hotair--2020-08-26--CDC changes guidance to limit testing of asymptomatic COVID carriers -- after alleged pressure from

CDC changes guidance to limit testing of asymptomatic COVID carriers -- after alleged pressure from "the top"

“ Why would they want to limit testing of anyone ?
” you ’ re asking yourself , reading that headline .
“ From day one , we ’ ve been told that more testing is the way to control the spread of the virus .
And asymptomatic carriers are the most important people to test since they have no inkling that they ’ re sick and need to stay home.
” Remember , by some estimates 40 percent of all people infected with the virus have no symptoms .
The only way to sniff ( some of ) them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who ’ s tested positive and alert those contacts that they might be carrying the virus and need to be tested themselves .
Instead the CDC has suddenly , and without explanation , declared that not everyone who ’ s been around an infected person necessarily needs to be tested .
One microbiologist told the Times she ’ s “ concerned that the guidelines would be misinterpreted as implying that people without symptoms were unable to pass the coronavirus on to others — a falsehood that experts had been trying for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want in the teeth of a winter “ second wave ” is for people to be less diligent about exposing others to what they might have .
When the Times asked the CDC why they changed the guidance , the agency referred them to HHS .
When they asked HHS , a spokesman said simply that state and local agencies could always issue their own guidance that all close contacts of infected people be tested .
Which is nice , but doesn ’ t explain why the feds ’ policy changed .
Apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giroir , is going to talk about it today at some point .
There are two obvious possible reasons for the shift , one that ’ s bad and one that ’ s really , really , really bad .
The bad one would be if testing in the U.S. has now slowed down to the point that the CDC feels obliged to start “ rationing ” tests .
If local labs are effectively capped on how many tests they can perform each day , they might logically want to prioritize people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing symptoms over people who might or might not be infected because they seem fine .
Especially with flu season looming , it ’ ll be important for treatment purposes to know who has the flu and who has COVID .
If that ’ s why the guidance changed , it ’ s reminiscent of the feds telling Americans early on not to wear masks because they feared it would create a shortage for medical professionals .
That was a type of “ rationing ” decision too .
The Times asked HHS about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that all ’ s well with the U.S. supply chain .
No fears at the agency of any shortage .
“ Testing capacity has massively expanded , and we are not utilizing the full capacity that we have developed , ” a spokesman said .
Which brings us to the really , really , really bad possibility .
New from CNN : If Giroir has scientific evidence that people without symptoms aren ’ t transmitting the disease it ’ s a verrrrrrry closely guarded secret .
Literally no one else seems to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearances , what ’ s going on here is — well , let ’ s let this idiot tell it .
A broken clock is right twice a day : That ’ s exactly what it looks like .
I doubt Trump has done a single interview about COVID over the past three months that hasn ’ t included the inane talking point that testing is a double-edged sword .
It ’ s a double-edged sword *to him , politically* , because each new positive test makes the government response look like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of controlling the pandemic , testing is all upside .
If we could test everyone and catch all the asymptomatic carriers before they left the house in the morning — and some experts think we now have the tools to do exactly that — we could crush the virus in a month .
We ’ ll see what Giroir has to say , but scaling back testing for asymptomatic people makes much more sense politically , per Trump ’ s idiotic logic , than it does scientifically .
This is probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artificially deflate case counts before the election so that they can claim the pandemic is “ slowing down.
” Maybe this ’ ll end up in tonight ’ s convention highlight reel explaining how a guy who ’ s spent five months mumbling that the virus will disappear magically is some sort of Churchill of the pandemic .
What makes this even more suspicious is that it happened just two days after another dubious political intervention by the White House into the scientific side of the federal response .
I wrote about that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ deep state ” at the FDA of slow-walking emergency-use authorization for convalescent plasma .
Lo and behold , within 24 hours the EUA was granted .
FDA chief Stephen Hahn even held a presser with Trump at which he grossly inflated the evidence that plasma would be a game-changer in terms of saving lives .
He took such a beating for that from his medical colleagues that he felt compelled to issue a correction on Twitter : Oh well , you might say .
Even if Trump did strong-arm the agency into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP convention , for his own political uses , what ’ s the big deal ?
Plasma is safe and it *might* help , right ?
Not so , says Jeremy Faust , a doctor in Massachusetts .
The potential side effects from , say , hydroxycholoquine are less threatening than the side effects from plasma : This is why clinical trials are important , to see if plasma works and the extent to which it has side effects .
But because the FDA has now authorized it for emergency use , clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No one will volunteer for a trial in which they might receive a placebo when they can get actual plasma from their doctor .
To sum up , on Saturday we had Trump putting a thumb on the medical scale at the FDA for political reasons , with possibly bad results .
Today we have a source within the administration telling CNN that someone at the top also put a thumb on the scale at the CDC to limit testing , something which no doctor anywhere seems to think is advisable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prepare for October .
Oh , and probably prepare for House hearings into the CDC ’ s change of guidance .
I can ’ t imagine why Pelosi wouldn ’ t want to try to leverage this down the stretch to add to the Democrats ’ case that the White House has completely FUBAR ’ d America ’ s management of COVID .

“Why would they want to limit testing of anyone?” you’re asking yourself, reading that headline. “From day one, we’ve been told that more testing is the way to control the spread of the virus. And asymptomatic carriers are the most important people to test since they have no inkling that they’re sick and need to stay home.”
Remember, by some estimates 40 percent of all people infected with the virus have no symptoms. The only way to sniff (some of) them out is to trace the contacts of someone who’s tested positive and alert those contacts that they might be carrying the virus and need to be tested themselves. Instead the CDC has suddenly, and without explanation, declared that not everyone who’s been around an infected person necessarily needs to be tested.
Experts are stunned.
Two unexplained, inexplicable, probably indefensible changes, likely imposed on CDC's website.
* Dammit, if you come from a place with lots of Covid, quarantine for 14 days
* If you're a contact, get tested. If +, we can trace your contacts and stop chains of spread. A sad day. — Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) August 26, 2020
Without explanation, the @CDCGov made remarkable and troubling changes to their guidelines on coronavirus testing this week. They've gone from indicating testing for all close contacts to suggesting that testing is not necessary for close contacts of known cases. pic.twitter.com/naszBdVXTn — Carl T. Bergstrom (@CT_Bergstrom) August 26, 2020
.@CDCgov suddenly changed their criteria for #covid19 testing so that someone exposed to an infected person no longer needs testing. This makes no sense. People without symptoms account for up to 50% of transmission. We need MORE testing, not less https://t.co/KKEmGPmSDc — Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) August 25, 2020
One microbiologist told the Times she’s “concerned that the guidelines would be misinterpreted as implying that people without symptoms were unable to pass the coronavirus on to others — a falsehood that experts had been trying for months to dispel.” The last thing we want in the teeth of a winter “second wave” is for people to be less diligent about exposing others to what they might have. When the Times asked the CDC why they changed the guidance, the agency referred them to HHS. When they asked HHS, a spokesman said simply that state and local agencies could always issue their own guidance that all close contacts of infected people be tested.
Which is nice, but doesn’t explain why the feds’ policy changed. Apparently Trump’s testing czar, Brett Giroir, is going to talk about it today at some point.
There are two obvious possible reasons for the shift, one that’s bad and one that’s really, really, really bad. The bad one would be if testing in the U.S. has now slowed down to the point that the CDC feels obliged to start “rationing” tests. If local labs are effectively capped on how many tests they can perform each day, they might logically want to prioritize people who are probably infected because they’re showing symptoms over people who might or might not be infected because they seem fine. Especially with flu season looming, it’ll be important for treatment purposes to know who has the flu and who has COVID. If that’s why the guidance changed, it’s reminiscent of the feds telling Americans early on not to wear masks because they feared it would create a shortage for medical professionals. That was a type of “rationing” decision too.
The Times asked HHS about that, though, and were told that all’s well with the U.S. supply chain. No fears at the agency of any shortage. “Testing capacity has massively expanded, and we are not utilizing the full capacity that we have developed,” a spokesman said.
Which brings us to the really, really, really bad possibility. New from CNN:
A sudden change in federal guidelines on coronavirus testing came this week as a result of pressure from the upper ranks of the Trump administration, a federal health official close to the process tells CNN. “It’s coming from the top down,” the official said of the new directive from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… In a statement to CNN, HHS Assistant Secretary Brett Giroir said: “This Guidance has been updated to reflect current evidence and best public health practices, and to further emphasize using CDC-approved prevention strategies to protect yourself, your family, and the most vulnerable of all ages.”
If Giroir has scientific evidence that people without symptoms aren’t transmitting the disease it’s a verrrrrrry closely guarded secret. Literally no one else seems to have heard such a thing. To all appearances, what’s going on here is — well, let’s let this idiot tell it. A broken clock is right twice a day:
The CDC reversed its guidance to say that people in close contact with a COVID-positive person don't need to get tested. This is not science. It’s politics. Politics that are dangerous to public health. It's indefensible. — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 26, 2020
The Trump administration has one COVID strategy: Denial. If you don’t take your temperature, you don’t have a fever. If you don’t test people for COVID, there are fewer cases. Now they are forcing the CDC to fall in line with this head-in-the-sand strategy. — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 26, 2020
That’s exactly what it looks like. I doubt Trump has done a single interview about COVID over the past three months that hasn’t included the inane talking point that testing is a double-edged sword. It’s a double-edged sword *to him, politically*, because each new positive test makes the government response look like that much more of a failure. But in terms of controlling the pandemic, testing is all upside. If we could test everyone and catch all the asymptomatic carriers before they left the house in the morning — and some experts think we now have the tools to do exactly that — we could crush the virus in a month. We’ll see what Giroir has to say, but scaling back testing for asymptomatic people makes much more sense politically, per Trump’s idiotic logic, than it does scientifically. This is probably the White House’s attempt to artificially deflate case counts before the election so that they can claim the pandemic is “slowing down.”
Maybe this’ll end up in tonight’s convention highlight reel explaining how a guy who’s spent five months mumbling that the virus will disappear magically is some sort of Churchill of the pandemic.
What makes this even more suspicious is that it happened just two days after another dubious political intervention by the White House into the scientific side of the federal response. I wrote about that here. On Saturday Trump accused the “deep state” at the FDA of slow-walking emergency-use authorization for convalescent plasma. Lo and behold, within 24 hours the EUA was granted. FDA chief Stephen Hahn even held a presser with Trump at which he grossly inflated the evidence that plasma would be a game-changer in terms of saving lives. He took such a beating for that from his medical colleagues that he felt compelled to issue a correction on Twitter:
I have been criticized for remarks I made Sunday night about the benefits of convalescent plasma. The criticism is entirely justified. What I should have said better is that the data show a relative risk reduction not an absolute risk reduction. — Dr. Stephen M. Hahn (@SteveFDA) August 25, 2020
Oh well, you might say. Even if Trump did strong-arm the agency into approving plasma on the eve of the GOP convention, for his own political uses, what’s the big deal? Plasma is safe and it *might* help, right? Not so, says Jeremy Faust, a doctor in Massachusetts. The potential side effects from, say, hydroxycholoquine are less threatening than the side effects from plasma:
Plasma transfusions of all kinds have a well-documented rate of serious adverse events. These events include lung damage and even life-threatening anaphylaxis. Transfusions can cause an array of immune reactions, some welcome and some not, depending on the context. Given that covid-19 is in part driven by an autoimmune reaction to the novel coronavirus, more study is essential before doctors proceed with the plasma treatment. Some data are already available. In a recent study of plasma in covid-19 patients, 25 serious reactions occurred among 5,000 transfusions. That’s 1 in 200. Four people died. Though it is hard to know if these deaths were directly or indirectly related to plasma, they must be taken seriously.
This is why clinical trials are important, to see if plasma works and the extent to which it has side effects. But because the FDA has now authorized it for emergency use, clinical data will be hard to come by. No one will volunteer for a trial in which they might receive a placebo when they can get actual plasma from their doctor.
To sum up, on Saturday we had Trump putting a thumb on the medical scale at the FDA for political reasons, with possibly bad results. Today we have a source within the administration telling CNN that someone at the top also put a thumb on the scale at the CDC to limit testing, something which no doctor anywhere seems to think is advisable. We all know where this is headed. Prepare for October.
Oh, and probably prepare for House hearings into the CDC’s change of guidance. I can’t imagine why Pelosi wouldn’t want to try to leverage this down the stretch to add to the Democrats’ case that the White House has completely FUBAR’d America’s management of COVID.


