of organizations , including Calik Holding , which has a significant global footprint . ''
The Atlantic Council , he added , `` is responsible for determining who serves in speaking roles for its programming—as well as for deciding who is invited to join the audience .
It ’ s not unusual for conference partners and participants to make requests , but no one has been disinvited from participating in our Turkish events . ''
But according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with the conference 's operations , the Atlantic Council canceled a panel at its 2015 Istanbul conference featuring the Turkish journalist Asli Aydintasbas after the Turks objected to her participation .
Aydintasbas , now a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations , has been mildly critical of the Erdogan government .
The Turks also objected to the participation of the Turkish foreign policy expert Naz Durakoglu , who was also removed from a panel , the same sources said .
Both sources requested anonymity to speak freely .
`` Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the think tank analyst said , adding that `` there are times where they have allowed themselves to become a PR arm of the Turkish government . ''
While the influence of foreign money on American think tanks has been well documented , including by the New York Times , seven foreign policy experts told the Washington Free Beacon that the Atlantic Council is an outlier , taking more money from more undemocratic and corrupt governments than its counterparts .
The institution publicly discloses the money it has taken from unsavory governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no influence on its scholarship—a claim that insiders dispute , pointing to Turkey as an example .
The think tank ’ s operations also provide a window into how the sausage gets made in the nation ’ s capital , revealing how lobbyists , government officials , wealthy donors and independent experts are often inextricably intertwined .
A member of the Atlantic Council ’ s executive committee , Amir Handjani , offers one example of the overlapping interests .
Handjani was at one time a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a registered foreign agent for Saudi Arabia ’ s Public Investment Fund .
At one point , Handjani also served as president of his family ’ s company , a Cargill subsidiary that imports grain into Iran .
Attorney David Aufhauser , an Atlantic Council board member who helps underwrite the organization ’ s `` economic sanctions initiative , '' is a registered foreign agent for Myanmar ’ s Kanbawza bank , helping it manage the fallout from a United Nations report that called on the international community to impose sanctions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a `` genocidal campaign '' against the country ’ s Rohingya Muslims .
While the Atlantic Council requires scholars and board members to inform them of any conflicts of interest , serving as a lobbyist or foreign agent is permissible , Kisling said .
Sources say those sorts of overlapping equities are the rule , rather than the exception , at the Atlantic Council , which inoculates itself from Beltway criticism by adding members to an ever-expanding board of directors — which has ballooned to approximately 140 members — and taking money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources .
`` It ’ s like some John Grisham movie where everybody has a stake in protecting the equities of the Atlantic Council because if you ’ re not on the board you ’ re giving money , '' said a third source who works closely with the organization .
The Atlantic Council ’ s Ukraine program formalized a relationship with the corrupt Ukrainian gas giant Burisma in early 2017 , allowing Burisma to underwrite its Ukraine programming—a move that allowed the scandal-plagued company to burnish its image by associating with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the ink dried on the agreement , the American public relations consultant who helped engineer the Atlantic Council partnership on Burisma ’ s behalf , Sally Painter , was appointed to the Atlantic Council ’ s board of directors .
Kisling said that Painter ’ s nomination to the board had nothing to do with her work for the company and that she was nominated to the board `` due to her deep foreign affairs experience , her past support for NATO summits , and her commitment to the transatlantic community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Burisma in 2019 .
Emails released in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit show that the Atlantic Council accepted the Burisma funding despite reservations , and that the Atlantic Council ’ s top Ukraine expert , John Herbst , gave State Department officials early warning .
The Atlantic Council , Herbst said , had weighed the decision `` for over a month '' and that `` some uneasiness remains . ''
State Department officials , including George Kent , the deputy chief of mission in Ukraine who testified in President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the move to `` an image rehab campaign '' on Burisma 's part , led by Painter and her business partner , Karen Tramontano .
`` The Blue Star duo , Karen and Sally , are on the Atlantic Council roster and are the probable pushers of this , '' Kent wrote to then American ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
`` So , '' he added , `` Atlantic Council ’ s robust Ukraine program , funded by … Akhmetov , Pinchuk , and Zlochevsky/Burisma , '' a reference to the pro-Russian oligarchs Rinat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and charitable foundation , respectively , have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Atlantic Council .
Kisling , the Atlantic Council spokesman , said the organization agreed to a partnership with Burisma only `` once we understood a legal challenge against the company in London was dismissed by a judge . ''
Painter ’ s colleague , Tramontano , requested meetings with U.S. government officials to try to clear the company of wrongdoing , arguing that `` there is no evidence of corruption . ''
But neither was there exoneration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the refusal of the Ukrainian government to provide the necessary documents .
Ukrainian officials said their own investigation found that Burisma had bribed anticorruption investigators , paying them $ 6 million to drop the case .
While the Atlantic Council has maintained that the foreign money flowing into its coffers has no sway over its scholarship and programming , others say that the money inevitably affects scholarship , even if only the choice of topics the organization ’ s scholars choose to focus on—and , more importantly , the ones they avoid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey , for example , sidestep some of the most contentious issues in the U.S.-Turkey relationship , including Ankara 's troubled ties with Europe and the country ’ s adventurism in the Middle East .
In April , the organization hosted an event featuring , among others , Erdogan ’ s spokesman , Ibrahim Kalin , whom Atlantic Council president Fred Kempe praised as `` an intellectual force . ''
A piece penned by the former Turkish ambassador to the United States , Namik Tan , attributes problems in the U.S.-Turkey relationship to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' And a recent event highlighting Turkey ’ s `` refugee resilience '' was moderated by a news anchor for TRT , Turkey ’ s public broadcast station , which has registered as a foreign agent in the United States .
Kisling said the Atlantic Council does not require moderators and panelists to disclose conflicts of interest and characterized the anchor , Maria Ramos , as `` an experienced reporter '' and said that she was invited to moderate `` to bring an outside perspective and pose journalistic questions to panelists . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical of Turkey , Kisling highlighted an op-ed appended with an `` editor ’ s note '' directing readers to a response from a Turkish official ; an `` issue brief '' about Syria , not Turkey , whose lead author is no longer with the Atlantic Council ; an op-ed laying out a roadmap for Turkey to repair its relationship with NATO after its importation of Russian missiles set off a conflagration ; and a collection of expert views on Turkey ’ s incursions into Syria .

