theblaze--2020-02-13--Hilarious: MSNBC's Katy Tur talks about Bernie supporters in NH, asks man on street who he voted for

Hilarious: MSNBC's Katy Tur talks about Bernie supporters in NH, asks man on street who he voted for. Uhh, 'Donald John Trump.'

Hilarious : MSNBC 's Katy Tur talks about Bernie supporters in NH , asks man on street who he voted @ @ @ @ @ John Trump . '

While reporting live outside a polling place for New Hampshire's primary Tuesday, MSNBC's Katy Tur discussed supporters of Democratic candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, noting some of them are "really excited" about Sanders while others are scared of his "ideas" — i.e., socialism.
To get a personal take, Tur turned to folks on the ground and approached her very first interview subject: "Sir, can you tell us who you voted for?"
Without hesitation the man replied, "Donald John Trump."
Oops!
Tur held it together for what clearly wasn't the response she anticipated and volleyed back, "Bernie Sanders is not appealing to you?"
Then came some free fodder for the Trump campaign, right from the gentleman's mouth: "The whole ideology would be destructive to the country. It is anti-growth, it's anti-family. It's anti-American. And as a Roman Catholic, it's anti-life."
Tur, sensing things weren't headed in the right direction, quickly thanked the man and moved on to other voters — but again, with no luck. The two men she approached wouldn't tell her who they voted for, with one completely blowing her off: "Of course not. Because you're a celebrity you think you could get away with this."
But she took the rejection well, admitting with laughter that she was "striking out" with the close-to-the-vest voters.
Anything else?
Sanders, 78, narrowly beat former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg in New Hampshire while U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota took third.
And as for Trump? Well, he smashed New Hampshire's vote record for incumbents in a primary election:
Maybe that man on the street who voted for Trump wasn't such an anomaly after all.


theblaze--2020-02-13--Plane passengers throw impromptu baby shower for couple flying home with adopted 8-day-old daughter

' I get choked up thinking about it '

Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Colorado to California threw an impromptu baby shower for a couple that was nervously flying home with their adopted 8-day-old daughter.
The father, Dustin Moore, tweeted the story Sunday of the November flight, which still causes him to get emotional when he talks about it.
"We had no expectation they would have done something like that," Moore told the Washington Post. "I get choked up thinking about it."
Moore decided to share the story of the flight because he was having a tough day, and instead of complaining on social media, he wanted to introduce something positive.
"I said to myself, 'How about pointing out something good?'" Moore told the Post. "I was tired of going to my Twitter feed and seeing something horrible somebody had done. I wanted to contribute something uplifting."
Moore, his wife Caren, and their daughter were on a Nov. 9 Southwest flight from California to Colorado. Their daughter needed a diaper change, so a flight attendant cleared some space in the back of the plane to allow them to change her privately.
The flight attendant, Jenny, and another passenger complimented their daughter and asked why they were flying with such a young child, so Moore told them about the adoption.
Shortly after, another flight attendant named Bobby came by to greet them and ask about their infant daughter. To the Moores' surprise, they heard an intercom announcement after their conversation with Bobby announcing a special guest — their daughter. The announcement prompted "cheers and applause" from the other passengers, Moore wrote.
The flight crew passed out pens and napkins to everyone so that people could write down words of encouragement or advice to the new parents. The crew later picked up the napkins and read some of their favorite notes over the intercom.
At the end of the flight, the crew gave all the notes and a set of pilot wings to the family. Many of the passengers approached the family and congratulated them. As it turns out, the flight attendants Bobby and Jenny were married, and someone had given them a similar surprise celebration on their honeymoon flight, so they wanted to do the same for someone else.
"What all those perfect strangers and attendants did not know, was the emotionally tender state of two brand-new parents," Moore wrote. "Parents who after nine years of trying had been blessed with their first child. Parents who felt scared, but determined in their new role.
"The outpouring of love from that flight, brought on by the actions of two thoughtfully observant flight attendants ... it exceeds my ability to describe what it meant to us," he said.


theblaze--2020-02-13--Poll finds terrible news for Dems: Americans are happier under Trump than during Obama's presidency

Poll finds terrible news for Dems : Americans are happier under Trump than during Obama 's presidency