hotair--2020-08-26--<span class='red'>GOP convention, night three: Kellyanne Conway, Kristi Noem, Mike Pence -- and Trum

GOP convention, night three: Kellyanne Conway, Kristi Noem, Mike Pence -- and Trump

Here ’ s the embedded feed for those watching on their computers .
Read on .
The big question tonight : Can the White House shoehorn more violations of the Hatch Act into two and a half hours than they did last night ?
The bar will be high .
Although Trump himself is immune from the statute by dint of being head of the executive branch , lesser officials like Chad Wolf and Mike Pompeo are subject to it .
Wolf helped officiate at the naturalization ceremony at the White House that aired yesterday and Pompeo delivered a convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The State Department insisted that he was speaking on his own personal time , not during some official state function , but that distinction reportedly didn ’ t matter when Pompeo warned other State Department employees about stuff like this recently .
That ’ s an unusually stark example of the general hypocrisy here noted by others .
It ’ d be one thing if the White House and the DOJ declared as a rule that the statute would no longer be enforced .
That would be bad in a different way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll take care that the laws are faithfully executed ; and certainly , we don ’ t a free-for-all of politicking by all federal employees on the job .
But at least it would be consistent .
Granting special exemptions *only* to Trump ’ s highest officers , the very people whose violations of the Act have the most potential to influence the election , is not only corrupt but shows how elitist this “ populist ” administration can be .
The Act still applies to the plebes down the chain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys who get face time with the president .
Relatedly : “ Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares , ” said Mark Meadows when asked about enlisting government officers for partisan ends last night .
Meadows came to political fame complaining about deficits and the corruption of the federal government under Obama .
It ’ s good to see he ’ s now abandoned all pretense of caring about either under Trump .
In fact , although Trump himself committed no crime last night , his violation of the ethical spirit behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Wolf ’ s or Pompeo ’ s .
They used the trappings of official authority while participating in a partisan pageant .
Trump actually exercised his official authority as part of the show .
The pardon he granted and the naturalization ceremony he presided over are functions of his office ; he turned them into a reality show , replete with “ prizes , ” to help him win votes .
“ I just can ’ t even imagine what Republicans on Capitol Hill would be doing if Democrats were doing these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Jake Tapper afterward .
“ They would be rioting , quite frankly.
” They ’ d be holding hearings , at least , and there ’ d be lots of hot rhetoric about the “ swamp.
” A White House naturalization ceremony presided over by Obama would have been received especially poorly .
Since when do Trump and his base support making immigrants , illegal or legal , into citizens ?
Especially ones who appear to have come from what the president once delicately described as “ sh*thole countries ” ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miller said yesterday about “ Earth Two Trumpers.
” On Earth Two and at the convention , when swing voters are taking a good look at him , Trump ’ s quite welcoming of immigrants .
After the convention , when we ’ re back on Earth , the story ’ s different .
Anyway , there ’ s a decent shot that tonight will top last night .
Among the speakers is Kellyanne Conway , who ’ s violated the Hatch Act so many times that a federal agency recommended last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service.
” That advice went right into the same trash can where the White House tosses all of its ethical issues , but ironically Conway *is* finally removing herself from federal service .
She ’ s stepping down after the convention to see if the damage that ’ s been done to her family by the “ George vs. Kellyanne ” saga can be undone .
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem will also speak , likely to tout the virtues of staying open for business while other states were locking down over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Mike Pence , who may end up facing off against Noem plus a zillion other Republican hopefuls in the 2024 primaries .
There were actually rumors not long ago that Noem might replace Pence on the ticket this year , and they grew loud enough that she reportedly met with him in person to assure him that she wasn ’ t trying to push him out .
The atmosphere tonight should be friendlier now that he ’ s officially the VP nominee again .
Here ’ s the Twitter widget for live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are open .
One small mystery to chew on : Why didn ’ t the CEO of Goya foods end up speaking tonight ?
Trump ’ s own campaign spokesman told reporters that he would be this morning , as a nod to the controversy of a few weeks ago .
Then Goya ’ s spokesman said he wouldn ’ t be .
Maybe the company concluded that less , not more , public attention to its executives ’ politics would be better for business .

Here’s the embedded feed for those watching on their computers. Read on.
The big question tonight: Can the White House shoehorn more violations of the Hatch Act into two and a half hours than they did last night? The bar will be high. Although Trump himself is immune from the statute by dint of being head of the executive branch, lesser officials like Chad Wolf and Mike Pompeo are subject to it. Wolf helped officiate at the naturalization ceremony at the White House that aired yesterday and Pompeo delivered a convention speech while on diplomatic business in Israel. The State Department insisted that he was speaking on his own personal time, not during some official state function, but that distinction reportedly didn’t matter when Pompeo warned other State Department employees about stuff like this recently.
His speech appears to flout his own recently issued guidelines. Last month Pompeo sent a memo to all State Department staff overseas, repeating a standard warning that they not engage in “any partisan political activity in concert with a partisan campaign, political party, or partisan political group, even on personal time and outside of the federal workplace.”
That’s an unusually stark example of the general hypocrisy here noted by others. It’d be one thing if the White House and the DOJ declared as a rule that the statute would no longer be enforced. That would be bad in a different way, since the executive swears that he’ll take care that the laws are faithfully executed; and certainly, we don’t a free-for-all of politicking by all federal employees on the job. But at least it would be consistent. Granting special exemptions *only* to Trump’s highest officers, the very people whose violations of the Act have the most potential to influence the election, is not only corrupt but shows how elitist this “populist” administration can be. The Act still applies to the plebes down the chain in the executive branch, just not the guys who get face time with the president. Relatedly:
Last week, the Pentagon acknowledged within hours a violation of policy during the DNC (there was one, as was widely covered). Asked to comment on the use of Marines in uniform during the RNC, the Pentagon referred me this morning to the White House. No other response. https://t.co/2UOWmAHBeg — Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) August 26, 2020
“Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares,” said Mark Meadows when asked about enlisting government officers for partisan ends last night. Meadows came to political fame complaining about deficits and the corruption of the federal government under Obama. It’s good to see he’s now abandoned all pretense of caring about either under Trump. In fact, although Trump himself committed no crime last night, his violation of the ethical spirit behind the Hatch Act was even more glaring than Wolf’s or Pompeo’s. They used the trappings of official authority while participating in a partisan pageant. Trump actually exercised his official authority as part of the show. The pardon he granted and the naturalization ceremony he presided over are functions of his office; he turned them into a reality show, replete with “prizes,” to help him win votes.
“I just can’t even imagine what Republicans on Capitol Hill would be doing if Democrats were doing these types of activities during a convention,” said Jake Tapper afterward. “They would be rioting, quite frankly.” They’d be holding hearings, at least, and there’d be lots of hot rhetoric about the “swamp.” A White House naturalization ceremony presided over by Obama would have been received especially poorly. Since when do Trump and his base support making immigrants, illegal or legal, into citizens? Especially ones who appear to have come from what the president once delicately described as “sh*thole countries”? It reminds me again of what Tim Miller said yesterday about “Earth Two Trumpers.” On Earth Two and at the convention, when swing voters are taking a good look at him, Trump’s quite welcoming of immigrants. After the convention, when we’re back on Earth, the story’s different.
Anyway, there’s a decent shot that tonight will top last night. Among the speakers is Kellyanne Conway, who’s violated the Hatch Act so many times that a federal agency recommended last year that she be “removed from federal service.” That advice went right into the same trash can where the White House tosses all of its ethical issues, but ironically Conway *is* finally removing herself from federal service. She’s stepping down after the convention to see if the damage that’s been done to her family by the “George vs. Kellyanne” saga can be undone. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will also speak, likely to tout the virtues of staying open for business while other states were locking down over COVID. And the keynote will go to Mike Pence, who may end up facing off against Noem plus a zillion other Republican hopefuls in the 2024 primaries. There were actually rumors not long ago that Noem might replace Pence on the ticket this year, and they grew loud enough that she reportedly met with him in person to assure him that she wasn’t trying to push him out. The atmosphere tonight should be friendlier now that he’s officially the VP nominee again.
Here’s the Twitter widget for live commentary during the show. The comments are open. One small mystery to chew on: Why didn’t the CEO of Goya foods end up speaking tonight? Trump’s own campaign spokesman told reporters that he would be this morning, as a nod to the controversy of a few weeks ago. Then Goya’s spokesman said he wouldn’t be. Maybe the company concluded that less, not more, public attention to its executives’ politics would be better for business.
A Twitter List by allahpundit