Sources tell the Washington Free Beacon that foreign governments exert pressure on the ostensibly independent think tank’s scholarship and programming
When Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards were arrested after attacking a crowd of protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in May 2017, Erdogan and his crew were heading inside for a private, off-the-record meeting with Atlantic Council fellows and board members.
That event is just one example of the close relationship between the Washington, D.C., think tank and the Erdogan government.
Starting in 2008, the Atlantic Council hosted an "Istanbul Summit" bankrolled by several business conglomerates closely aligned with Erdogan’s Justice and Development party, including the state-owned Halkbank, which has been accused of evading U.S. sanctions on Iran. Calik Holding, another conference sponsor and current Atlantic Council donor, is a Turkish business giant that was until late 2013 led by Erdogan’s son-in-law, Berat Albayrak.
Calik acquired the once-reputable Turkish newspaper Sabah in 2008 and, according to Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, turned it into "a wild mouthpiece of the Erdogan government."
The Turks have tried to do the same with the Atlantic Council, sources say, routinely objecting to the panelists—and even guests—participating in the organization’s Turkey events because their views did not align with those of the Erdogan government.
In 2018, the Atlantic Council moved the annual conference, now known as the Global Energy Forum, to Abu Dhabi because, according to a source familiar with the conference's operations, Erdogan’s son-in-law "was basically the shadow organizer of the event."
A spokesman for the Atlantic Council, Alex Kisling, said that the move to Abu Dhabi had nothing to do with the efforts of Turkish officials to influence programming and that the organization "receives support from a diverse set of organizations, including Calik Holding, which has a significant global footprint."
The Atlantic Council, he added, "is responsible for determining who serves in speaking roles for its programming—as well as for deciding who is invited to join the audience. It’s not unusual for conference partners and participants to make requests, but no one has been disinvited from participating in our Turkish events."
But according to a think tank analyst and the source familiar with the conference's operations, the Atlantic Council canceled a panel at its 2015 Istanbul conference featuring the Turkish journalist Asli Aydintasbas after the Turks objected to her participation. Aydintasbas, now a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, has been mildly critical of the Erdogan government. The Turks also objected to the participation of the Turkish foreign policy expert Naz Durakoglu, who was also removed from a panel, the same sources said. Both sources requested anonymity to speak freely.
"Their way of handling this was terrible," the think tank analyst said, adding that "there are times where they have allowed themselves to become a PR arm of the Turkish government."
While the influence of foreign money on American think tanks has been well documented, including by the New York Times, seven foreign policy experts told the Washington Free Beacon that the Atlantic Council is an outlier, taking more money from more undemocratic and corrupt governments than its counterparts.
The institution publicly discloses the money it has taken from unsavory governments and foreign businesses and insists that money has no influence on its scholarship—a claim that insiders dispute, pointing to Turkey as an example. The think tank’s operations also provide a window into how the sausage gets made in the nation’s capital, revealing how lobbyists, government officials, wealthy donors and independent experts are often inextricably intertwined.
A member of the Atlantic Council’s executive committee, Amir Handjani, offers one example of the overlapping interests. Handjani was at one time a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a donor to its Iran program, and a registered foreign agent for Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. At one point, Handjani also served as president of his family’s company, a Cargill subsidiary that imports grain into Iran. Attorney David Aufhauser, an Atlantic Council board member who helps underwrite the organization’s "economic sanctions initiative," is a registered foreign agent for Myanmar’s Kanbawza bank, helping it manage the fallout from a United Nations report that called on the international community to impose sanctions on the bank after U.N. investigators implicated it in a "genocidal campaign" against the country’s Rohingya Muslims.
While the Atlantic Council requires scholars and board members to inform them of any conflicts of interest, serving as a lobbyist or foreign agent is permissible, Kisling said.
Sources say those sorts of overlapping equities are the rule, rather than the exception, at the Atlantic Council, which inoculates itself from Beltway criticism by adding members to an ever-expanding board of directors -- which has ballooned to approximately 140 members -- and taking money from an array of foreign and domestic sources.
"It’s like some John Grisham movie where everybody has a stake in protecting the equities of the Atlantic Council because if you’re not on the board you’re giving money," said a third source who works closely with the organization.
The Atlantic Council’s Ukraine program formalized a relationship with the corrupt Ukrainian gas giant Burisma in early 2017, allowing Burisma to underwrite its Ukraine programming—a move that allowed the scandal-plagued company to burnish its image by associating with a respected Washington institution.
Just four months after the ink dried on the agreement, the American public relations consultant who helped engineer the Atlantic Council partnership on Burisma’s behalf, Sally Painter, was appointed to the Atlantic Council’s board of directors.
Kisling said that Painter’s nomination to the board had nothing to do with her work for the company and that she was nominated to the board "due to her deep foreign affairs experience, her past support for NATO summits, and her commitment to the transatlantic community." The Atlantic Council ended its relationship with Burisma in 2019.
Emails released in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit show that the Atlantic Council accepted the Burisma funding despite reservations, and that the Atlantic Council’s top Ukraine expert, John Herbst, gave State Department officials early warning. The Atlantic Council, Herbst said, had weighed the decision "for over a month" and that "some uneasiness remains."
State Department officials, including George Kent, the deputy chief of mission in Ukraine who testified in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, chalked up the move to "an image rehab campaign" on Burisma's part, led by Painter and her business partner, Karen Tramontano. "The Blue Star duo, Karen and Sally, are on the Atlantic Council roster and are the probable pushers of this," Kent wrote to then American ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.
"So," he added, "Atlantic Council’s robust Ukraine program, funded by … Akhmetov, Pinchuk, and Zlochevsky/Burisma," a reference to the pro-Russian oligarchs Rinat Akhmetov and Victor Pinchuk, whose business and charitable foundation, respectively, have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Atlantic Council.
Kisling, the Atlantic Council spokesman, said the organization agreed to a partnership with Burisma only "once we understood a legal challenge against the company in London was dismissed by a judge." Painter’s colleague, Tramontano, requested meetings with U.S. government officials to try to clear the company of wrongdoing, arguing that "there is no evidence of corruption." But neither was there exoneration, as prosecutors in London were stymied by the refusal of the Ukrainian government to provide the necessary documents. Ukrainian officials said their own investigation found that Burisma had bribed anticorruption investigators, paying them $6 million to drop the case.
While the Atlantic Council has maintained that the foreign money flowing into its coffers has no sway over its scholarship and programming, others say that the money inevitably affects scholarship, even if only the choice of topics the organization’s scholars choose to focus on—and, more importantly, the ones they avoid.
The Atlantic Council’s publications on Turkey, for example, sidestep some of the most contentious issues in the U.S.-Turkey relationship, including Ankara's troubled ties with Europe and the country’s adventurism in the Middle East.
In April, the organization hosted an event featuring, among others, Erdogan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, whom Atlantic Council president Fred Kempe praised as "an intellectual force." A piece penned by the former Turkish ambassador to the United States, Namik Tan, attributes problems in the U.S.-Turkey relationship to the work of "politicized analysts." And a recent event highlighting Turkey’s "refugee resilience" was moderated by a news anchor for TRT, Turkey’s public broadcast station, which has registered as a foreign agent in the United States.
Kisling said the Atlantic Council does not require moderators and panelists to disclose conflicts of interest and characterized the anchor, Maria Ramos, as "an experienced reporter" and said that she was invited to moderate "to bring an outside perspective and pose journalistic questions to panelists."
Asked to point to Atlantic Council publications critical of Turkey, Kisling highlighted an op-ed appended with an "editor’s note" directing readers to a response from a Turkish official; an "issue brief" about Syria, not Turkey, whose lead author is no longer with the Atlantic Council; an op-ed laying out a roadmap for Turkey to repair its relationship with NATO after its importation of Russian missiles set off a conflagration; and a collection of expert views on Turkey’s incursions into Syria.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--The Man Who Wasn’t There

The Man Who Wasn’t There

At first glance , Joe Biden 's strategy of avoiding the spotlight is paying off .
He maintains his consistent lead over Donald Trump in national polls .
In June , in the aftermath of the Lafayette Park fiasco , his advantage in the RealClearPolitics average expanded to 10 points .
The critical swing states of Wisconsin , Michigan , Pennsylvania , North Carolina , and Florida are trending his way .
His lead gives him the freedom to mollify the progressive wing of his party by shifting leftward on policy .
The Democrats smell victory and dream of unified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a decade .
There is no question that President Trump is in trouble .
But look again at the polls .
The national race has tightened .
Biden is still ahead but by a 6-point margin .
Michael Goodwin of the New York Post observes that Hillary Clinton enjoyed a similar lead at this point in the 2016 campaign .
The CNBC poll conducted in late July found a much closer race in the battlegrounds .
Biden 's leads in Arizona and Pennsylvania were within the margin of error .
His greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Recent days have brought news of GOP gains in registration in Pennsylvania and of the Trump campaign 's huge lead in voter contacts .
The 2016 election was decided by a relatively small number of voters across a tiny number of states .
If a similar scenario plays out in 2020 , then Donald Trump may well emerge the winner .
The truth is that , except on the air and online , the presidential campaign really has n't started yet .
The coronavirus has upended traditional forms of electioneering .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rallies , driven both parties to hold virtual conventions , and blotted out the daily back-and-forth between candidates and campaigns .
That has left the race in a form of suspended animation , with Biden enjoying the fruits of leaving Trump to his own often self-destructive devices .
But the strategy is not all upside .
It has left Biden offstage during a multifaceted national emergency .
The Democratic nominee has made a series of speeches detailing his `` Build Back Better '' agenda , but has anyone really paid attention to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand against the violence in Seattle and Portland .
He 's been AWOL .
The Trump campaign has turned the minuscule audiences that attend his livestreamed events into the butt of a running Twitter joke .
A philosopher might say that Biden has transcended his physical form and become the Platonic ideal of a `` generic Democrat . ''
He is running more or less in line with the congressional generic ballot .
But voters do not vote for generic presidents .
They choose between two individuals .
This lack of definition is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential race enters its final months .
`` No other major-party presidential nominee has spent so long in politics , '' wrote Edward-Isaac Dovere of the Atlantic in late June .
`` Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972 , before anyone currently serving in Congress .
And no other major-party presidential nominee has led the polls despite basically coming off as a fuzzy white space . ''
Dovere cited `` data from focus groups and polls conducted by Biden allies '' that showed voters basically know Biden is old , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a genial and well-intentioned , if sometimes weird , elder statesman .
That 's it .
A few weeks ago , the `` Engagious '' swing voter project , which conducts focus groups , gathered together some Michigan voters who had pulled the lever for President Trump in 2016 .
The participants were drawn from the `` Obama-Trump '' demographic that gained so much attention last cycle but has since been overshadowed by groups trending Democratic , such as college-educated women , suburbanites , and independents .
`` Over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama-Trump ' voters could n't name a single thing Biden has said or done regarding the pandemic , '' wrote Rich Thau , president of Engagious , for CNN last week .
`` In bellwether Macomb County , on July 21 , none of the nine voters I interviewed could name a single thing Biden had achieved in nearly 50 years in national politics . ''
The problem for Biden is that the campaign is about to enter a phase where he can not help being defined .
A preview of this new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked if he has taken a cognitive test , Biden exploded and said , rather offensively , that the question was as silly as wondering if the black CBS reporter he was talking to had been tested for cocaine .
The coming weeks will bring three major events that will convey Biden 's strengths and weaknesses before audiences of millions .
He wo n't be able to hide in his basement .
And that may be where the fun begins .
The first event is his vice presidential announcement .
Biden unintentionally backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options at the start of the process , and now several of his choices would offer the Trump campaign avenues for attack .
Republicans have signaled their eagerness to go after potential candidates such as Rep. Karen Bass ( D. , Calif. ) and former national security adviser Susan Rice .
Choosing Elizabeth Warren would amount to flipping the order of the ticket and allow Trump essentially to run against the Massachusetts senator rather than the former vice president .
Kamala Harris seems to be the safest pick .
But she 's also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The second occasion where Biden will be center stage is his convention .
It 's unlikely that Milwaukee will be as chaotic as Philadelphia in 2016 , especially now that neither Biden nor his running mate will be there , but one wonders if radicals want to enjoy a split-screen with the televised speeches ( of either party ) .
There is also the question of how much Barack Obama will loom over the proceedings .
The Biden team and Democrats in general are convinced that more Obama is always and everywhere a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consider the possible reactions of the Obama-Trump voters mentioned above .
The former president 's political interventions thrill partisans and the media wing of the Democratic Party .
But they also remind Republicans and independents of everything they disliked about the Obama years .
Biden 's address will be the first time in years that the American people will hear from him without interruption or mediation .
His campaign strategists have not behaved as if this is something they look forward to .
Finally , the debates are scheduled to begin on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says and does in response to President Trump 's inevitable braggadocio , interruptions , denials , and needling about his son and his mental capacity will go a long way to determine voters ' confidence in him .
Biden has displayed a tendency to snap , ramble , and use bizarre turns of phrase when asked tough questions , and it 's unknown whether voters will respond favorably to an aggressive and probably often bewildering performance .
Biden also trips over his words .
The contrast between a commanding Trump and a confused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a feeling Democrats recognize this hazard , which is why a few liberals have raised the possibility of getting rid of the debates altogether .
The first trial balloon came from Tom Friedman in a July column , and the most recent from Elizabeth Drew in an August 3 New York Times op-ed .
There is no way Biden could try to do this without looking afraid , and so it 's unlikely to happen .
But the very fact that media figures are having such a debate over the debates is evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel about Biden 's capabilities .
And with good reason .
Joe Biden has not faced a serious in-person rebuke since Harris 's surprise attack in June 2019 .
He has n't experienced a significant setback to his campaign since March .
Yes , the race is his to lose .
But others have lost similar races before .
And not being Trump might not be enough .