Democrats already faced strong headwinds in the 2020 election: a robust economy, lackluster candidates, and the power of incumbency all of which point to it being likely that President Donald Trump will be re-elected in November. They now have another challenge on their hands: Americans are happier now than when they occupied the White House.
According to Gallup, a record-high number of Americans are happier now than they were during the last year of the previous president. Also, 61% of Americans said they are better off now than they were three years ago. Gallup noted this figure represents "a higher percentage than in prior election years when an incumbent president was running."
"In the 1992, 1996 and 2004 election cycles, exactly half said they were better off. In three separate measures during the 2012 election cycle, an average of 45% said they were better off," wrote Gallup analyst Jeffrey Jones.
'Record high' satisfaction with personal finances and lives
Gallup also stated that Americans are happier with their personal lives and the state of their finances than in past years, both of which bolster President Trump's re-election prospects.
Jones noted the poll taken from Jan. 16-29 matches the findings of a previous survey taken earlier last month that showed "record highs" in Americans' satisfaction with their personal lives and finances.
"Relatedly, 52% of U.S. adults say it is easier for them to 'go and buy things in the stores' than it was three years ago," Jones wrote while noting the figure is significant higher than "in the 1992, 1996 and 2004 election cycles, when the figures were closer to 40%."
The pollster also highlighted that although perceptions of the state of the country are heavily influenced by party affiliation, a whopping 60% of Independents said they are better off now than they were three years ago — the highest of any recorded finding for the coveted swing voting bloc since 1992.
Americans love the Trump economy
The 61% of Americans who say they are better off now than they were during Barack Obama's last year in office closely matches President Trump's approval rating on his handling of the economy.
As Gallup reported earlier in February, 49% of Americans approve of the job the nation's 45th president is doing in office. The researchers believe Trump's strong poll numbers are being driven by his handling of the country's booming economy.
"Americans' confidence in the economy is higher than at any point in the past two decades," wrote Jones.
"Sixty-three percent of Americans now approve of the way Trump is handling the economy, up 6 points from the prior reading in November," he added while noting the economy's popularity is the highest it has been since the early days of the George W. Bush presidency.
"It is the highest economic approval rating not only for Trump, but for any president since George W. Bush enjoyed stratospheric job approval ratings in the first few months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."


theblaze--2020-02-13--Reporter asks President Trump what he learned from impeachment. His response blasts Democrats' corru

Reporter asks President Trump what he learned from impeachment. His response blasts Democrats' corruption.

Reporter asks President Trump what he learned from impeachment .
His response blasts Democrats ' corruption .
Is that the @ @ @ @ @ from all of this ?

A reporter asked President Donald Trump about his biggest takeaway from the Senate impeachment trial — and his response went viral.
The Senate acquitted Trump on Feb. 5 of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress.
What are the details?
On Wednesday, a reporter in the Oval Office asked the president what he learned after the trial. Trump quipped that his biggest takeaway is that Democrats are "vicious" and "crooked" and that he is now polling "10 points higher."
"Some Republicans have said they hoped you would learn a lesson from impeachment," the reporter told Trump. "What lesson did you learn from impeachment?"
Trump responded that he had learned that "the Democrats are crooked."
"They've got a lot of crooked things going, that they're vicious, that that they shouldn't have brought impeachment, and that my poll numbers are 10 points higher because of fake news like NBC, which reports the news very inaccurately," he added.
The president issued the response during Wednesday's meeting with Ecuador's president.
Video of the exchange, shared by C-SPAN, has been viewed 220,000 times at the time of this writing.
What's the background?
Last week, the upper chamber held two votes on two articles of impeachment against the president. Article 1 alleged that Trump engaged in an abuse of power in asking the Ukrainian government to closely examine any possible corruptions in former Vice President Joe Biden and son, Hunter Biden, and their ties to the Ukrainian government during Biden's tenure as vice president.
Article 2 alleged that Trump obstructed Congress in refusing to cooperate with the House investigation.
In September, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced the impeachment inquiry against Trump. Several months later in December, the House approved the articles. Pelosi later sent the articles to the Senate in January.


theblaze--2020-02-13--AOC and Bernie Sanders back anti-fracking effort that could send energy costs soaring

AOC and Bernie Sanders back anti-fracking effort that could send energy costs soaring This could destroy millions of jobs