hotair--2020-08-26--China fired an 'aircraft-carrier killer' missile in the South China Sea as U.S. announces blacklist

China fired an 'aircraft-carrier killer' missile in the South China Sea as U.S. announces blacklist of Chinese officials

Things seem to be ramping up once again between China and the U.S. over the disputed territory in the South China Sea .
This morning Sec .
of State Pompeo announced the administration was blacklisting Chinese officials connected to the construction and militarization of islands in the region .
Today , the Department of State will begin imposing visa restrictions on People ’ s Republic of China ( PRC ) individuals responsible for , or complicit in , either the large-scale reclamation , construction , or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea , or the PRC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources .
These individuals will now be inadmissible into the United States , and their immediate family members may be subject to these visa restrictions as well .
In addition , the Department of Commerce has added 24 PRC state-owned enterprises to the Entity List , including several subsidiaries of China Communications Construction Company ( CCCC ) .
Since 2013 , the PRC has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea , destabilizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights of its neighbors , and causing untold environmental devastation .
CCCC led the destructive dredging of the PRC ’ s South China Sea outposts and is also one of the leading contractors used by Beijing in its global “ One Belt One Road ” strategy .
CCCC and its subsidiaries have engaged in corruption , predatory financing , environmental destruction , and other abuses across the world .
That announcement came around the same time that China launched one of its most advanced missiles into the South China Sea as a show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the launch was that a US spy plane had flown over Chinese naval exercises : China launched two missiles , including an “ aircraft-carrier killer ” , into the South China Sea on Wednesday morning , a source close to the Chinese military said , sending a clear warning to the United States .
The move came one day after China said a US U-2 spy plane entered a no-fly zone without permission during a Chinese live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off its north coast… “ This is China ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the increasingly frequent incoming US warplanes and military vessels in the South China Sea , ” the source said .
“ China doesn ’ t want the neighbouring countries to misunderstand Beijing ’ s goals.
” Obviously , firing an “ aircarft-carrier killer ” isn ’ t intended as a threat against a spy plane .
The U.S. has been carrying out what it calls ‘ freedom of navigation operations ‘ in the South China Sea for months .
Essentially , U.S. aircraft carriers have been sailing through the territory that China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others say is international waters .
Back in July when the U.S. carried out one of these operations Chinese state media published photos of the missiles fired today and claimed the U.S. was only in the region because China was allowing it : The U.S. response to this implied threat was pretty funny .
Finally , here ’ s China ’ s foreign ministry spokesman offering a pretty lame PR response to Sec .
Pompeo ’ s speech at the RNC last night .
This is the same guy who was suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a few months ago .
He said , “ any attempt to change or contain China is doomed to failure.
” We ’ ll have to see if this continues to escalate but I think this conflict is one reason China would prefer that President Trump lose the 2020 election .

Things seem to be ramping up once again between China and the U.S. over the disputed territory in the South China Sea. This morning Sec. of State Pompeo announced the administration was blacklisting Chinese officials connected to the construction and militarization of islands in the region.
Today, the Department of State will begin imposing visa restrictions on People’s Republic of China (PRC) individuals responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea, or the PRC’s use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources. These individuals will now be inadmissible into the United States, and their immediate family members may be subject to these visa restrictions as well. In addition, the Department of Commerce has added 24 PRC state-owned enterprises to the Entity List, including several subsidiaries of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). Since 2013, the PRC has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation. CCCC led the destructive dredging of the PRC’s South China Sea outposts and is also one of the leading contractors used by Beijing in its global “One Belt One Road” strategy. CCCC and its subsidiaries have engaged in corruption, predatory financing, environmental destruction, and other abuses across the world.
That announcement came around the same time that China launched one of its most advanced missiles into the South China Sea as a show of force. Officially, the reason for the launch was that a US spy plane had flown over Chinese naval exercises:
China launched two missiles, including an “aircraft-carrier killer”, into the South China Sea on Wednesday morning, a source close to the Chinese military said, sending a clear warning to the United States. The move came one day after China said a US U-2 spy plane entered a no-fly zone without permission during a Chinese live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off its north coast… “This is China’s response to the potential risks brought by the increasingly frequent incoming US warplanes and military vessels in the South China Sea,” the source said. “China doesn’t want the neighbouring countries to misunderstand Beijing’s goals.”
Obviously, firing an “aircarft-carrier killer” isn’t intended as a threat against a spy plane. The U.S. has been carrying out what it calls ‘freedom of navigation operations‘ in the South China Sea for months. Essentially, U.S. aircraft carriers have been sailing through the territory that China claims is theirs and which the U.S. and others say is international waters.
Back in July when the U.S. carried out one of these operations Chinese state media published photos of the missiles fired today and claimed the U.S. was only in the region because China was allowing it:
China has a wide selection of anti-aircraft carrier weapons like DF-21D and DF-26 "aircraft carrier killer" #missiles. South China Sea is fully within grasp of the #PLA; any US #aircraftcarrier movement in the region is at the pleasure of PLA: analysts. https://t.co/X5L0foka6Q pic.twitter.com/rEPjp9gqAZ — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) July 4, 2020
The U.S. response to this implied threat was pretty funny.
And yet, there they are. Two @USNavy aircraft carriers operating in the international waters of the South China Sea. #USSNimitz & #USSRonaldReagan are not intimidated #AtOurDiscretion https://t.co/QGTggRjOul — Navy Chief of Information (@chinfo) July 5, 2020
Finally, here’s China’s foreign ministry spokesman offering a pretty lame PR response to Sec. Pompeo’s speech at the RNC last night. This is the same guy who was suggesting the coronavirus came from the United States just a few months ago. He said, “any attempt to change or contain China is doomed to failure.” We’ll have to see if this continues to escalate but I think this conflict is one reason China would prefer that President Trump lose the 2020 election.


hotair--2020-08-28--Don't look now, but the Minneapolis curfew may have actually worked

Last night , I saw an announcement from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Twitter saying that a curfew would be in place overnight in Minneapolis and St. Paul , presumably to shut down the rioting and destruction .
I will confess that I was not only dubious but a bit uncharitable in my response .
In my defense , the state ’ s track record in restoring law and order over the past couple of months doesn ’ t exactly promote confidence .
The situation in Minneapolis has been dismal at best , with the violence most recently spreading into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all going to behave like adults during this debate , we also have to be big enough to admit when we ’ re wrong .
My skepticism about the latest curfew efforts turned out to be unfounded .
It seems that the state and municipal governments brought in the big guns ( literally ) and managed to maintain the peace for an entire night .
( CBS Minnesota ) There was a strong show of force in Minneapolis Thursday night , 24 hours after rioting and looting erupted on the streets… A comprehensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement from around the Twin Cities and state , was put in place to prevent more lawlessness .
Minneapolis police say more than 30 people have been arrested since curfew began at 8 p.m. , all for curfew violations .
One illegal gun also taken off the street .
Another local outlet pegs the numbers of troops involved .
In Minneapolis , the government deployed 1,000 uniformed guardians , including 400 National Guard members and 250 State Police troopers .
Numerous armored vehicles were stationed in high visibility areas .
Much of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where much of the rioting , looting and violence had taken place the night before .
The tactics used by law enforcement appeared far more effective than in previous weeks .
As soon as some would-be violators of the curfew showed up , thirty of them were quickly placed under arrest and hauled away .
Anyone else wandering by was made to show their identification and explain why they were in the area .
Those who were on their way home were allowed to proceed with a warning .
But more than anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of National Guardsmen , state troopers and municipal police were able to quickly swarm and outnumber anyone looking to violate the curfew and start trouble .
In the end , it seemed to work .
One local reporter on the scene tweeted videos of a shockingly calm urban landscape .
One quick side note for Ms. Mohs .
Please turn your camera sideways in the future when filming .
Thanks .
While congratulations are in order , the obvious question hanging over this scene is what took them so long .
Clearly the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been available all along .
How was this not done weeks ago when the city began going up in flames ?
Every day of delay in presenting a forceful , law-and-order response only emboldened the mob .
Had this been done during the first week , they probably could have restored order with far fewer troops than were required last night .
Still , better late than never .
These forces will probably need to stick around through the weekend and the curfew should be kept in place if only to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this .
Pulling back today would just allow the wave of destruction to spring back into action as soon as the sun goes down .
But for now , allow me to offer a tip of my hat to Mayor Frey and Governor Walz .
This is an example of the two of you working together to do your jobs .
And I imagine you will be rewarded with the gratitude of the law-abiding citizens and business owners of your cities .