At first glance, Joe Biden's strategy of avoiding the spotlight is paying off. He maintains his consistent lead over Donald Trump in national polls. In June, in the aftermath of the Lafayette Park fiasco, his advantage in the RealClearPolitics average expanded to 10 points. The critical swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Florida are trending his way. His lead gives him the freedom to mollify the progressive wing of his party by shifting leftward on policy. The Democrats smell victory and dream of unified control of government for the first time in a decade.
There is no question that President Trump is in trouble. But look again at the polls. The national race has tightened. Biden is still ahead but by a 6-point margin. Michael Goodwin of the New York Post observes that Hillary Clinton enjoyed a similar lead at this point in the 2016 campaign. The CNBC poll conducted in late July found a much closer race in the battlegrounds. Biden's leads in Arizona and Pennsylvania were within the margin of error. His greatest advantage was a 5-point spread in Wisconsin. Recent days have brought news of GOP gains in registration in Pennsylvania and of the Trump campaign's huge lead in voter contacts. The 2016 election was decided by a relatively small number of voters across a tiny number of states. If a similar scenario plays out in 2020, then Donald Trump may well emerge the winner.
The truth is that, except on the air and online, the presidential campaign really hasn't started yet. The coronavirus has upended traditional forms of electioneering. It's forced Trump to cancel his tentpole rallies, driven both parties to hold virtual conventions, and blotted out the daily back-and-forth between candidates and campaigns. That has left the race in a form of suspended animation, with Biden enjoying the fruits of leaving Trump to his own often self-destructive devices.
But the strategy is not all upside. It has left Biden offstage during a multifaceted national emergency. The Democratic nominee has made a series of speeches detailing his "Build Back Better" agenda, but has anyone really paid attention to them? Nor did Biden take a strong stand against the violence in Seattle and Portland. He's been AWOL. The Trump campaign has turned the minuscule audiences that attend his livestreamed events into the butt of a running Twitter joke. A philosopher might say that Biden has transcended his physical form and become the Platonic ideal of a "generic Democrat." He is running more or less in line with the congressional generic ballot. But voters do not vote for generic presidents. They choose between two individuals.
This lack of definition is a potential danger for Biden as the presidential race enters its final months. "No other major-party presidential nominee has spent so long in politics," wrote Edward-Isaac Dovere of the Atlantic in late June. "Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972, before anyone currently serving in Congress. And no other major-party presidential nominee has led the polls despite basically coming off as a fuzzy white space." Dovere cited "data from focus groups and polls conducted by Biden allies" that showed voters basically know Biden is old, worked for Barack Obama, and seems to be a genial and well-intentioned, if sometimes weird, elder statesman. That's it.
A few weeks ago, the "Engagious" swing voter project, which conducts focus groups, gathered together some Michigan voters who had pulled the lever for President Trump in 2016. The participants were drawn from the "Obama-Trump" demographic that gained so much attention last cycle but has since been overshadowed by groups trending Democratic, such as college-educated women, suburbanites, and independents. "Over the past several months, most of my 'Obama-Trump' voters couldn't name a single thing Biden has said or done regarding the pandemic," wrote Rich Thau, president of Engagious, for CNN last week. "In bellwether Macomb County, on July 21, none of the nine voters I interviewed could name a single thing Biden had achieved in nearly 50 years in national politics."
The problem for Biden is that the campaign is about to enter a phase where he cannot help being defined. A preview of this new reality came the other day. When asked if he has taken a cognitive test, Biden exploded and said, rather offensively, that the question was as silly as wondering if the black CBS reporter he was talking to had been tested for cocaine. The coming weeks will bring three major events that will convey Biden's strengths and weaknesses before audiences of millions. He won't be able to hide in his basement. And that may be where the fun begins.
The first event is his vice presidential announcement. Biden unintentionally backed himself into a corner by limiting his options at the start of the process, and now several of his choices would offer the Trump campaign avenues for attack. Republicans have signaled their eagerness to go after potential candidates such as Rep. Karen Bass (D., Calif.) and former national security adviser Susan Rice. Choosing Elizabeth Warren would amount to flipping the order of the ticket and allow Trump essentially to run against the Massachusetts senator rather than the former vice president. Kamala Harris seems to be the safest pick. But she's also an uninspiring and potentially clumsy one.
The second occasion where Biden will be center stage is his convention. It's unlikely that Milwaukee will be as chaotic as Philadelphia in 2016, especially now that neither Biden nor his running mate will be there, but one wonders if radicals want to enjoy a split-screen with the televised speeches (of either party). There is also the question of how much Barack Obama will loom over the proceedings. The Biden team and Democrats in general are convinced that more Obama is always and everywhere a good thing. But they might want to consider the possible reactions of the Obama-Trump voters mentioned above.
The former president's political interventions thrill partisans and the media wing of the Democratic Party. But they also remind Republicans and independents of everything they disliked about the Obama years. Biden's address will be the first time in years that the American people will hear from him without interruption or mediation. His campaign strategists have not behaved as if this is something they look forward to.
Finally, the debates are scheduled to begin on September 29 in Cleveland. What Biden says and does in response to President Trump's inevitable braggadocio, interruptions, denials, and needling about his son and his mental capacity will go a long way to determine voters' confidence in him. Biden has displayed a tendency to snap, ramble, and use bizarre turns of phrase when asked tough questions, and it's unknown whether voters will respond favorably to an aggressive and probably often bewildering performance. Biden also trips over his words. The contrast between a commanding Trump and a confused Biden would be damaging.
I have a feeling Democrats recognize this hazard, which is why a few liberals have raised the possibility of getting rid of the debates altogether. The first trial balloon came from Tom Friedman in a July column, and the most recent from Elizabeth Drew in an August 3 New York Times op-ed. There is no way Biden could try to do this without looking afraid, and so it's unlikely to happen. But the very fact that media figures are having such a debate over the debates is evidence of the anxiety some on the left feel about Biden's capabilities.
And with good reason. Joe Biden has not faced a serious in-person rebuke since Harris's surprise attack in June 2019. He hasn't experienced a significant setback to his campaign since March. Yes, the race is his to lose. But others have lost similar races before. And not being Trump might not be enough.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Tony Maryland Private School to Hold Black-Only Event

An elite Maryland private school is dividing parents in virtual social justice sessions based on race .
Key School , a private school located in Annapolis , plans to host a virtual `` affinity dialogue '' for black parents only .
The school 's diversity , equity , and inclusion page claims these sessions are the first of multiple steps in the school 's journey toward `` reconciliation , restoration , and justice . ''
While the diversity office at the $ 30,075 per-year school publicly claims that all parents are welcome to join in such events , a school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual session that is only available to black people .
`` The Dialogues for Justice session on August 11 is specifically an affinity meeting for our African American/Black parents , '' a spokeswoman told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The Dialogues for Justice session on August 3 is for all of our parents . ''
A concerned parent—who spoke to the Free Beacon on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution—said administrators have ignored those who have raised concerns about segregated events .
The parent of two claims the school does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` goes against the narrative of white supremacy . ''
`` [ Key School ] talks about inclusivity , then holds school-sponsored meetings that separate people based on the color of their skin , '' the Key School parent said .
`` It 's just not right , but parents have no outlet to voice their complaints .
If you speak out against these tactics , then they term you a racist , and your life is essentially over .
So , we all stay quiet and hope common sense will prevail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ faculty and staff includes the mandatory reading of Me and White Supremacy , a book that claims all white people are complicit in white supremacy and tanning is a form of cultural appropriation .
The book is part of the school 's 28-day `` journey to combat racism . ''
The book 's author , Layla F. Saad , is a British social media figure who claims white people are `` complicit '' in white supremacy due to their melanin count .
In her book , Saad claims that prejudice lives inside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would ever say or believe such stereotypes .
`` Racist stereotypes fester internally as subtle , dangerous , and logical-seeming reasons that explain why racism is justified , '' Saad wrote .
`` Though you would never say or consciously believe those stereotypes out loud , they do live inside you .
And when coupled with the power you hold as someone with white privilege , these prejudices give you the ability to enforce white supremacy . ''
The book also claims that white people who help black neighbors participate in `` white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacy .
The Key School parent of two said such a message sends the wrong message to children .
`` I do not want my children being told that because they were born white , they are guilty of oppressing another culture , '' the parent said .
`` They are being bombarded during the school year with racist rhetoric that paints them as an oppressor because of their skin color , that scares me… .
That is racist behavior I can not support . ''
In light of the Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have rushed to incorporate antiracism and bias training for students , parents , and faculty into their curricula .
Christopher Rufo , the director of the Discovery Institute 's Center on Wealth & Poverty , told the Free Beacon that schools are being overtly racist in their so-called antiracist training .
`` Hard-left activists are reviving the practice of race-based separation in the name of social justice , '' Rufo said .
`` It 's astonishing that so many elite institutions , including the most expensive private schools in America , have bought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ‘ blackness'—which is no better than the race essentialism of a century ago .
Let me be perfectly plain : This is racism masquerading as ‘ antiracism . '
'' A race-based virtual seminar could also mire some schools in legal problems .
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits `` discrimination based on race , color , or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance . ''
University of Pennsylvania law school professor Amy Wax said such rules may not apply at some private schools .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost certainly illegal at a public school .
Technically , private schools that are entirely self funded can do what they like , and discriminate if they like , '' Wax said .
`` The ones who do n't approve should vote with their feet… .
Stop paying those exorbitant fees for a school that does n't ‘ share their values , ' stop sending your kids to a school that has gone overboard with the antiracism craze . ''