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have announced their support for an effort to ban fracking, which has helped make the United States a global energy powerhouse while lowering costs for American energy consumers.
On Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez along with Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) announced a House bill that would phase out fracking in the United States over the next five years. According to a news release from Soto's office, the legislation would prohibit hydraulic fracturing within 2,500 feet of homes or schools by 2021 and implement a nationwide ban on the practice by the year 2025.
"The science is clear: fracking is a leading contributor to our climate emergency," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement. "It is destroying our land. It is destroying our water and it is wreaking havoc on our communities' health. We must do our job to protect our future from the harms caused by the fracking industry and its methane emissions."
The release also notes Sanders' support of the effort.
"Fracking is a danger to our water supply. It's a danger to the air we breathe, it has resulted in more earthquakes, and it's highly explosive," Sanders said of the legislation. "To top it all off, it's contributing to climate change. If we are serious about clean air and drinking water, if we are serious about combating climate change, the only safe and sane way to move forward is to ban fracking nationwide."
Sanders introduced a companion Senate bill to ban fracking along with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the release says.
Fracking — or hydraulic fracturing — is an extraction method that has led to the boom of United States domestic oil production over the last several years. It's a drilling method that uses hydraulic pressure to extract oil or natural gas from shale rock formations.
In contrast to the persistent pollution and safety claims about the practice, a 2018 report from the Heartland Institute found that "Well-researched studies clearly and consistently show fracking does not pose serious health or safety concerns to the public, and the best-available data do not justify the imposition of unnecessary fracking regulations, moratoria, or bans."
But for all of the environmental complaints about fracking, the extraction process has come with a lot of benefits.
A deluge of fracked oil was largely responsible last year for the United States's first full month of exporting more oil than it imported since the U.S. started keeping track of the numbers in 1949. Increased energy production levels also led to the U.S. being named the world's top oil producer in 2018.
And all that increased production has led to lower energy costs for working Americans, according to research.
In October, a report released by the White House Council of Economic Advisers estimated that the "shale revolution" saves an average American family of four $2,500 per year. A report released a month later found that increased American natural gas production saved American consumers over $1 trillion over the course of a decade between 2008 and 2018.
Furthermore, a 2017 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated that a fracking ban could lead to a loss of almost 15 million jobs by the year 2022 while gasoline and electricity costs could "almost double."


theblaze--2020-02-13--Bernie Sanders calls former Clinton adviser James Carville a 'political hack' after harsh criticisms

Bernie Sanders calls former Clinton adviser James Carville a 'political hack' after harsh criticisms of socialism

Bernie Sanders calls former Clinton adviser James Carville a 'political hack ' after harsh criticisms of socialism

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called former Clinton adviser and longtime Democratic operative James Carville a "political hack" Wednesday during an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, responding to Carville's severe criticisms of Sanders' ability to win the presidency as a socialist.
"There's a certain part of the Democratic Party that wants us to be a cult," Carville said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe on Monday. "I'm not interested in being in a cult."
Sanders dismissed Carville as being a part of the Democratic establishment he is trying to defeat.
"Look—James, with all due respect, is a political hack who said very terrible things when he was working for Clinton against Barack Obama," Carville told Cooper after the host referenced Carville's concerns. "I think he said some of the same things. Look, we are taking on the establishment. This is no secret to anybody."
Carville endorsed Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet for the Democratic presidential nomination last month. Bennet hasn't qualified for a debate in months and earned less than 1% of the vote in New Hampshire before dropping out of the race.
Carville had predicted that Bennet would "surprise people" in New Hampshire, saying the senator was "uniquely suited" for the state, and that it was "historical fact that people like him do well there."
Sanders, meanwhile, won the New Hampshire primary and finished a close second to former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg in Iowa. Although Buttigieg earned more delegates, Sanders earned more raw votes in Iowa.
Carville's greatest domestic political accomplishment was helping then-Gov. Bill Clinton defeat incumbent President George H.W. Bush in 1992. Carville served as the "strategic dictator" on the campaign, implementing discipline and clear messaging focused on change, the economy, and health care.
Carville later served as an adviser to Hillary Clinton during her failed 2008 presidential bid, when she lost the nomination to Obama.


theblaze--2020-02-13--Actor Dean Cain blasts NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio for police attacks: ‘He has turned his back’ on offi

Actor Dean Cain blasts NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio for police attacks: ‘He has turned his back’ on officers