Last night, I saw an announcement from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Twitter saying that a curfew would be in place overnight in Minneapolis and St. Paul, presumably to shut down the rioting and destruction. I will confess that I was not only dubious but a bit uncharitable in my response.
Do let us know how that works out, Gov. https://t.co/ya2Wap6j8j — Jazz Shaw (@JazzShaw) August 28, 2020
In my defense, the state’s track record in restoring law and order over the past couple of months doesn’t exactly promote confidence. The situation in Minneapolis has been dismal at best, with the violence most recently spreading into Kenosha. But if we’re all going to behave like adults during this debate, we also have to be big enough to admit when we’re wrong. My skepticism about the latest curfew efforts turned out to be unfounded. It seems that the state and municipal governments brought in the big guns (literally) and managed to maintain the peace for an entire night. (CBS Minnesota)
There was a strong show of force in Minneapolis Thursday night, 24 hours after rioting and looting erupted on the streets… A comprehensive plan, including 1,000 members of law enforcement from around the Twin Cities and state, was put in place to prevent more lawlessness. Minneapolis police say more than 30 people have been arrested since curfew began at 8 p.m., all for curfew violations. One illegal gun also taken off the street.
Another local outlet pegs the numbers of troops involved. In Minneapolis, the government deployed 1,000 uniformed guardians, including 400 National Guard members and 250 State Police troopers. Numerous armored vehicles were stationed in high visibility areas. Much of the manpower was stationed around Nicollet Mall, where much of the rioting, looting and violence had taken place the night before.
The tactics used by law enforcement appeared far more effective than in previous weeks. As soon as some would-be violators of the curfew showed up, thirty of them were quickly placed under arrest and hauled away. Anyone else wandering by was made to show their identification and explain why they were in the area. Those who were on their way home were allowed to proceed with a warning. But more than anything else, the armed and armored presence of National Guardsmen, state troopers and municipal police were able to quickly swarm and outnumber anyone looking to violate the curfew and start trouble.
In the end, it seemed to work. One local reporter on the scene tweeted videos of a shockingly calm urban landscape.
Curfew is officially in place until 6am. Strong police, Sheriff’s office and National Guard presence on Nicollet Mall. They are asking people to go home first, before immediately making arrests. So far no arrrets that we’ve witnessed #WCCO pic.twitter.com/RFW7aB1keN — Marielle Mohs (@MarielleMohs) August 28, 2020
MN State trooper just told me they’ve made 3 arrests for curfew violations at 8th & Marquette. #WCCO pic.twitter.com/pzxAWgsnoc — Marielle Mohs (@MarielleMohs) August 28, 2020
One quick side note for Ms. Mohs. Please turn your camera sideways in the future when filming. Thanks.
While congratulations are in order, the obvious question hanging over this scene is what took them so long. Clearly the firepower to bring the rioters to heel has been available all along. How was this not done weeks ago when the city began going up in flames? Every day of delay in presenting a forceful, law-and-order response only emboldened the mob. Had this been done during the first week, they probably could have restored order with far fewer troops than were required last night.
Still, better late than never. These forces will probably need to stick around through the weekend and the curfew should be kept in place if only to show the mob that the government is serious about this. Pulling back today would just allow the wave of destruction to spring back into action as soon as the sun goes down. But for now, allow me to offer a tip of my hat to Mayor Frey and Governor Walz. This is an example of the two of you working together to do your jobs. And I imagine you will be rewarded with the gratitude of the law-abiding citizens and business owners of your cities.


hotair--2020-08-27--Portland Mayor denounces nightly riots, promises business leaders he will do something to improve do

Portland Mayor denounces nightly riots, promises business leaders he will do something to improve downtown

Earlier this week a Portland development company sent a rather blunt letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler and the city council warning that businesses were planning to leave the city because of the nightly riots .
“ If you know a retail or office broker , give them a call and ask them how many clients they have are trying to leave , ” he wrote .
Mayor Wheeler apparently got the message and last night he made a speech in which he came about as close as he has come yet to denouncing Antifa/BLM/the nightly riots in his city .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ We also have to be honest with ourselves even as those around us , the president in particular , traffic in dishonesty and an attempt to stoke fear .
The honesty is the acknowledgement that we as a city are helping to feed and fire the hysteria .
“ We , and I put myself at the top of that list as the city ’ s mayor , we have allowed our proud tradition of progressive protest to be stolen by a few dozen individuals engaged in violence and criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating mayhem and attacking and harming people , not just property.
” “ Enough is enough , ” the mayors said .
“ It ’ s time to rise up and to take immediate steps to repair and beautify our city.
” A moment later , Wheeler made reference to the attack on Adam Haner : “ Rising up to decry structural racism is a noble cause ; pulling people from their vehicles and beating them in the street is a horrific , violent crime.
” He then suggested he wanted protesters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end the violence .
Good luck with that one , Ted .
After announcing all of this last night , Wheeler met today with business leaders to discuss their issues and his plans to improve things .
One of the people he met with was Andrew Hoan , head of Portland ’ s equivalent of the Chamber of Commerce :

Earlier this week a Portland development company sent a rather blunt letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler and the city council warning that businesses were planning to leave the city because of the nightly riots. “If you know a retail or office broker, give them a call and ask them how many clients they have are trying to leave,” he wrote.
Mayor Wheeler apparently got the message and last night he made a speech in which he came about as close as he has come yet to denouncing Antifa/BLM/the nightly riots in his city. After a bit of throat clearing he said, “We also have to be honest with ourselves even as those around us, the president in particular, traffic in dishonesty and an attempt to stoke fear. The honesty is the acknowledgement that we as a city are helping to feed and fire the hysteria.
“We, and I put myself at the top of that list as the city’s mayor, we have allowed our proud tradition of progressive protest to be stolen by a few dozen individuals engaged in violence and criminal destruction. They’re intent on creating mayhem and attacking and harming people, not just property.”
“Enough is enough,” the mayors said. “It’s time to rise up and to take immediate steps to repair and beautify our city.”
A moment later, Wheeler made reference to the attack on Adam Haner: “Rising up to decry structural racism is a noble cause; pulling people from their vehicles and beating them in the street is a horrific, violent crime.” He then suggested he wanted protesters and police to “virtually lock arms” to end the violence.
Good luck with that one, Ted.
After announcing all of this last night, Wheeler met today with business leaders to discuss their issues and his plans to improve things. One of the people he met with was Andrew Hoan, head of Portland’s equivalent of the Chamber of Commerce:
“It is absolutely catastrophic how many individuals are now on our streets,” Hoan said. But the problem downtown is far greater than just challenges with the homeless. Three months of sometimes violent protests have left many business owners reeling. Some have seen their shops looted or robbed, and customers are afraid to go downtown. “There’s no consequence for the crimes that are being committed here and that’s not OK,” said Stacey Gibson, owner of a Subway franchise in downtown Portland… “Honestly, for me, it’s just a bunch of words. He’s been saying a lot of different things and to me actions are the only thing that matters. I am so frustrated with the way the city is handling everything. We’ve got three months of rioting going on here, its absolutely ridiculous,” said Gibson.
They don’t sound convinced and bet that, behind the scenes, the police aren’t convinced either. They’ve seen him in action for too long at this point to really believe he’s serious. The first moment there’s a video that puts the police in a bad light, the mayor will revert to form.
The cynical part of me sees this as just one more attempt by progressives to take an issue away from the president that they are suddenly worried is gaining traction. I really don’t think Ted Wheeler cares about the violence as much as he cares about the president capitalizing on the violence to win the election. That’s why it has taken him three months to get to this point. Only on the eve of the final night of the RNC with the election weeks away is he finally talking tough (for him).
Here’s KGW 8’s report on the sad state of downtown Portland. Below that is Mayor Wheeler’s speech last night.


hotair--2020-08-27--Details revealed in the State vs. Kyle Rittenhouse criminal complaint