An elite Maryland private school is dividing parents in virtual social justice sessions based on race.
Key School, a private school located in Annapolis, plans to host a virtual "affinity dialogue" for black parents only. The school's diversity, equity, and inclusion page claims these sessions are the first of multiple steps in the school's journey toward "reconciliation, restoration, and justice." While the diversity office at the $30,075 per-year school publicly claims that all parents are welcome to join in such events, a school official acknowledged that it will hold one virtual session that is only available to black people.
"The Dialogues for Justice session on August 11 is specifically an affinity meeting for our African American/Black parents," a spokeswoman told the Washington Free Beacon. "The Dialogues for Justice session on August 3 is for all of our parents."
A concerned parent—who spoke to the Free Beacon on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution—said administrators have ignored those who have raised concerns about segregated events. The parent of two claims the school does not want to have a discussion that "goes against the narrative of white supremacy."
"[Key School] talks about inclusivity, then holds school-sponsored meetings that separate people based on the color of their skin," the Key School parent said. "It's just not right, but parents have no outlet to voice their complaints. If you speak out against these tactics, then they term you a racist, and your life is essentially over. So, we all stay quiet and hope common sense will prevail."
Key School's diversity training for faculty and staff includes the mandatory reading of Me and White Supremacy, a book that claims all white people are complicit in white supremacy and tanning is a form of cultural appropriation. The book is part of the school's 28-day "journey to combat racism."
The book's author, Layla F. Saad, is a British social media figure who claims white people are "complicit" in white supremacy due to their melanin count. In her book, Saad claims that prejudice lives inside of white people regardless of whether a person would ever say or believe such stereotypes.
"Racist stereotypes fester internally as subtle, dangerous, and logical-seeming reasons that explain why racism is justified," Saad wrote. "Though you would never say or consciously believe those stereotypes out loud, they do live inside you. And when coupled with the power you hold as someone with white privilege, these prejudices give you the ability to enforce white supremacy."
The book also claims that white people who help black neighbors participate in "white saviorism," a form of white supremacy. The Key School parent of two said such a message sends the wrong message to children.
"I do not want my children being told that because they were born white, they are guilty of oppressing another culture," the parent said. "They are being bombarded during the school year with racist rhetoric that paints them as an oppressor because of their skin color, that scares me…. That is racist behavior I cannot support."
In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, schools and higher education institutions have rushed to incorporate antiracism and bias training for students, parents, and faculty into their curricula. Christopher Rufo, the director of the Discovery Institute's Center on Wealth & Poverty, told the Free Beacon that schools are being overtly racist in their so-called antiracist training.
"Hard-left activists are reviving the practice of race-based separation in the name of social justice," Rufo said. "It's astonishing that so many elite institutions, including the most expensive private schools in America, have bought into the pseudoscience of 'whiteness' and 'blackness'—which is no better than the race essentialism of a century ago. Let me be perfectly plain: This is racism masquerading as 'antiracism.'"
A race-based virtual seminar could also mire some schools in legal problems. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits "discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance." University of Pennsylvania law school professor Amy Wax said such rules may not apply at some private schools.
"Certainly this would be highly suspect and almost certainly illegal at a public school. Technically, private schools that are entirely self funded can do what they like, and discriminate if they like," Wax said. "The ones who don't approve should vote with their feet.... Stop paying those exorbitant fees for a school that doesn't 'share their values,' stop sending your kids to a school that has gone overboard with the antiracism craze."


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Pakistan and China Reach New Intelligence Sharing Agreement

Pakistan and China have initiated an `` unprecedented '' intelligence-sharing relationship , U.S. News & World Report reported Thursday .
The new agreement provides Pakistan Defense Ministry officers with top-secret clearance to use and interact with the Chinese intelligence infrastructure under the aegis of the Joint Staff Department of the Chinese Central Military Commission .
While there is little public information about the commission , the most high ranking party and military officials are privy to its operations .
Islamabad has also provided assurances to Beijing that the Taliban will not act as a harbor for Uighur Muslims .
China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into detainment and work camps within Chinese borders .
`` The arrangement far exceeds any accommodation the Afghan insurgent network has ever afforded the U.S. with regard to Washington 's concerns about al-Qaida presence in Afghanistan , '' U.S. News reported .
The two countries have also worked extensively on creating a trade corridor through Pakistan to buttress China 's ongoing `` Belt and Road Initiative . ''
The project has pushed a large amount of capital into a floundering Pakistani economy .
`` With the Chinese , we have a special relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues like these we talk to them privately , we do n't make public statements , because that 's how China is , '' Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan said last September .
`` China came to help when we were right at the rock bottom , '' he added .
Elsewhere in the region , the United States has struggled to make inroads to pacify the Taliban in a series of stalling peace talks .
Meanwhile , China has developed relations with nearby authoritarian Iran with a series of military and technology @ @ @

Pakistan and China have initiated an "unprecedented" intelligence-sharing relationship, U.S. News & World Report reported Thursday.
The new agreement provides Pakistan Defense Ministry officers with top-secret clearance to use and interact with the Chinese intelligence infrastructure under the aegis of the Joint Staff Department of the Chinese Central Military Commission. While there is little public information about the commission, the most high ranking party and military officials are privy to its operations.
Islamabad has also provided assurances to Beijing that the Taliban will not act as a harbor for Uighur Muslims. China has reportedly forced over one million Uighurs into detainment and work camps within Chinese borders.
"The arrangement far exceeds any accommodation the Afghan insurgent network has ever afforded the U.S. with regard to Washington's concerns about al-Qaida presence in Afghanistan," U.S. News reported.
The two countries have also worked extensively on creating a trade corridor through Pakistan to buttress China's ongoing "Belt and Road Initiative." The project has pushed a large amount of capital into a floundering Pakistani economy.
"With the Chinese, we have a special relationship. And—it's the way China functions—any issues like these we talk to them privately, we don't make public statements, because that's how China is," Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan said last September.
"China came to help when we were right at the rock bottom," he added.
Elsewhere in the region, the United States has struggled to make inroads to pacify the Taliban in a series of stalling peace talks. Meanwhile, China has developed relations with nearby authoritarian Iran with a series of military and technology sharing agreements.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Catholic Group Calls on Biden to Denounce Vandalism, Violence Against Churches

A Catholic political advocacy group is calling on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to speak out on a rash of violence and vandalism against churches across the nation .
`` Catholic churches across America are literally burning , and Joe Biden has said nothing .
Leading members of the Democratic Party have fueled a climate of hate against Catholics , and these attacks have now led to acts of vandalism and violence , '' CatholicVote president Brian Burch said Thursday .
`` These attacks on the Church raise serious questions about the commitment of Joe Biden , a self-professed Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate of anti-Catholicism across the country . ''
Between July 10 and July 16 , Catholic institutions from Massachusetts to Colorado reported several instances of vandalism , with some acts endangering the lives of congregants .
In Florida , a 24-year-old man set fire to a church while several congregants were inside preparing to celebrate Mass .
Police arrested the man and charged him with attempted second-degree murder and arson .
Statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary have also been desecrated by vandals in Colorado and in other locations on the East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Junipero Serra , a Spanish Catholic priest who founded several missions in California .
Pope Francis declared Serra a saint in 2015 , which sparked pushback from critics who claimed that Serra 's legacy was linked to the abuse of indigenous peoples in California .
Biden 's fellow Democrat , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( N.Y. ) , drew criticism by using a statue of Father Damien , a Catholic priest who spent more than a decade ministering to a Hawaiian leper colony before dying of leprosy himself , as an example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Ocasio-Cortez defended herself on Twitter by arguing she did not say Father Damien was a `` bad figure , '' but instead was trying to draw attention to the fact that the `` huge supermajority of statues in the Capitol are white men . ''
Biden has made his Catholic faith a theme of his political career .
He called it a `` bedrock foundation of my life '' after President Trump said Biden would `` hurt God '' as president .
But many of Biden 's political positions contradict the Roman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-choice stance on abortion .
Last year Biden 's public support for abortion caused a Catholic priest to deny him the Eucharist at a parish in South Carolina .
Until the beginning of his presidential campaign , Biden consistently supported the Hyde Amendment to ban federal funding of abortion .
He reversed that position last year , saying he opposed the measure because `` times have changed . ''
The Biden campaign hired a director of faith engagement who worked on the 2012 Obama campaign .
He acknowledged the difficulty of peeling off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign is `` going to go after every vote , but I do not think we will suddenly win the evangelical vote with 80 percent . ''
Trump enjoys high levels of support from Evangelical voters , but his hold on Catholic voters is less stable .
Thirty-six percent of Catholics said they approve of Trump 's presidency , according to a June survey .
Forty-seven percent of white Catholics said they approve , while just 20 percent of Hispanic Catholics said the same .