Actor Dean Cain blasts NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio for police attacks : ‘ He has turned his back ’ @ @

Actor Dean Cain blasted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for the city's recent police attacks, saying that the mayor is turning his back on the men and women who protect the city.
What are the details?
Cain, who is also a reserve officer in Idaho, tore into de Blasio in a Fox News interview on Monday.
Discussing the weekend's assassination attempts on members of the NYPD, Cain said that de Blasio's anti-police rhetoric is only fanning the flames of anti-police sentiment within the city.
Robert Williams, 44, reportedly approached an NYPD van on Saturday night and opened fire on two officers inside the vehicle. On Sunday, Williams showed up at the 41st Precinct station and opened fire on authorities inside. Authorities took him into custody immediately. Two officers were wounded, but luckily, no officers died as a result of the attacks.
Later that day, de Blasio said the attacks were an "assassination attempt" against members of the NYPD, and lauded the officers for their "heroism and extraordinary skill."
Cain told Fox News, "[de Blasio] should have said that from the very beginning. The police officers that I know in New York City ... feel like he has turned his back on them from the very beginning, and that's why they turn their backs on him."
Cain added that the "rhetoric and the words" from de Blasio have done nothing except "encourage these sorts of attacks on police officers." Cain insisted that the department's faith in de Blasio is "zero."
"The morale is horrible," he continued, insisting that the only way to fix the problem is for de Blasio to publicly support law enforcement.
"Doing things to support the police officers is a big part … It needs to change and he needs to change it," the veteran actor insisted.
January saw serious crimes increase by 16.9% year over year. According to the New York Times, "numerous law enforcement officials are highlighting statewide bail changes that they claim have allowed criminals to roam free."
Such bail changes, which went into effect Jan. 1, include prohibiting judges from imposing cash bail on defendants who have been accused of misdemeanor offenses and nonviolent felonies.
You can read more about the changes here.
Who else is upset about all this?
Cain clearly isn't the only one who believes de Blasio should be doing more to boost NYPD morale.
On Sunday, the NYPD Sergeant's Benevolent Association issued a scorching tweet about de Blasio over the weekend's attacks.
The tweet said, "Mayor DeBlasio, the members of the NYPD are declaring war on you! We do not respect you, DO NOT visit us in hospitals. You sold the NYPD to the vile creatures, the 1% who hate cops but vote for you. NYPD cops have been assassinated because of you. This isn't over, Game on!"
De Blasio, for one, was unhappy with the union leader's remarks and said he should face consequences for the tweet.
According to the New York Post, the mayor said, "I have to say it's sad when someone feels they can be openly divisive and get away with it. I think there should be consequences for that kind of speech."
He added, "I would tell you that [for] hateful, divisive speech like that there should be consequences. I'm not an expert in this field, I'm only saying there should be consequences."
You can read more about the police morale here.
What else?
Joining Cain on Fox News was former Secret Service agent and radio host Dan Bongino, who echoed Cain's sentiments, blasting de Blasio for promoting a laissez faire attitude toward crime in the city.
“You have this liberal style of policing which, shockingly, prioritizes the rights of the criminals over the rights of the people," Bongino said. “It's really easy to understand – When you make it easy to be a bad guy, you're gonna get more bad guys. This is only complicated to liberals running these big cities."
Cain added, "When criminals are emboldened like that, it doesn't do anything to help the police officers. It does the exact opposite, and that's why we're seeing what we're seeing. This isn't brand new … It's all part of the same anti-police rhetoric, and de Blasio and [New York Governor Andrew] Cuomo are definitely a part of that problem."
www.youtube.com
(H/T: Blue Lives Matter)


theblaze--2020-02-13--YouTube takes down Rand Paul video naming alleged whistleblower, vows to delete all mentions of the

YouTube takes down Rand Paul video naming alleged whistleblower, vows to delete all mentions of the name

YouTube takes down Rand Paul video naming alleged whistleblower , vows to delete all mentions of the name