Gabriel Malor highlighted the release of this criminal complaint on Twitter .
Here ’ s Gabe ’ s summary of the charges against Kyle Rittenhouse .
If the names aren ’ t immediately familiar , I ’ ll explain in more detail below .
Rittenhouse is the 17-year-old with the AR-15 .
Joseph Rosenbaum is the agitated guy who was chasing Rittenhouse and became the first person shot that night .
There are two videos of this shooting circulating but both were taken from a distance and it was hard to see what actually happened .
But according to Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reporter for the Daily Caller , this is what happened : Detective Cepress interviewed McGinnis and indicates the following : Before the shooting , McGinnis was interviewing the defendant .
The defendant told McGinnis that he was a trained medic .
McGinnis stated that he ( McGinnis ) has handled many ARs and that the defendant was not handling the weapon very well .
McGinnis said that as they were walking south another armed male who appeared to be in his 30s joined them and said he was there to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendant reached the parking lot and ran across it , the defendant had moved from the middle of Sheridan Road to the sidewalk and that is when McGinnis saw a male ( Rosenbaum ) initially try to engage the defendant .
McGinnis stated that as the defendant was walking Rosenbaum was trying to get closer to the defendant .
When Rosenbaum advanced , the defendant did a “ juke ” move and started running .
McGinnis stated that there were other people that were moving very quickly .
McGinnis stated that they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that according to what he saw the defendant was trying to evade these individuals .
McGinnis described the point where the defendant had reached the car .
McGinnis described that the defendant had the gun in a low ready position .
Meaning that he had the gun raised but pointed downward .
The butt of the gun would have been at an angle downwards from the shoulder .
McGinnis stated that the defendant brought the gun up .
McGinnis stated that he stepped back and he thinks the defendant fired 3 rounds in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first round went off , he thought it hit the pavement .
McGinnis felt something on his leg and his first thought was wondering whether he had gotten shot .
McGinnis was behind and slightly to the right of Rosenbaum , in the line of fire , when the defendant shot .
McGinnis stated that the first round went into the ground and when the second shot went off , the defendant actually had the gun aimed at Rosenbaum .
McGinnis stated he did not hear the two exchange any words .
McGinnis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) was trying to get the defendant ’ s gun .
McGinnis demonstrated by extending both of his hands in a quick grabbing motion and did that as a visual on how Rosenbaum tried to reach for the defendant ’ s gun .
Detective Cepress indicates that he asked McGinnis if Rosenbaum had his hands on the gun when the defendant shot .
McGinnis said that he definitely made a motion that he was trying to grab the barrel of the gun .
McGinnis stated that the defendant pulled it away and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they came together , the defendant fired .
McGinnis said that when Rosenbaum was shot , he had leaned in ( towards the defendant ) .
So Rittenhouse was running from Rosenbaum and possibly others and when Rosenbaum finally caught up to him he tried to grab the gun .
That ’ s when Rittenhouse shot him and endangered McGinnis who was in the line of fire .
The video of the subsequent shootings is much more clear but here ’ s the description from the complaint .
On the video a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effect of , “ What ’ d he do ?
” Another male can be heard responding something to the effect of , “ Just shot someone.
” Then a male can be heard yelling , “ Get his ass !
” The defendant then trips and falls to the ground .
As the defendant is on the ground , an unidentified male wearing a dark-colored top and light-colored pants jumps at and over the defendant .
Based on the sounds of gunshots on the video and the positioning of the defendant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he fires two shots in quick succession at this person .
It appears that that person was not hit as he then runs away from the defendant .
A second person who was later identified as Anthony Huber approaches the defendant who is still on the ground , on his back .
Huber has a skateboard in his right hand .
When Huber reaches the defendant it appears that he is reaching for the defendant ’ s gun with his left hand as the skateboard makes contact with the defendant ’ s left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pull the gun away from the defendant .
The defendant rolls towards his left side and as Huber appears to be trying to grab the gun the gun is pointed at Huber ’ s body .
The defendant then fires one round which can be heard on the video .
Huber staggers away , taking several steps , then collapses to the ground .
Huber subsequently died from this gunshot wound .
After shooting Huber , the defendant moves to a seated position and points his gun at a third male , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had begun to approach the defendant .
When the defendant shot Huber , Grosskreutz freezes and ducks and takes a step back .
Grosskreutz puts his hands in the air .
Grosskreutz then moves towards the defendant who aims his gun at Grosskreutz and shoots him , firing 1 shot .
Grosskreutz was shot in the right arm .
Grosskreutz appears to be holding a handgun in his right hand when he was shot .
Grosskreutz then runs southbound away from the defendant screaming for a medic and the defendant gets up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around facing southbound while walking backwards northbound with his firearm in a ready position , pointed towards the people in the roadway .
Obviously this is a criminal complaint so we ’ re not really hearing anything in the way of a defense .
Grosskreutz did put his hands in the air but he clearly had a gun in his right hand at the time .
The video shows as long as his hands were up Grosskreutz didn ’ t shoot .
It was only when he lunged forward ( maybe reaching for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Rittenhouse fired and shot him in the arm .
Finally , the complaint details the injures of both Rosenbaum and Huber .
Rosenbaum has been described by many as shot in the head but it sounds like that was the least serious wound he sustained .
Huber was shot once and the bullet perforated his heart and aorta .

Gabriel Malor highlighted the release of this criminal complaint on Twitter. Here’s Gabe’s summary of the charges against Kyle Rittenhouse. If the names aren’t immediately familiar, I’ll explain in more detail below.
State v. Rittenhouse was filed todaay. He is charged with reckless homicide (Rosenbaum), recklessly endangering safety (McGinnis), intentional homicide (Huber), attempted homicide (Grosskreutz), and recklessly endangering safety (unknown male). https://t.co/o6NplKkArR pic.twitter.com/2Y02WOhcKw — Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) August 27, 2020
Rittenhouse is the 17-year-old with the AR-15. Joseph Rosenbaum is the agitated guy who was chasing Rittenhouse and became the first person shot that night. There are two videos of this shooting circulating but both were taken from a distance and it was hard to see what actually happened. But according to Richard McGinnis who was there that night as a reporter for the Daily Caller, this is what happened:
Detective Cepress interviewed McGinnis and indicates the following: Before the shooting, McGinnis was interviewing the defendant. The defendant told McGinnis that he was a trained medic. McGinnis stated that he (McGinnis) has handled many ARs and that the defendant was not handling the weapon very well. McGinnis said that as they were walking south another armed male who appeared to be in his 30s joined them and said he was there to protect the defendant. McGinnis stated that before the defendant reached the parking lot and ran across it, the defendant had moved from the middle of Sheridan Road to the sidewalk and that is when McGinnis saw a male (Rosenbaum) initially try to engage the defendant. McGinnis stated that as the defendant was walking Rosenbaum was trying to get closer to the defendant. When Rosenbaum advanced, the defendant did a “juke” move and started running. McGinnis stated that there were other people that were moving very quickly. McGinnis stated that they were moving towards the defendant. McGinnis said that according to what he saw the defendant was trying to evade these individuals. McGinnis described the point where the defendant had reached the car. McGinnis described that the defendant had the gun in a low ready position. Meaning that he had the gun raised but pointed downward. The butt of the gun would have been at an angle downwards from the shoulder. McGinnis stated that the defendant brought the gun up. McGinnis stated that he stepped back and he thinks the defendant fired 3 rounds in rapid succession. McGinnis said when the first round went off, he thought it hit the pavement. McGinnis felt something on his leg and his first thought was wondering whether he had gotten shot. McGinnis was behind and slightly to the right of Rosenbaum, in the line of fire, when the defendant shot. McGinnis stated that the first round went into the ground and when the second shot went off, the defendant actually had the gun aimed at Rosenbaum. McGinnis stated he did not hear the two exchange any words. McGinnis said that the unarmed guy (Rosenbaum) was trying to get the defendant’s gun. McGinnis demonstrated by extending both of his hands in a quick grabbing motion and did that as a visual on how Rosenbaum tried to reach for the defendant’s gun. Detective Cepress indicates that he asked McGinnis if Rosenbaum had his hands on the gun when the defendant shot. McGinnis said that he definitely made a motion that he was trying to grab the barrel of the gun. McGinnis stated that the defendant pulled it away and then raised it. McGinnis
stated that right as they came together, the defendant fired. McGinnis said that when Rosenbaum was shot, he had leaned in (towards the defendant).
So Rittenhouse was running from Rosenbaum and possibly others and when Rosenbaum finally caught up to him he tried to grab the gun. That’s when Rittenhouse shot him and endangered McGinnis who was in the line of fire.
The video of the subsequent shootings is much more clear but here’s the description from the complaint.
On the video a male can be heard saying something to the effect of, “What’d he do?” Another male can be heard responding something to the effect of, “Just shot someone.” Then a male can be heard yelling, “Get his ass!” The defendant then trips and falls to the ground. As the defendant is on the ground, an unidentified male wearing a dark-colored top and light-colored pants jumps at and over the defendant. Based on the sounds of gunshots on the video and the positioning of the defendant’s gun, it appears that he fires two shots in quick succession at this person. It appears that that person was not hit as he then runs away from the defendant. A second person who was later identified as Anthony Huber approaches the defendant who is still on the ground, on his back. Huber has a skateboard in his right hand. When Huber reaches the defendant it appears that he is reaching for the defendant’s gun with his left hand as the skateboard makes contact with the defendant’s left shoulder. Huber appears to be trying to pull the gun away from the defendant. The defendant rolls towards his left side and as Huber appears to be trying to grab the gun the gun is pointed at Huber’s body. The defendant then fires one
round which can be heard on the video. Huber staggers away, taking several steps, then collapses to the ground. Huber subsequently died from this gunshot wound.
A moment later, Rittenhouse shot Gaige Grosskreutz:
After shooting Huber, the defendant moves to a seated position and points his gun at a third male, later identified as Gaige Grosskreutz, who had begun to approach the defendant. When the defendant shot Huber, Grosskreutz freezes and ducks and takes a step back. Grosskreutz puts his hands in the air. Grosskreutz then moves towards the defendant who aims his gun at Grosskreutz and shoots him, firing 1 shot. Grosskreutz was shot in the right arm. Grosskreutz appears to be holding a handgun in his right hand when he was shot. Grosskreutz then runs southbound away from the defendant screaming for a medic and the defendant gets up and starts walking northbound. The defendant turns around facing southbound while walking backwards northbound with his firearm in a ready position, pointed towards the people in the roadway.
Obviously this is a criminal complaint so we’re not really hearing anything in the way of a defense. Grosskreutz did put his hands in the air but he clearly had a gun in his right hand at the time. The video shows as long as his hands were up Grosskreutz didn’t shoot. It was only when he lunged forward (maybe reaching for the gun, maybe something else) that Rittenhouse fired and shot him in the arm.
Finally, the complaint details the injures of both Rosenbaum and Huber. Rosenbaum has been described by many as shot in the head but it sounds like that was the least serious wound he sustained.
Dr. Kelley of the Milwaukee Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Joseph Rosenbaum. Dr. Kelley indicated that Rosenbaum had a gunshot wound to the right groin which fractured his pelvis, a gunshot wound to the back which perforated his right lung and liver, a gunshot wound to the left hand, a superficial gunshot wound to his lateral left thigh, and a graze gunshot wound to the right side of his forehead.
Huber was shot once and the bullet perforated his heart and aorta.