A Catholic political advocacy group is calling on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden to speak out on a rash of violence and vandalism against churches across the nation.
"Catholic churches across America are literally burning, and Joe Biden has said nothing. Leading members of the Democratic Party have fueled a climate of hate against Catholics, and these attacks have now led to acts of vandalism and violence," CatholicVote president Brian Burch said Thursday.
"These attacks on the Church raise serious questions about the commitment of Joe Biden, a self-professed Catholic, to stand up to the rising climate of anti-Catholicism across the country."
Between July 10 and July 16, Catholic institutions from Massachusetts to Colorado reported several instances of vandalism, with some acts endangering the lives of congregants. In Florida, a 24-year-old man set fire to a church while several congregants were inside preparing to celebrate Mass. Police arrested the man and charged him with attempted second-degree murder and arson.
Statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary have also been desecrated by vandals in Colorado and in other locations on the East Coast.
Protesters also pulled down statues of Junipero Serra, a Spanish Catholic priest who founded several missions in California. Pope Francis declared Serra a saint in 2015, which sparked pushback from critics who claimed that Serra's legacy was linked to the abuse of indigenous peoples in California.
Biden's fellow Democrat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), drew criticism by using a statue of Father Damien, a Catholic priest who spent more than a decade ministering to a Hawaiian leper colony before dying of leprosy himself, as an example of "patriarchy and white supremacist culture."
Ocasio-Cortez defended herself on Twitter by arguing she did not say Father Damien was a "bad figure," but instead was trying to draw attention to the fact that the "huge supermajority of statues in the Capitol are white men."
Biden has made his Catholic faith a theme of his political career. He called it a "bedrock foundation of my life" after President Trump said Biden would "hurt God" as president.
But many of Biden's political positions contradict the Roman Catholic Church's teachings, including his pro-choice stance on abortion. Last year Biden's public support for abortion caused a Catholic priest to deny him the Eucharist at a parish in South Carolina.
Until the beginning of his presidential campaign, Biden consistently supported the Hyde Amendment to ban federal funding of abortion. He reversed that position last year, saying he opposed the measure because "times have changed."
The Biden campaign hired a director of faith engagement who worked on the 2012 Obama campaign. He acknowledged the difficulty of peeling off evangelical support from Trump, saying the campaign is "going to go after every vote, but I do not think we will suddenly win the evangelical vote with 80 percent."
Trump enjoys high levels of support from Evangelical voters, but his hold on Catholic voters is less stable. Thirty-six percent of Catholics said they approve of Trump's presidency, according to a June survey. Forty-seven percent of white Catholics said they approve, while just 20 percent of Hispanic Catholics said the same.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--After Release From Jail Over Coronavirus Fears, Alleged Rapist Kills His Accuser

A Maryland man indicted on rape charges , who a Virginia court released in April due to the coronavirus pandemic , murdered the woman who accused him , Alexandria , Va. , police say .
Ibrahim Bouaichi was indicted on five separate charges , including rape , strangulation , and abduction , and was originally jailed without bond after Karla Dominguez accused him of raping her in October .
Bouaichi shot and killed Dominguez outside of her Alexandria apartment on July 29 , according to police .
Two days after Dominguez 's death , police obtained a warrant for Bouaichi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect for days , Bouaichi shot himself as city police attempted to apprehend him on Wednesday .
He is currently in critical condition .
Bouaichi 's lawyers pushed for the suspect 's release this spring after his March 30 trial was postponed , arguing that the coronavirus pandemic threatened his health while in jail .
Circuit court judge Nolan Dawkins , who retired in June , released Bouaichi in April on a $ 25,000 bond and ordered him to stay at home .
When the coronavirus pandemic began earlier this year , jails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over fears for their health .
New York City released thousands of prisoners from Rikers Island—250 of which have been rearrested .
California state prisons are aiming to release nearly 18,000 prisoners in response to the coronavirus .

A Maryland man indicted on rape charges, who a Virginia court released in April due to the coronavirus pandemic, murdered the woman who accused him, Alexandria, Va., police say.
Ibrahim Bouaichi was indicted on five separate charges, including rape, strangulation, and abduction, and was originally jailed without bond after Karla Dominguez accused him of raping her in October.
Bouaichi shot and killed Dominguez outside of her Alexandria apartment on July 29, according to police.
Two days after Dominguez's death, police obtained a warrant for Bouaichi's arrest. After searching for the suspect for days, Bouaichi shot himself as city police attempted to apprehend him on Wednesday. He is currently in critical condition.
Bouaichi's lawyers pushed for the suspect's release this spring after his March 30 trial was postponed, arguing that the coronavirus pandemic threatened his health while in jail. Circuit court judge Nolan Dawkins, who retired in June, released Bouaichi in April on a $25,000 bond and ordered him to stay at home.
When the coronavirus pandemic began earlier this year, jails and prisons across the country released inmates over fears for their health. New York City released thousands of prisoners from Rikers Island—250 of which have been rearrested. California state prisons are aiming to release nearly 18,000 prisoners in response to the coronavirus.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Harris, Tlaib, Whitmer Back Author of Misogynist Blog

A slew of prominent liberals are standing behind a Democratic congressional candidate in Michigan who ran a misogynistic , drug-enthused blog .
Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , Rep. Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) , Rep. Pramila Jayapal ( D. , Wash. ) , and Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer are among the top backers of Democratic congressional hopeful Jon Hoadley .
Prior to his political career , Hoadley ran a college blog in which he called women `` breeders , '' discussed his interest in crystal meth , and referred to sexual partners as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post report revealed .
While his Democratic primary opponent refused to endorse him over the posts , Hoadley 's national endorsers have not pulled their support and have yet to address the scandal .
Hoadley 's blog , titled `` Rambling Politics , '' was hosted on social networking site LiveJournal .
In a string of posts between 2004 and 2005 , the Democrat detailed attending a gay bar to `` learn about crystal meth . ''
Hoadley , who is gay , called women `` breeders '' —a derogatory term used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referred to his sexual partners as `` victims . ''
The Democrat also alluded to a `` four year old wearing a thong '' when describing a friend 's wedding .
His campaign called the writings `` bad college poetry '' in a comment to the Post .
A three-term Michigan state legislator , Hoadley will attempt to unseat GOP representative Fred Upton in November after winning his Tuesday primary by nearly 5 points .
Sen Gary Peters ( D. , Mich. ) , Harris , Jayapal , and Whitmer—none of whom returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 9 virtual fundraiser .
The Democrats heaped praise on Hoadley , with Harris labeling him a `` fighter '' and Whitmer calling him `` primed and ready to be a hurricane when he gets to Washington , D.C. '' Also included on Hoadley 's endorsement list is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC ) .
The organization added the state lawmaker to its `` highly selective '' Red to Blue program—aimed at bolstering `` top-tier '' candidates with fundraising support and staff resources—in late July .
Rep. Cheri Bustos ( D. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touting Hoadley 's `` strong record of service '' and `` authentic message . ''
The DCCC did not respond to a request for comment .
In addition to the DCCC , the Progressive Change Campaign Committee ( PCCC ) endorsed Hoadley in January .
A far-left activist group with ties to Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, the PCCC called Hoadley a `` champion for progressive issues '' in its endorsement , noting his support for Medicare for All and the Green New Deal .
The PCCC did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Reps. Haley Stevens ( D. , Mich. ) and Sharice Davids ( D. , Kan. ) have also endorsed Hoadley .
Neither returned requests for comment .
Hoadley survived an unexpectedly close primary on Tuesday , winning a close race against educator Jennifer Richardson , who spent less than $ 67,000 on the race .
Hoadley , meanwhile , spent more than $ 950,000 and currently holds $ 418,000 on hand .
He has lagged behind Upton in fundraising , bringing in roughly $ 1.4 million to the Republican 's $ 2.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 points and holds nearly $ 1.4 million on hand as of July 15 .
Upton 's seat is a top target for national Democrats looking to expand the party 's House majority .
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race `` lean Republican . ''