YouTube removed a video in which Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) named the alleged whistleblower who raised the alarm about President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine, leading to his impeachment, according to The Hill.
Additionally, YouTube has made it clear it will remove all "videos, comments, and other forms of content that mention the leaked whistleblower's name" because they violate the site's community guidelines. A company spokesperson said hundreds of videos and tens of thousands of violating comments have already been removed.
Paul has repeatedly attempted to publicize the identity of the alleged whistleblower, believed to be CIA analyst and former National Security Council aide Eric Ciaramella. During the impeachment trial, Chief Justice John Roberts refused to read a question containing Ciaramella's name.
Paul accused YouTube of censorship, and noted that while he mentioned Ciaramella's name, he didn't specifically call him the whistleblower.
"It is a chilling and disturbing day in America when giant web companies such as YouTube decide to censure speech," Paul told Politico. "Now, even protected speech, such as that of a senator on the Senate floor, can be blocked from getting to the American people. This is dangerous and politically biased. Nowhere in my speech did I accuse anyone of being a whistleblower, nor do I know the whistleblower's identity."
Most mainstream media outlets have refused to name Ciaramella, although the specific refusals of officials to mention the name logically point to the likelihood that he is indeed the anonymous whistleblower.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) refused to allow impeachment witnesses to answer questions that even pointed in the direction of referring to Ciaramella, creating an almost comical scenario in which Schiff actively concealed the whistleblower's identity while simultaneously claiming not to know his identity.
Mentions of Ciaramella's name have not been allowed in congressional hearings, even when they do not allude to him as the whistleblower.


theblaze--2020-02-13--Two biological males who identify as females have crushed the field in CT high school track. Now thr

Two biological males who identify as females have crushed the field in CT high school track. Now three girls are fighting back with a lawsuit.

Two biological males who identify as females have crushed the field in CT high school track .
Now three girls @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit .
'We all know the outcome of the race before it even starts ; @ @ @ @

Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood — a pair of biological males who identify as females — have dominated girls' high school sprint events in Connecticut.
For instance, here's a clip of Miller winning the 2018 state girls' 100-meter dash in a meet-record time of 11.72 seconds with Yearwood coming in second:
But a trio of biological female track athletes have had enough, and they're fighting back.
Selina Soule, Alanna Smith, and Chelsea Mitchell and their mothers filed suit in federal court Wednesday to challenge the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference's policy of letting males compete in girls' sports, according to Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing them.
What are the details?
As a result of the policy, "two males were permitted to compete in girls' athletic competitions beginning in the 2017 track season. Between them, they have taken 15 women's state championship titles (titles held in 2016 by nine different Connecticut girls) and have taken more than 85 opportunities to participate in higher level competitions from female track athletes in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons alone," ADF said.
Mitchell would have won the 2019 state championship in the girls' 55-meter indoor track competition, "but because two males took first and second place, she was denied the gold medal," the legal firm said.
Miller won that race with a state record time of 6.95 seconds, the Associated Press reported. Yearwood took second place with a time of 7.01 seconds, and the third-place sprinter — Mitchell — hit the tape at a distant 7.23 seconds.
Chelsea Mitchell Image source: Alliance Defending Freedom
Soule finished eighth in the 55-meter sprint — and missed qualifying for the New England regionals by two spots, the outlet said. She told AP had Miller and Yearwood not run, she would've been in the regional race to show her abilities to more college coaches.
"We all know the outcome of the race before it even starts; it's demoralizing," Soule told the outlet. "I fully support and am happy for these athletes for being true to themselves. They should have the right to express themselves in school, but athletics have always had extra rules to keep the competition fair."
youtu.be
As for Smith, she won the 400-meter dash at last June's New England Regional Championships — and no biological males competed in the event, ADF said. But when she lined up for the 200-meter dash, a biological male ran against her and won; Smith came in third.
"Girls deserve to compete on a level playing field. Forcing them to compete against boys isn't fair, shatters their dreams, and destroys their athletic opportunities," ADF Legal Counsel Christiana Holcomb said. "Having separate boys' and girls' sports has always been based on biological differences, not what people believe about their gender, because those differences matter for fair competition. And forcing girls to be spectators in their own sports is completely at odds with Title IX, a federal law designed to create equal opportunities for women in education and athletics. Connecticut's policy violates that law and reverses nearly 50 years of advances for women."
ADF attorneys are asking the court to halt enforcement of the CIAC's policy while the lawsuit moves forward, the firm noted.
What did the transgender sprinters have to say?
The transgender sprinters in question — Miller and Yearwood, both seniors — issued statements in response the lawsuit, the AP noted.
"I have faced discrimination in every aspect of my life and I no longer want to remain silent," Miller said, the outlet reported. "I am a girl, and I am a runner. I participate in athletics just like my peers to excel, find community, and meaning in my life. It is both unfair and painful that my victories have to be attacked and my hard work ignored."
Yearwood added that "I will never stop being me! I will never stop running! I hope that the next generation of trans youth doesn't have to fight the fights that I have. I hope they can be celebrated when they succeed not demonized. For the next generation, I run for you!" the AP said.
The American Civil Liberties Union said it will represent the transgender teens and defend the Connecticut policy in court, the outlet added.
Here's a look at Soule and Smith:
youtu.be
This story has been updated