hotair--2020-08-28--CNN guest: It's okay for protesters to gather in D.C. today during a pandemic because their cause is

CNN guest: It's okay for protesters to gather in D.C. today during a pandemic because their cause is important

This reckless , credibility-destroying hypocrisy has been articulated many times before by woke experts but I don ’ t know if it ’ s ever been made as brazenly as it is here .
The clip actually starts off with a condemnation of the gathering at the White House last night — which is appropriate , as that should be condemned .
But then it segues into a discussion of the much larger gathering happening in Washington today and suddenly the rules of pandemic management magically shift .
Sure , there might be infections , Dr .
Rob Davidson allows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the pandemic that ’ s brought the country to its knees , landed it in a years-long recession , killed 170,000 people and counting , and inflicted unquantifiable psychological misery on literally billions of people worldwide is a less urgent public-health crisis than racism .
An issue which isn ’ t going to be solved or , in all likelihood , even marginally reduced by this big demonstration in D.C .
Abortion is a public-health crisis too .
Suicide , alcoholism , domestic violence — all of which are destined to surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not one of these woke A-holes would have the slightest reservation condemning mass anti-abortion or anti-lockdown rallies right now for irresponsibly risking an outbreak by holding a mass gathering .
They ’ re carving out a special exemption for the March on Washington because they agree with its politics .
As one of the Twitter replies to the clip below said , the logic here purely and simply is “ it ’ s okay when we do it.
” CNN could have at least informed its viewers that this tool is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing him off as a fair-and-balanced MD .
By not doing that , they ’ re inviting viewers to attribute his hypocrisy to doctors generally instead of to a particular doctor with a partisan axe to grind .
It ’ s especially irresponsible to condone mass gatherings on a day when we ’ re discovering that not only can people be reinfected by coronavirus , they can develop severe symptoms from that reinfection .
You ’ re not guaranteed to have a mild case next time if you ’ ve beaten the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
How many people at today ’ s rally have beaten COVID once already and are operating mistakenly in the assumption that they ’ re safe now ?
I was hard on Trump in this morning ’ s COVID post so in fairness ( and in annoyance at Davidson ) let me note something positive he ’ s involved in .
The COVID antigen test that America ’ s been waiting for is finally here : The process is no more complicated than swabbing the nasal passage and inserting it into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re positive , an indicator appears a la a home pregnancy test .
It can be given at doctor ’ s offices , in schools , even at home — if the FDA approves that — and Abbott claims it ’ s accurate 97 percent of the time .
If they had the manufacturing capacity to supply every American with , say , a two-month supply , the feds would find it much more cost-effective to scrap the next round of stimulus and simply foot the bill for that .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost a shade under $ 100 billion , a song relative to the multi-trillion-dollar package that ’ s in the works .
With every American testing themselves each morning and quarantining if they test positive , we ’ d have a stranglehold on community spread within weeks .
Some scientists are advocating precisely that approach to squash the pandemic .
Unfortunately , neither Abbott nor anyone else can make that many tests .
But we can get their cheap tests to the people who need them most , which is exactly what Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The feds are set to purchase 150 million tests from Abbott and distribute them to “ nursing homes , schools and other areas with populations at high risk.
” Detecting outbreaks early at school could have an outsized impact on reducing community spread .
Detecting outbreaks early at nursing homes and other at-risk populations could have an outsized impact on the death toll .
We ’ ll have better tools soon to manage the second wave this fall , no thanks to outbreak cheerleaders like Davidson .

This reckless, credibility-destroying hypocrisy has been articulated many times before by woke experts but I don’t know if it’s ever been made as brazenly as it is here. The clip actually starts off with a condemnation of the gathering at the White House last night — which is appropriate, as that should be condemned.
But then it segues into a discussion of the much larger gathering happening in Washington today and suddenly the rules of pandemic management magically shift. Sure, there might be infections, Dr. Rob Davidson allows. But that’s okay, because the pandemic that’s brought the country to its knees, landed it in a years-long recession, killed 170,000 people and counting, and inflicted unquantifiable psychological misery on literally billions of people worldwide is a less urgent public-health crisis than racism. An issue which isn’t going to be solved or, in all likelihood, even marginally reduced by this big demonstration in D.C.
Abortion is a public-health crisis too. Suicide, alcoholism, domestic violence — all of which are destined to surge amid mass lockdowns — are public-health crises. Not one of these woke A-holes would have the slightest reservation condemning mass anti-abortion or anti-lockdown rallies right now for irresponsibly risking an outbreak by holding a mass gathering. They’re carving out a special exemption for the March on Washington because they agree with its politics. As one of the Twitter replies to the clip below said, the logic here purely and simply is “it’s okay when we do it.”
CNN could have at least informed its viewers that this tool is a former Democratic candidate for Congress instead of playing him off as a fair-and-balanced MD. By not doing that, they’re inviting viewers to attribute his hypocrisy to doctors generally instead of to a particular doctor with a partisan axe to grind.
CNN guest Dr. Rob Davidson says that social distancing isn't as big of a concern at the March on Washington as it was last night at President Trump's speech because "this is a public health crisis they are marching against. Systemic racism has taken so many lives in this country" pic.twitter.com/OlrY3yMmin — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 28, 2020
It’s especially irresponsible to condone mass gatherings on a day when we’re discovering that not only can people be reinfected by coronavirus, they can develop severe symptoms from that reinfection. You’re not guaranteed to have a mild case next time if you’ve beaten the disease and developed some degree of immunity once before. How many people at today’s rally have beaten COVID once already and are operating mistakenly in the assumption that they’re safe now?
I was hard on Trump in this morning’s COVID post so in fairness (and in annoyance at Davidson) let me note something positive he’s involved in. The COVID antigen test that America’s been waiting for is finally here:
A COVID-19 test that takes 15 minutes and can be run without lab equipment was just granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. It will cost $5, and runs on a simple card that uses the same technology as a pregnancy test… The company said in a press release that it plans to produce 50 million tests per month by October.
The process is no more complicated than swabbing the nasal passage and inserting it into a slot on the “card.” If you’re positive, an indicator appears a la a home pregnancy test. It can be given at doctor’s offices, in schools, even at home — if the FDA approves that — and Abbott claims it’s accurate 97 percent of the time. If they had the manufacturing capacity to supply every American with, say, a two-month supply, the feds would find it much more cost-effective to scrap the next round of stimulus and simply foot the bill for that. At five bucks a test, it would cost a shade under $100 billion, a song relative to the multi-trillion-dollar package that’s in the works. With every American testing themselves each morning and quarantining if they test positive, we’d have a stranglehold on community spread within weeks. Some scientists are advocating precisely that approach to squash the pandemic.
Unfortunately, neither Abbott nor anyone else can make that many tests. But we can get their cheap tests to the people who need them most, which is exactly what Trump and his team intend to do. The feds are set to purchase 150 million tests from Abbott and distribute them to “nursing homes, schools and other areas with populations at high risk.” Detecting outbreaks early at school could have an outsized impact on reducing community spread. Detecting outbreaks early at nursing homes and other at-risk populations could have an outsized impact on the death toll. We’ll have better tools soon to manage the second wave this fall, no thanks to outbreak cheerleaders like Davidson.


hotair--2020-08-28--China has built 268 new re-education camps, some large enough to hold 10,000 people

Buzzfeed has done an extensive investigation using satellite imagery to identify the massive network of re-education camps that have been built in the western province of Xinjiang by the Chinese Communist Party .
Some of these camps are truly massive in scale , large enough to hold 10,000 people .
Initially , the re-educations of Muslim minorities in the region took place at repurposed schools but since 2018 , China has built hundreds of new structures which look almost identical to prisons : Unlike early sites , the new facilities appear more permanent and prisonlike , similar in construction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The most highly fortified compounds offer little space between buildings , tiny concrete-walled yards , heavy masonry construction , and long networks of corridors with cells down either side .
Their layouts are cavernous , allowing little natural light to the interior of the buildings .
BuzzFeed News could see how rooms were laid out at some high-security facilities by examining historical satellite photos taken as they were being constructed , including photos of buildings without roofs .
The scale of some of these compounds can be deduced by carefully measuring and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a given building has .
At least one camp is now large enough to hold 40,000 people .
In early 2019 , workers started clearing land to expand a camp south of Ürümqi , in a town called Dabancheng , that had become infamous after reporters from BBC and Reuters visited the year before .
The camp at Dabancheng was already one of the largest internment facilities in the region , capable in October 2018 of housing up to 32,500 people , according to an architectural analysis by BuzzFeed News .
Since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing some 10,000 more people .
By November of last year another , separate compound had been completed , this one capable of holding a further 10,000 people — for a total capacity of more than 40,000 , comparable to the size of the town of Niagara Falls .
The official line from China is that these are “ vocational centers ” for people with extreme and violent ideas .
In reality , people can be sent to the camp for any reason and held indefinitely until they confess their crimes .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have been released from the camps described being told to pick a crime from a list of about 70 options .
After they selected one , a sham trial was held and they were always found guilty .
People who refused to confess to a crime of their choice were told they would never leave until they did .
All of the above comes from part 1 of the Buzzfeed report .
Part 2 contains information based on interviews with 28 people who were released from the re-education camps .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propaganda .
The government has said that “ students ” in the camps receive vocational training , learn the Chinese language , and become “ deradicalized.
” Former detainees say this means they were brainwashed with Communist Party propaganda and forced to labor for free in factories .
State media reports have emphasized the classroom education that takes place in the camps , claiming that detainees are actually benefiting from their time there .
But several former detainees told BuzzFeed News that there were too many people to fit inside the classroom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ textbooks while sitting on their plastic stools in their dorm rooms .
Those who did sit through lessons in classrooms described them all similarly .
The teacher , at the front of the room , was separated from the detainees by a transparent wall or a set of bars , and he or she taught them Mandarin or about Communist Party dogma .
Guards flanked the classroom , and some former detainees said they carried batons and even hit “ pupils ” when they made mistakes about Chinese characters .
We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of people were being detained without cause and forced into these re-education camps .
What ’ s new and worrisome in this report is the fact that in the past two years China seems to be expanding these camps and making them more prison-like and more permanent .
The escalation described in the story made me wonder where this will go next .
How many steps exist between forced labor camps for ethnic and religious minorities and a Nazi-esque final solution ?
Finally , earlier this week a Chinese state media outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his time in the reeducation camps , saying it saved him from a life of terrorism against Han Chinese people .
This is the kind of propaganda I assume most people inside China are hearing about these camps .