A slew of prominent liberals are standing behind a Democratic congressional candidate in Michigan who ran a misogynistic, drug-enthused blog.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.), and Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer are among the top backers of Democratic congressional hopeful Jon Hoadley. Prior to his political career, Hoadley ran a college blog in which he called women "breeders," discussed his interest in crystal meth, and referred to sexual partners as "victims," a recent New York Post report revealed. While his Democratic primary opponent refused to endorse him over the posts, Hoadley's national endorsers have not pulled their support and have yet to address the scandal.
Hoadley's blog, titled "Rambling Politics," was hosted on social networking site LiveJournal. In a string of posts between 2004 and 2005, the Democrat detailed attending a gay bar to "learn about crystal meth." Hoadley, who is gay, called women "breeders"—a derogatory term used to refer to heterosexual couples who can reproduce—and referred to his sexual partners as "victims." The Democrat also alluded to a "four year old wearing a thong" when describing a friend's wedding. His campaign called the writings "bad college poetry" in a comment to the Post.
A three-term Michigan state legislator, Hoadley will attempt to unseat GOP representative Fred Upton in November after winning his Tuesday primary by nearly 5 points. Sen Gary Peters (D., Mich.), Harris, Jayapal, and Whitmer—none of whom returned a request for comment—joined Hoadley during a July 9 virtual fundraiser. The Democrats heaped praise on Hoadley, with Harris labeling him a "fighter" and Whitmer calling him "primed and ready to be a hurricane when he gets to Washington, D.C."
Also included on Hoadley's endorsement list is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). The organization added the state lawmaker to its "highly selective" Red to Blue program—aimed at bolstering "top-tier" candidates with fundraising support and staff resources—in late July. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D., Ill.) announced the addition by touting Hoadley's "strong record of service" and "authentic message." The DCCC did not respond to a request for comment.
In addition to the DCCC, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) endorsed Hoadley in January. A far-left activist group with ties to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), the PCCC called Hoadley a "champion for progressive issues" in its endorsement, noting his support for Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. The PCCC did not respond to a request for comment.
Reps. Haley Stevens (D., Mich.) and Sharice Davids (D., Kan.) have also endorsed Hoadley. Neither returned requests for comment.
Hoadley survived an unexpectedly close primary on Tuesday, winning a close race against educator Jennifer Richardson, who spent less than $67,000 on the race. Hoadley, meanwhile, spent more than $950,000 and currently holds $418,000 on hand. He has lagged behind Upton in fundraising, bringing in roughly $1.4 million to the Republican's $2.1 million. Upton won his primary by 25 points and holds nearly $1.4 million on hand as of July 15.
Upton's seat is a top target for national Democrats looking to expand the party's House majority. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race "lean Republican."


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Missouri Dem Demands Universal Basic Income

Left-wing activist and Missouri Democratic congressional candidate Cori Bush on Friday said the next coronavirus relief bill should ensure a retroactive $ 2,000 universal basic income that continues for a year .
`` I would love to see a $ 2,000-a-month universal basic income that 's retroactive and that lasts for a year , also making sure that there is a real moratorium on evictions , '' said Bush , who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America ( DSA ) .
Bush also stressed the need for increased school funding and Medicare for All in the face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still are trying to fight to get [ computers ] for the students , and we 're trying to make teachers become medical professionals , '' Bush said .
`` We need to put money there and continue to fight for Medicare for All . ''
Not only has Bush campaigned on Medicare for All and a universal basic income , she has also backed defunding the police .
Those positions helped get her the support of key far-left groups including the DSA , Our Revolution , and Justice Democrats , which powered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Missouri ’ s First Congressional District , which includes St. Louis .
Republicans and Democrats are negotiating the next round of coronavirus relief , and MSNBC anchor Katy Tur was asking Bush what she believed would `` make things easier in this moment '' and should be included in the Democratic-led HEROES Act or another relief package .

Left-wing activist and Missouri Democratic congressional candidate Cori Bush on Friday said the next coronavirus relief bill should ensure a retroactive $2,000 universal basic income that continues for a year.
"I would love to see a $2,000-a-month universal basic income that's retroactive and that lasts for a year, also making sure that there is a real moratorium on evictions," said Bush, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Bush also stressed the need for increased school funding and Medicare for All in the face of the pandemic.
"Some schools still are trying to fight to get [computers] for the students, and we're trying to make teachers become medical professionals," Bush said. "We need to put money there and continue to fight for Medicare for All."
Not only has Bush campaigned on Medicare for All and a universal basic income, she has also backed defunding the police. Those positions helped get her the support of key far-left groups including the DSA, Our Revolution, and Justice Democrats, which powered her to victory in the Democratic primary in Missouri’s First Congressional District, which includes St. Louis.
Bush defeated veteran congressman William Lacy Clay Jr. in Tuesday's primary.
Republicans and Democrats are negotiating the next round of coronavirus relief, and MSNBC anchor Katy Tur was asking Bush what she believed would "make things easier in this moment" and should be included in the Democratic-led HEROES Act or another relief package.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--MSNBC Host: Is Ron Johnson ‘In Cahoots’ With Russia?

MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace asked Friday if Republican senator Ron Johnson ( Wis. ) was in `` cahoots '' with Russia because of his efforts to `` actively denigrate '' Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
`` The intelligence community has reached an assessment , and it says this : Russia is actively working to , quote , denigrate Joe Biden .
My question for you is Ron Johnson , senator from Wisconsin , is also actively working to denigrate Joe Biden .
Are they in cahoots ? ''
she asked MSNBC analyst Jeremy Bash .
`` I do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senator , an American citizen has the right to participate in the political process , '' Bash said .
`` The former KGB operative Vladimir Putin does not have the right . ''
The discussion came as a top intelligence official said Russia is working to boost President Donald Trump over Biden , while China and Iran would prefer to see Trump defeated .
Liberals have criticized Johnson , the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee , for his investigation of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma 's hiring of Biden 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest in Biden 's son and request that Ukraine look into the matter spurred his impeachment last year by House Democrats .
Wallace exhaustively covered Russia investigation developments during the two-year Robert Mueller probe and is one of the most vociferous critics of President Donald Trump on MSNBC .
She and her `` favorite reporters and friends '' on Deadline : White House frequently discuss whether Trump is a witting or unwitting asset of the Kremlin .
Bash said the specter of foreign interference in the election and what he called Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should `` scare Americans . ''
Biden has held consistent leads in national and battleground state polls over Trump .
`` Unless this election is a landslide in favor of Joe Biden , almost any other scenario I think will result in chaos , and even scarier , potentially violence , '' he said .
MSNBC recently announced it would extend Wallace 's show to two hours in the afternoon .

MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace asked Friday if Republican senator Ron Johnson (Wis.) was in "cahoots" with Russia because of his efforts to "actively denigrate" Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
"The intelligence community has reached an assessment, and it says this: Russia is actively working to, quote, denigrate Joe Biden. My question for you is Ron Johnson, senator from Wisconsin, is also actively working to denigrate Joe Biden. Are they in cahoots?" she asked MSNBC analyst Jeremy Bash.
"I don't know if they're in cahoots, but a senator, an American citizen has the right to participate in the political process," Bash said. "The former KGB operative Vladimir Putin does not have the right."
The discussion came as a top intelligence official said Russia is working to boost President Donald Trump over Biden, while China and Iran would prefer to see Trump defeated. Liberals have criticized Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, for his investigation of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma's hiring of Biden's son Hunter Biden. Trump's political interest in Biden's son and request that Ukraine look into the matter spurred his impeachment last year by House Democrats.
Wallace exhaustively covered Russia investigation developments during the two-year Robert Mueller probe and is one of the most vociferous critics of President Donald Trump on MSNBC. She and her "favorite reporters and friends" on Deadline: White House frequently discuss whether Trump is a witting or unwitting asset of the Kremlin.
Bash said the specter of foreign interference in the election and what he called Trump's "fascist rhetoric" about the election should "scare Americans." Biden has held consistent leads in national and battleground state polls over Trump.
"Unless this election is a landslide in favor of Joe Biden, almost any other scenario I think will result in chaos, and even scarier, potentially violence," he said.
MSNBC recently announced it would extend Wallace's show to two hours in the afternoon.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Lib Senator Sheldon Whitehouse Didn’t Let The Woke Mob Bully Him Out of Elite All-White Beach Club

Most libs would immediately apologize and surrender if pressured by the woke mob to cancel their membership at one of the most exclusive , all-white beach clubs in the country .
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse ( D. , R.I. ) is not most libs .
Whitehouse , who was elected to a second term in 2018 , might have a difficult time if his name were on the ballot this year—when politicians and commoners alike are being canceled for running afoul of `` woke '' culture .
His refusal to renounce his ties to Bailey 's Beach Club in Newport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some circles , especially given that he promised to cancel his membership back in 2006 .
In any event , the senator deserves credit for defending his right to enjoy a privileged lifestyle surrounded by rich white people in a coastal town best known for its Gilded Age mansions .
Local journalists confronted Whitehouse in 2017 after learning that he resigned from the club in 2010 , but transferred his ownership shares to his wife , Sandra Thornton .
As a result , `` Mrs. Sheldon Whitehouse '' became one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside prominent members of the Vanderbilt and Astor families .
Whitehouse refused to back down , telling GoLocalProv.com that while he thought `` it would be nice if [ Bailey 's ] changed a little bit , '' he was not in a `` position '' to make those decisions .
`` I will take that up privately , '' he said , before refusing to comment further .
Whitehouse stood firm when Mike Araujo , executive director of the activist group Rhode Island Jobs With Justice , described the senator 's position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` deeply disappointing yet not surprising '' because `` racism is the air we breathe in this country . ''
The senator 's refusal to distance himself from the club , Araujo wrote , `` casts a lot of doubt on his overall integrity when it comes to issues of diversity and racial justice . ''
Whitehouse responded by getting reelected with 62 percent of the vote .
In an age when few are willing to celebrate and defend the privileges afforded by wealth and status , Whitehouse stands tall as a noble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free association .
Fans of wealth , privilege , and white supremacy can hardly blame the Whitehouses for not wanting to abandon Bailey 's , described in a 2003 New York Times article as a place where `` the ruling class keeps its guard up . ''
`` People kill to belong to the beach , '' said Beth Pyle , whose twin sister , she added , has never quite made it into the club .
`` It has really driven some people crazy when they do n't get in . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scant inroads on the Newport of Bailey 's Beach , whose membership profile might be defined less by who people are than what they are not .
`` Jewish , yes , '' Audrey Oswald , a lifelong member replied , when asked about the club 's demographic composition .
`` Blacks , not really , '' Ms. Oswald added , although that is not altogether the case .
Mrs. Slocum , by all accounts the reigning dowager of the resort , has grown grandchildren who sometimes visit the beach and who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beryl 's marriage to Adam Clayton Powell III .
Some privileges are worth defending , no matter the consequences .
The benefits of being a senator are n't what they used to be .
Ted Kennedy ( D. , Mass . )
, for example , served for 30 years after Mary Jo Kopechne drowned in his car .
Whitehouse and his wife just want to pal around with old-money aristocrats who happen to be white .
That should n't be too much to ask .
Considering his long history of promoting social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .

Most libs would immediately apologize and surrender if pressured by the woke mob to cancel their membership at one of the most exclusive, all-white beach clubs in the country. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.) is not most libs.
Whitehouse, who was elected to a second term in 2018, might have a difficult time if his name were on the ballot this year—when politicians and commoners alike are being canceled for running afoul of "woke" culture. His refusal to renounce his ties to Bailey's Beach Club in Newport, R.I., might be considered problematic AF in some circles, especially given that he promised to cancel his membership back in 2006.
In any event, the senator deserves credit for defending his right to enjoy a privileged lifestyle surrounded by rich white people in a coastal town best known for its Gilded Age mansions.
Local journalists confronted Whitehouse in 2017 after learning that he resigned from the club in 2010, but transferred his ownership shares to his wife, Sandra Thornton. As a result, "Mrs. Sheldon Whitehouse" became one of the largest shareholders in the exclusive club, alongside prominent members of the Vanderbilt and Astor families.
Whitehouse refused to back down, telling GoLocalProv.com that while he thought "it would be nice if [Bailey's] changed a little bit," he was not in a "position" to make those decisions. "I will take that up privately," he said, before refusing to comment further.
Whitehouse stood firm when Mike Araujo, executive director of the activist group Rhode Island Jobs With Justice, described the senator's position regarding his membership in Bailey's as "deeply disappointing yet not surprising" because "racism is the air we breathe in this country." The senator's refusal to distance himself from the club, Araujo wrote, "casts a lot of doubt on his overall integrity when it comes to issues of diversity and racial justice." Whitehouse responded by getting reelected with 62 percent of the vote.
In an age when few are willing to celebrate and defend the privileges afforded by wealth and status, Whitehouse stands tall as a noble champion of his First Amendment right to free association. Fans of wealth, privilege, and white supremacy can hardly blame the Whitehouses for not wanting to abandon Bailey's, described in a 2003 New York Times article as a place where "the ruling class keeps its guard up."
''People kill to belong to the beach,'' said Beth Pyle, whose twin sister, she added, has never quite made it into the club. ''It has really driven some people crazy when they don't get in.'' ... Diversity, of course, has made scant inroads on the Newport of Bailey's Beach, whose membership profile might be defined less by who people are than what they are not. ''Jewish, yes,'' Audrey Oswald, a lifelong member replied, when asked about the club's demographic composition. ''Blacks, not really,'' Ms. Oswald added, although that is not altogether the case. Mrs. Slocum, by all accounts the reigning dowager of the resort, has grown grandchildren who sometimes visit the beach and who are biracial, the offspring of her daughter Beryl's marriage to Adam Clayton Powell III.
Some privileges are worth defending, no matter the consequences. The benefits of being a senator aren't what they used to be. Ted Kennedy (D., Mass.), for example, served for 30 years after Mary Jo Kopechne drowned in his car. Whitehouse and his wife just want to pal around with old-money aristocrats who happen to be white. That shouldn't be too much to ask. Considering his long history of promoting social justice and racial equality, he deserves it.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Democrats’ SNAP Demands Stall Coronavirus Stimulus

Congressional Democrats are stretching out the latest round of coronavirus stimulus negotiations by demanding substantial , potentially permanent , changes to the food stamp program .
Party leaders have made boosting payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) into `` one of the sticking points during this round of negotiations , '' a House GOP aide told the Washington Free Beacon .
They 've also floated the defunding of widely popular work reforms—a permanent cut that would extend beyond the coronavirus pandemic .
Some congressional Republicans have expressed an openness to a SNAP boost—potentially trading it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance supplementation—but are wary , suggesting that the added spending may be unnecessary and could be a useful political cudgel for Democrats down the road .
The resultant haggling has been one of the major barriers to a deal on further coronavirus stimulus , negotiations over which have now dragged on past the end of federal unemployment support and a moratorium on evictions , potentially forcing White House action to forestall a national homelessness crisis .
Democrats have been pushing for an expansion to SNAP since May , when it was included in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The caucus 's primary goal is to increase SNAP benefits by 15 percent per household , as well as raise the minimum monthly benefit from $ 16 to $ 30 .
That increase would far exceed recent supermarket inflation .
According to the Department of Agriculture , food prices have climbed during the pandemic , but only by about 5 percent between June 2019 and June 2020 .
The Democrats ' original bill , the HEROES Act , also contained language that would have terminated major work requirements imposed by the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to include them in the FY 2019 farm bill .
The bill 's full SNAP provision would cost roughly $ 35 billion , according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office .
Democratic leadership has been vehement that an expanded SNAP benefit is urgently needed to combat rising food insecurity during the current recession .
Sen. Debbie Stabenow ( D. , Mich. ) , ranking minority member on the Senate Agriculture Committee , has gone so far as to insist that she would `` object to anything else being done in the agriculture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic increase in SNAP , '' meaning blocking key aid to America 's farmers .
Republicans have expressed some willingness to compromise on the issue , with Sen. John Hoeven ( R. , N.D. ) telling agricultural news sources that he could back an expansion of nutrition assistance as long as it did not draw down other agriculture money .
Other farm state Republicans have signaled similar openness .
At the same time , no added funding for SNAP is included in the Republicans ' $ 1 trillion counterproposal , the HEALS Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel that expanded support for schoolchildren and the $ 15 billion in appropriations made available under the CARES Act stimulus—which ensures SNAP benefits can be paid out to the 6 million new users added between February and April—is enough .
`` SNAP is working as intended , providing food aid to anyone who qualifies , '' the GOP aide said .
`` Democrats are using SNAP as a distraction from securing a deal that will help millions of Americans through this pandemic . ''
Some of that intransigence may be fear that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political cudgel against Republicans .
The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , meant to counteract the Great Recession , temporarily boosted benefits by 14 percent .
But when Republicans moved to sunset the bill in 2013 , the left was outraged , attacking the cuts for increasing hardship in SNAP households .
In the meantime , congressional negotiations over the fifth round of coronavirus stimulus remain stalled , with no clear resolution in sight even after several weeks of discussion .
President Donald Trump has threatened to act unilaterally if Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal payroll tax holiday and extending the eviction moratorium by executive order .

Congressional Democrats are stretching out the latest round of coronavirus stimulus negotiations by demanding substantial, potentially permanent, changes to the food stamp program.
Party leaders have made boosting payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) into "one of the sticking points during this round of negotiations," a House GOP aide told the Washington Free Beacon. They've also floated the defunding of widely popular work reforms—a permanent cut that would extend beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
Some congressional Republicans have expressed an openness to a SNAP boost—potentially trading it for a cut to the emergency federal unemployment insurance supplementation—but are wary, suggesting that the added spending may be unnecessary and could be a useful political cudgel for Democrats down the road.
The resultant haggling has been one of the major barriers to a deal on further coronavirus stimulus, negotiations over which have now dragged on past the end of federal unemployment support and a moratorium on evictions, potentially forcing White House action to forestall a national homelessness crisis.
Democrats have been pushing for an expansion to SNAP since May, when it was included in their preemptory $3.5 trillion stimulus proposal. The caucus's primary goal is to increase SNAP benefits by 15 percent per household, as well as raise the minimum monthly benefit from $16 to $30.
That increase would far exceed recent supermarket inflation. According to the Department of Agriculture, food prices have climbed during the pandemic, but only by about 5 percent between June 2019 and June 2020.
The Democrats' original bill, the HEROES Act, also contained language that would have terminated major work requirements imposed by the Trump administration—rules imposed only after Democrats defeated Republican efforts to include them in the FY 2019 farm bill. The bill's full SNAP provision would cost roughly $35 billion, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Democratic leadership has been vehement that an expanded SNAP benefit is urgently needed to combat rising food insecurity during the current recession. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.), ranking minority member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, has gone so far as to insist that she would "object to anything else being done in the agriculture space if we do not get a basic increase in SNAP," meaning blocking key aid to America's farmers.
Republicans have expressed some willingness to compromise on the issue, with Sen. John Hoeven (R., N.D.) telling agricultural news sources that he could back an expansion of nutrition assistance as long as it did not draw down other agriculture money. Other farm state Republicans have signaled similar openness.
At the same time, no added funding for SNAP is included in the Republicans' $1 trillion counterproposal, the HEALS Act. And many on the Republican side feel that expanded support for schoolchildren and the $15 billion in appropriations made available under the CARES Act stimulus—which ensures SNAP benefits can be paid out to the 6 million new users added between February and April—is enough.
"SNAP is working as intended, providing food aid to anyone who qualifies," the GOP aide said. "Democrats are using SNAP as a distraction from securing a deal that will help millions of Americans through this pandemic."
Some of that intransigence may be fear that a temporary SNAP expansion would be used as a political cudgel against Republicans. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, meant to counteract the Great Recession, temporarily boosted benefits by 14 percent. But when Republicans moved to sunset the bill in 2013, the left was outraged, attacking the cuts for increasing hardship in SNAP households.
In the meantime, congressional negotiations over the fifth round of coronavirus stimulus remain stalled, with no clear resolution in sight even after several weeks of discussion. President Donald Trump has threatened to act unilaterally if Congress does not reach an agreement, enacting a federal payroll tax holiday and extending the eviction moratorium by executive order.