Buzzfeed has done an extensive investigation using satellite imagery to identify the massive network of re-education camps that have been built in the western province of Xinjiang by the Chinese Communist Party. Some of these camps are truly massive in scale, large enough to hold 10,000 people.
BuzzFeed News identified more than 260 structures built since 2017 and bearing the hallmarks of fortified detention compounds. There is at least one in nearly every county in the far-west region of Xinjiang. During that time, the investigation shows, China has established a sprawling system to detain and incarcerate hundreds of thousands of Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other Muslim minorities, in what is already the largest-scale detention of ethnic and religious minorities since World War II.
Initially, the re-educations of Muslim minorities in the region took place at repurposed schools but since 2018, China has built hundreds of new structures which look almost identical to prisons:
Unlike early sites, the new facilities appear more permanent and prisonlike, similar in construction to high-security prisons in other parts of China. The most highly fortified compounds offer little space between buildings, tiny concrete-walled yards, heavy masonry construction, and long networks of corridors with cells down either side. Their layouts are cavernous, allowing little natural light to the interior of the buildings. BuzzFeed News could see how rooms were laid out at some high-security facilities by examining historical satellite photos taken as they were being constructed, including photos of buildings without roofs.
The scale of some of these compounds can be deduced by carefully measuring and counting windows to see how many stories a given building has. At least one camp is now large enough to hold 40,000 people.
In early 2019, workers started clearing land to expand a camp south of Ürümqi, in a town called Dabancheng, that had become infamous after reporters from BBC and Reuters visited the year before. The camp at Dabancheng was already one of the largest internment facilities in the region, capable in October 2018 of housing up to 32,500 people, according to an architectural analysis by BuzzFeed News. Since the expansion, it is now capable of housing some 10,000 more people. By November of last year another, separate compound had been completed, this one capable of holding a further 10,000 people — for a total capacity of more than 40,000, comparable to the size of the town of Niagara Falls.
The official line from China is that these are “vocational centers” for people with extreme and violent ideas. In reality, people can be sent to the camp for any reason and held indefinitely until they confess their crimes. As for what those crimes are, several people who have been released from the camps described being told to pick a crime from a list of about 70 options. After they selected one, a sham trial was held and they were always found guilty. People who refused to confess to a crime of their choice were told they would never leave until they did.
All of the above comes from part 1 of the Buzzfeed report. Part 2 contains information based on interviews with 28 people who were released from the re-education camps. Those people universally describe being indoctrinated with communist propaganda.
The government has said that “students” in the camps receive vocational training, learn the Chinese language, and become “deradicalized.” Former detainees say this means they were brainwashed with Communist Party propaganda and forced to labor for free in factories. State media reports have emphasized the classroom education that takes place in the camps, claiming that detainees are actually benefiting from their time there. But several former detainees told BuzzFeed News that there were too many people to fit inside the classroom, so instead they were forced to study textbooks while sitting on their plastic stools in their dorm rooms. Those who did sit through lessons in classrooms described them all similarly. The teacher, at the front of the room, was separated from the detainees by a transparent wall or a set of bars, and he or she taught them Mandarin or about Communist Party dogma. Guards flanked the classroom, and some former detainees said they carried batons and even hit “pupils” when they made mistakes about Chinese characters.
We’ve known for several years that hundreds of thousands of people were being detained without cause and forced into these re-education camps. What’s new and worrisome in this report is the fact that in the past two years China seems to be expanding these camps and making them more prison-like and more permanent. The escalation described in the story made me wonder where this will go next. How many steps exist between forced labor camps for ethnic and religious minorities and a Nazi-esque final solution?
Finally, earlier this week a Chinese state media outlet published this video of a man praising his time in the reeducation camps, saying it saved him from a life of terrorism against Han Chinese people. This is the kind of propaganda I assume most people inside China are hearing about these camps.


hotair--2020-08-28--JK Rowling returns an award after criticism from the group that gave it to her

Author J.K. Rowling has returned an award given to her last December by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights group .
Last August the group announced it would be giving “ Ripple of Hope ” awards to four people for their commitment to human rights .
J.K. Rowling was the best known of the four ( Nancy Pelosi was another ) .
At the time , Rowling said she was “ delighted and honoured ” to receive the award .
But earlier this month Kerry Kennedy , the group ’ s president , published a statement on the group ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Rowling ’ s comments about trans people .
Here ’ s a portion of it : I have spoken with J.K. Rowling to express my profound disappointment that she has chosen to use her remarkable gifts to create a narrative that diminishes the identity of trans and nonbinary people , undermining the validity and integrity of the entire transgender community—one that disproportionately suffers from violence , discrimination , harassment , and exclusion and , as a result , experiences high rates of suicide , suicide attempts , homelessness , and mental and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans youth in particular are targeted… Trans rights are human rights .
J.K. Rowling ’ s attacks upon the transgender community are inconsistent with the fundamental beliefs and values of RFK Human Rights and represent a repudiation of my father ’ s vision .
That was published on August 3 .
Yesterday , Rowling announced she was returning the award : Since I first joined the public debate on gender identity and women ’ s rights , I ’ ve been overwhelmed by the thousands of private emails of support I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both within and without the trans community , many of whom feel vulnerable and afraid because of the toxicity surrounding this discussion .
Clinicians , academics , therapists , teachers , social workers , and staff at prisons and women ’ s refuges have also contacted me .
These professionals , some at the very top of their organisations , have expressed serious concerns about the impact of gender identity theory on vulnerable adolescents and on women ’ s rights , and of the dismantling of safeguarding norms which protect the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans people .
On the contrary , many work with and are personally deeply sympathetic towards trans individuals .
Kerry Kennedy , President of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights , recently felt it necessary to publish a statement denouncing my views on RFKHR ’ s website .
The statement incorrectly implied that I was transphobic , and that I am responsible for harm to trans people .
As a longstanding donor to LGBT charities and a supporter of trans people ’ s right to live free of persecution , I absolutely refute the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wish them ill , or that standing up for the rights of women is wrong , discriminatory , or incites harm or violence to the trans community… RFKHR has stated that there is no conflict between the current radical trans rights movement and the rights of women .
The thousands of women who ’ ve got in touch with me disagree , and , like me , believe this clash of rights can only be resolved if more nuance is permitted in the debate .
In solidarity with those who have contacted me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voices heard , and because of the very serious conflict of views between myself and RFKHR , I feel I have no option but to return the Ripple of Hope Award bestowed upon me last year .
I am deeply saddened that RFKHR has felt compelled to adopt this stance , but no award or honour , no matter my admiration for the person for whom it was named , means so much to me that I would forfeit the right to follow the dictates of my own conscience .
The heat that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is unlike any other debate .
Rowling doesn ’ t strike me as a “ hater ” in any sense but clearly she has become so radioactive for her stance on this issue that even groups who have given her awards recently would rather pick a fight with her than let it be thought they support her right to hold a different opinion .

Author J.K. Rowling has returned an award given to her last December by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights group. Last August the group announced it would be giving “Ripple of Hope” awards to four people for their commitment to human rights. J.K. Rowling was the best known of the four (Nancy Pelosi was another).
“We are proud to honor these extraordinary laureates who have sent forth countless ripples of hope to millions of people inspired by their example,” said Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights President Kerry Kennedy.
At the time, Rowling said she was “delighted and honoured” to receive the award. But earlier this month Kerry Kennedy, the group’s president, published a statement on the group’s website describing her “dismay” at Rowling’s comments about trans people. Here’s a portion of it:
I have spoken with J.K. Rowling to express my profound disappointment that she has chosen to use her remarkable gifts to create a narrative that diminishes the identity of trans and nonbinary people, undermining the validity and integrity of the entire transgender community—one that disproportionately suffers from violence, discrimination, harassment, and exclusion and, as a result, experiences high rates of suicide, suicide attempts, homelessness, and mental and bodily harm. Black trans women and trans youth in particular are targeted… Trans rights are human rights. J.K. Rowling’s attacks upon the transgender community are inconsistent with the fundamental beliefs and values of RFK Human Rights and represent a repudiation of my father’s vision.
That was published on August 3. Yesterday, Rowling announced she was returning the award:
Since I first joined the public debate on gender identity and women’s rights, I’ve been overwhelmed by the thousands of private emails of support I’ve received from people affected by these issues, both within and without the trans community, many of whom feel vulnerable and afraid because of the toxicity surrounding this discussion. Clinicians, academics, therapists, teachers, social workers, and staff at prisons and women’s refuges have also contacted me. These professionals, some at the very top of their organisations, have expressed serious concerns about the impact of gender identity theory on vulnerable adolescents and on women’s rights, and of the dismantling of safeguarding norms which protect the most vulnerable women. None of them hate trans people. On the contrary, many work with and are personally deeply sympathetic towards trans individuals. Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, recently felt it necessary to publish a statement denouncing my views on RFKHR’s website. The statement incorrectly implied that I was transphobic, and that I am responsible for harm to trans people. As a longstanding donor to LGBT charities and a supporter of trans people’s right to live free of persecution, I absolutely refute the accusation that I hate trans people or wish them ill, or that standing up for the rights of women is wrong, discriminatory, or incites harm or violence to the trans community… RFKHR has stated that there is no conflict between the current radical trans rights movement and the rights of women. The thousands of women who’ve got in touch with me disagree, and, like me, believe this clash of rights can only be resolved if more nuance is permitted in the debate. In solidarity with those who have contacted me but who are struggling to make their voices heard, and because of the very serious conflict of views between myself and RFKHR, I feel I have no option but to return the Ripple of Hope Award bestowed upon me last year. I am deeply saddened that RFKHR has felt compelled to adopt this stance, but no award or honour, no matter my admiration for the person for whom it was named, means so much to me that I would forfeit the right to follow the dictates of my own conscience.
The heat that radiates from the so-called “TERF wars” is unlike any other debate. Rowling doesn’t strike me as a “hater” in any sense but clearly she has become so radioactive for her stance on this issue that even groups who have given her awards recently would rather pick a fight with her than let it be thought they support her right to hold a different opinion.


hotair--2020-08-28--Hoo boy: Trump's ratings on night four of the convention were lower than Biden's

We shouldn ’ t care about TV ratings .
They mean even less than polling does to the outcome of the election , and polling doesn ’ t mean much .
All I ’ ll say is that I think Biden is now entitled to refer to Trump as a “ low-rated cuck ” for the duration of the campaign .
Not that he should , mind you .
Just that he ’ s entitled .
Seriously , though , someone ’ s getting droned .
To Trump , losing a TV ratings war is like losing a real war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lengths of the two speeches , with Biden noticeably short and Trump noticeably long , had no apparent effect on the ratings .
People who tuned in for POTUS stuck with him to the end .
Trump hasn ’ t tweeted anything about the ratings as I write this at 2:30 p.m .
ET but it ’ s a matter of time .
He ’ s way , way too insecure to absorb a blow like this without feeling obliged to spin it away as a product of some sort of chicanery .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not Biden ’ s .
In fact , with last night ’ s defeat , the GOP ended up losing the ratings battle on all four nights to the Dems .
Apart from night two , it wasn ’ t particularly close .
He lost the battle with his 2016 self too , although that one comes with a big asterisk : I never , ever would have guessed that McCain ’ s 2008 speech outdrew Trump ’ s acceptance four years ago .
Granted , 2008 was a year of unusually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black president receiving the most votes of anyone in American history .
But I didn ’ t think that translated to a monster audience for McCain ’ s speech as well .
Anyway , you know what the asterisk is for : There are many more people watching online in 2020 than there were in 2016 , so it may be that Trump drew more viewers overall last night than he did four years ago .
It ’ s just that not all of them were in front of a television .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than to Trump , there are various theories .
One is simple : Trump fatigue .
He ’ s been yapping on TV or on Twitter practically 24/7 for the past three and a half years .
What he has to say usually doesn ’ t vary much either , just lots of chatter about hoaxes and fake news and things being rigged .
In TV parlance , Biden ’ s acceptance speech was a new episode .
( Or , I guess , a reboot of a series that had run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Trump ’ s speech was the ultimate re-run .
Another obvious possibility is that there are more Democrats out there than Republicans , and therefore you ’ d expect the Democratic convention to have an edge in ratings .
It ’ s mostly strong partisans who watch these things , after all .
Note the bluish trend in the cities that tuned in for Sleepy Joe versus the reddish trend in ones that tuned in for POTUS : Anyway , more D ’ s than R ’ s nationwide logically means more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — although four years ago Trump ’ s acceptance speech outdrew Clinton ’ s .
Hillary wasn ’ t a true incumbent that year but she was certainly a more familiar political commodity than Trump was ; he may have edged her out by drawing a certain number of voters who felt they already had a bead on her politically but wanted to learn more about him .
Something like that could have happened this year too .
Not that Joe Biden ’ s not familiar after 8,000 years in Washington , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to voters than the day-in day-out Trump show is .
In the end it doesn ’ t matter how many people watched , it matters how many persuadable voters did .
We have no sense from the ratings of which party did better in that regard or whether they succeeded at persuasion .
The polls next week will give us a sense .
It ’ s worth noting , though , that Trump-friendly Rasmussen found his job approval dropping this week from 51/47 as the convention began to 46/52 as it wrapped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with the convention itself , but it suggests that the show might not have moved many voters towards him .
I ’ ll leave you with this exchange from two of Biden ’ s top spokesmen , clearly relishing the news .

We shouldn’t care about TV ratings. They mean even less than polling does to the outcome of the election, and polling doesn’t mean much.
All I’ll say is that I think Biden is now entitled to refer to Trump as a “low-rated cuck” for the duration of the campaign.
Not that he should, mind you. Just that he’s entitled.
Seriously, though, someone’s getting droned. To Trump, losing a TV ratings war is like losing a real war.
Overnight ratings for the fourth and final night of the conventions. Six networks combined (FNC/CNN/MSNBC/ABC/CBS/NBC). Ratings are for the duration of each nominee’s speech only: Democratic / Biden – 17.5
Republican / Trump – 14.1 — Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) August 28, 2020
Mulvihill claims that the very different lengths of the two speeches, with Biden noticeably short and Trump noticeably long, had no apparent effect on the ratings. People who tuned in for POTUS stuck with him to the end.
Trump hasn’t tweeted anything about the ratings as I write this at 2:30 p.m. ET but it’s a matter of time. He’s way, way too insecure to absorb a blow like this without feeling obliged to spin it away as a product of some sort of chicanery. TV is supposed to be his milieu, not Biden’s. In fact, with last night’s defeat, the GOP ended up losing the ratings battle on all four nights to the Dems. Apart from night two, it wasn’t particularly close.
He lost the battle with his 2016 self too, although that one comes with a big asterisk:
Trump’s total will also finish well below the 35 million TV viewers who watched him accept his party’s nomination in 2016, and will fall short of the acceptance speeches of previous Republican nominees John McCain (38.9 million viewers in 2008), Mitt Romney (30.3 million viewers in 2012) and George W. Bush (27.6 million in 2004).
I never, ever would have guessed that McCain’s 2008 speech outdrew Trump’s acceptance four years ago. Granted, 2008 was a year of unusually high electoral interest, with the first black president receiving the most votes of anyone in American history. But I didn’t think that translated to a monster audience for McCain’s speech as well. Anyway, you know what the asterisk is for: There are many more people watching online in 2020 than there were in 2016, so it may be that Trump drew more viewers overall last night than he did four years ago. It’s just that not all of them were in front of a television.
As for why more Americans tuned into Biden than to Trump, there are various theories. One is simple: Trump fatigue.
I'm skeptical that winning the convention ratings race matters all that much. But, this would be consistent with voters feeling like they've heard enough from Trump and not being terribly receptive to new messages (although there wasn't that much new last night anyway). https://t.co/GG6dtnrWYj — Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) August 28, 2020
He’s been yapping on TV or on Twitter practically 24/7 for the past three and a half years. What he has to say usually doesn’t vary much either, just lots of chatter about hoaxes and fake news and things being rigged. In TV parlance, Biden’s acceptance speech was a new episode. (Or, I guess, a reboot of a series that had run for 45 years before briefly being cancelled.) Trump’s speech was the ultimate re-run.
Another obvious possibility is that there are more Democrats out there than Republicans, and therefore you’d expect the Democratic convention to have an edge in ratings. It’s mostly strong partisans who watch these things, after all. Note the bluish trend in the cities that tuned in for Sleepy Joe versus the reddish trend in ones that tuned in for POTUS:
Top markets for Vice President Biden’s acceptance speech last week: New York – 23.1
San Francisco – 23.1
West Palm – 21.7
Washington – 20.9
Philadelphia – 19.5
San Diego – 19.3
Seattle – 19.0
Denver – 19.0
Chicago – 18.9
Baltimore – 18.9 — Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) August 28, 2020
Interesting that Biden outdrew Trump in West Palm Beach.
Anyway, more D’s than R’s nationwide logically means more potential viewers for Democrats than for Republicans — although four years ago Trump’s acceptance speech outdrew Clinton’s. Hillary wasn’t a true incumbent that year but she was certainly a more familiar political commodity than Trump was; he may have edged her out by drawing a certain number of voters who felt they already had a bead on her politically but wanted to learn more about him. Something like that could have happened this year too. Not that Joe Biden’s not familiar after 8,000 years in Washington, but the 2020 version of him is newer to voters than the day-in day-out Trump show is.
In the end it doesn’t matter how many people watched, it matters how many persuadable voters did. We have no sense from the ratings of which party did better in that regard or whether they succeeded at persuasion. The polls next week will give us a sense. It’s worth noting, though, that Trump-friendly Rasmussen found his job approval dropping this week from 51/47 as the convention began to 46/52 as it wrapped up. I doubt that has anything to do with the convention itself, but it suggests that the show might not have moved many voters towards him.
I’ll leave you with this exchange from two of Biden’s top spokesmen, clearly relishing the news.