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Iran Strengthens Relationship With Russia Amid New Pressure From Washington

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with senior Russian officials in the Kremlin last month to tighten relations between Moscow and Tehran , Al-Monitor reported Thursday .
While Iran and Russia have cooperated extensively to support the Assad regime in Syria , Zarif 's visit—his third in six months—marks a growing effort between the two countries to counter the United States .
The report comes as the White House is all but doubling down on its tough sanctions regime toward Iran .
On Thursday , Washington announced the replacement of U.S. special representative for Iran Brian Hook with recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Abrams 's appointment `` appears to bury any remaining chance of a diplomatic initiative with Iran before the end of Mr. Trump 's term , '' the New York Times reported Thursday .
In recent months , Iran has looked to Russia , along with China , for support against Washington 's `` maximum pressure '' campaign .
As the United Nations arms embargo on Iran reaches its final months before renewal , U.S. officials are not hopeful about cooperation from U.N. Security Council members China and Russia in renewing the sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world will always be to have them abstain and obviously not veto '' the embargo , U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft said earlier this week .
`` However , let 's be realistic here .
Right now the strategy is working with other members of the Security Council '' to put China and Russia `` in a corner and shine a light on them , '' Craft said .
`` Everyone is going to know this is a choice between tyranny and freedom . ''
In the case that the U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington 's Iran shop are expected to reimpose all sanctions on Iran in a process called the `` snapback . ''

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with senior Russian officials in the Kremlin last month to tighten relations between Moscow and Tehran, Al-Monitor reported Thursday.
While Iran and Russia have cooperated extensively to support the Assad regime in Syria, Zarif's visit—his third in six months—marks a growing effort between the two countries to counter the United States.
The report comes as the White House is all but doubling down on its tough sanctions regime toward Iran. On Thursday, Washington announced the replacement of U.S. special representative for Iran Brian Hook with recent Venezuela envoy and Iran hawk Elliott Abrams.
Abrams's appointment "appears to bury any remaining chance of a diplomatic initiative with Iran before the end of Mr. Trump's term," the New York Times reported Thursday.
In recent months, Iran has looked to Russia, along with China, for support against Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign. As the United Nations arms embargo on Iran reaches its final months before renewal, U.S. officials are not hopeful about cooperation from U.N. Security Council members China and Russia in renewing the sanctions.
"The strategy in a perfect world will always be to have them abstain and obviously not veto" the embargo, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft said earlier this week.
"However, let's be realistic here. Right now the strategy is working with other members of the Security Council" to put China and Russia "in a corner and shine a light on them," Craft said. "Everyone is going to know this is a choice between tyranny and freedom."
In the case that the U.N. embargo fails come October, Abrams and Washington's Iran shop are expected to reimpose all sanctions on Iran in a process called the "snapback."


freebeacon--2020-08-07--Germany Pushes to End 2 Percent GDP Commitment to NATO

Germany 's defense minister , Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer , called for a new measurement standard for the country 's contributions to NATO , soon after the Pentagon authorized the transfer of thousands of troops out of Germany , Defense News reported Friday .
Berlin is pushing for its NATO contribution standards to be based on a percentage of the alliance 's needs rather than Germany 's GDP .
Germany is currently committed to contribute 2 percent of its GDP to NATO , a benchmark the country consistently falls short of .
The proposed change would make Germany responsible for footing 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A defense ministry spokesman told Defense News that the new standard would more accurately depict the full scope of Germany ’ s `` cash , capabilities , and commitments . ''
The change in thinking is partly fueled by the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic , which has sunk GDP for most countries .
Kramp-Karrenbauer argues this renders a GDP-based metric of defense spending an inaccurate depiction of alliance contributions in real terms .
`` It 's true that the 2 percent mark does not capture with any precision a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' American Enterprise Institute defense expert Gary J. Schmitt told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` But it does capture the defense burden a country is willing to accept more broadly . ''
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic , Germany missed the mark on its NATO contributions .
Despite its status as the largest economy in Europe , Germany has failed to hit the 2 percent benchmark in recent years—which has prompted Washington to rethink its strategic commitments to the country .
Supporters of keeping the mark at 2 percent of GDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` immune to bartering and interpretation , '' according to Defense News .
`` The German minister 's effort to change the metric would be given a more favorable hearing if the Bundeswehr was not in the poor shape it currently is in , '' Schmitt said .
`` Changing the metric is not going to fix the poor readiness rates or the lack of critical capabilities .
But spending 2 percent just might . ''

Germany's defense minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, called for a new measurement standard for the country's contributions to NATO, soon after the Pentagon authorized the transfer of thousands of troops out of Germany, Defense News reported Friday.
Berlin is pushing for its NATO contribution standards to be based on a percentage of the alliance's needs rather than Germany's GDP. Germany is currently committed to contribute 2 percent of its GDP to NATO, a benchmark the country consistently falls short of. The proposed change would make Germany responsible for footing 10 percent of NATO's defense needs.
A defense ministry spokesman told Defense News that the new standard would more accurately depict the full scope of Germany’s "cash, capabilities, and commitments." The change in thinking is partly fueled by the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, which has sunk GDP for most countries. Kramp-Karrenbauer argues this renders a GDP-based metric of defense spending an inaccurate depiction of alliance contributions in real terms.
"It's true that the 2 percent mark does not capture with any precision a country's specific contributions to the alliance," American Enterprise Institute defense expert Gary J. Schmitt told the Washington Free Beacon. "But it does capture the defense burden a country is willing to accept more broadly."
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany missed the mark on its NATO contributions. Despite its status as the largest economy in Europe, Germany has failed to hit the 2 percent benchmark in recent years—which has prompted Washington to rethink its strategic commitments to the country.
Supporters of keeping the mark at 2 percent of GDP argue that the hard-and-fast figure is impartial, "immune to bartering and interpretation," according to Defense News.
"The German minister's effort to change the metric would be given a more favorable hearing if the Bundeswehr was not in the poor shape it currently is in," Schmitt said. "Changing the metric is not going to fix the poor readiness rates or the lack of critical capabilities. But spending 2 percent just might."


freebeacon--2020-08-07--John Kerry Finally Accomplishes Something

John Kerry , the failed Democratic politician and Big Ketchup spouse who negotiated the Obama administration 's Iran reparations package , finally accomplished something .
The billionaire ( by marriage ) captained the Lark , a 45-foot Alden gaff cutter built in 1932 , to a first-place finish in the Edgartown Yacht Club ’ s Round the Island race over the weekend .
Kerry completed the 54.7 nautical-mile race around Martha 's Vineyard in 8 hours , 52 minutes , and 7 seconds , more than 6 minutes faster than the second-place finisher .
Kerry reported encountering some difficulties near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained that his crew `` caught a little bit of air and played it further to the east and we stayed out of trouble . ''
Kerry offered his `` kudos '' to the Edgartown Yacht Club after the official results were announced via Zoom on Sunday .
The elite club is within sight of Chappaquiddick Island , where Mary Jo Kopechne died in 1969 after accepting a ride from Sen. Ted Kennedy ( D. , Mass . )
, who went on to serve 30 more years in the Senate and be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is possible that Kerry 's former boss , Barack Obama , was on hand to celebrate the most impressive achievement of Kerry 's career .
The Obamas purchased a 30-acre estate on Edgartown Great Pond last year for nearly $ 15 million after signing a lucrative Netflix contract to produce documentaries about income inequality .

John Kerry, the failed Democratic politician and Big Ketchup spouse who negotiated the Obama administration's Iran reparations package, finally accomplished something. The billionaire (by marriage) captained the Lark, a 45-foot Alden gaff cutter built in 1932, to a first-place finish in the Edgartown Yacht Club’s Round the Island race over the weekend.
Kerry completed the 54.7 nautical-mile race around Martha's Vineyard in 8 hours, 52 minutes, and 7 seconds, more than 6 minutes faster than the second-place finisher. Kerry reported encountering some difficulties near Mutton Shoal off of Wasque, but explained that his crew "caught a little bit of air and played it further to the east and we stayed out of trouble."
Kerry offered his "kudos" to the Edgartown Yacht Club after the official results were announced via Zoom on Sunday. The elite club is within sight of Chappaquiddick Island, where Mary Jo Kopechne died in 1969 after accepting a ride from Sen. Ted Kennedy (D., Mass.), who went on to serve 30 more years in the Senate and be accused of multiple acts of sexual misconduct.
It is possible that Kerry's former boss, Barack Obama, was on hand to celebrate the most impressive achievement of Kerry's career. The Obamas purchased a 30-acre estate on Edgartown Great Pond last year for nearly $15 million after signing a lucrative Netflix contract to produce documentaries about income inequality.