theblaze--2020-02-13--Supercut video shows Bernie Sanders heaping praise on communist regimes

'This is your Democratic frontrunner '

A social media manager for the Daily Caller posted a supercut video on Twitter Wednesday showing clips of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) heaping praise on several communist regimes.
"From the Soviet Union, to China, to Cuba, to Nicaragua, to Venezuela, Bernie Sanders has never met a communist regime he didn't praise, regimes that killed millions of people in the 20th century," Greg Price wrote in the supercut post. (A supercut is the name for a compilation of short video clips.)
"This is your Democratic frontrunner," he added.
In the compilation video, Sanders can be heard calling himself a "socialist," praising the Soviet Union's cultural programs, which, he says, "go far beyond what we do in [the United States]," and arguing that China and its leadership have made "more progress in addressing extreme poverty than any country in the history of civilization."
He can also be heard celebrating Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba, the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, and refusing to denounce Nicolas Maduro's reign in Venezuela.
After strong finishes in both Iowa and New Hampshire and a rise to the top of national polling, Sanders is now widely considered the front-runner in the Democratic presidential primary. But many centrist Democrats fear that Sanders' socialist views will undermine the party's efforts to take back the White House in November.


theblaze--2020-02-14--Katie Couric says she is 'shocked' by Fox News, and watching it makes her 'crazy'

Katie Couric says she is 'shocked ' by Fox News , and watching it makes her 'crazy' Couric said the @ @ @ @ @ not information

Editor's note: The original version of this story erroneously attributed a remark that was made by fellow co-panelist Yahoo News reporter Brittany Shepherd to Couric. We regret the error.
Former "Today" co-host Katie Couric criticized coverage of politics from Fox News, saying it "shocked" her and that watching it made her "crazy."
Couric made the comments during a political panel at the Makers Conference.
"Sometimes I watch Fox just to see how they're covering things. And I don't know why I'm shocked every time I watch it, but it's just an alternate universe," Couric said.
"And it is crazy to me," she added. "And anyway, it just, it makes me crazy."
Couric claimed that the viewers of Fox News were not well served despite the network's high ratings.
"They're getting affirmation, not information. As a result, they are not actually understanding facts and truth," Couric said. "I mean, if you want to talk about fake news, that's state-run television, really."
Fellow panelist and Yahoo News reporter Brittany Shepherd agreed.
"He can capitalize on anger and happiness and joy and confusion in a way that the Democratic Party right now, nationally, has not been able to quite suss out," she complained.
Couric was caught deceptively editing an interview for a documentary advocating for gun control in 2016 and faced aggressive criticism from gun rights defenders. She was forced to apologize later, but attempted to shift the blame to the movie's director.
Here's the video of Couric's comments:


theblaze--2020-02-14--Dan Crenshaw shuts down Bernie Sanders in epic fashion over Green New Deal claim

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) did not let Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) get away with touting the radical Green New Deal on Thursday, simply asking the self-described democratic socialist why he did not vote for the measure when he had the opportunity.
What are the details?
Sanders tweeted, "I make no apologies for proposing the boldest and most aggressive climate proposal with our Green New Deal. This is a climate emergency."
"Then why didn't you vote 'YES' for the Green New Deal when it came to the Senate Floor?" Crenshaw replied. "Maybe because it's not a plan. Or a good deal. Or even 'Green.' It's a 3rd grade science project that isn't based in science or engineering."
Crenshaw went on to promote his own new climate plan, adding, "Care about reducing emissions? #NewEnergyFrontier."
The widely mocked Green New Deal was authored by Sanders supporter and fellow democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) early last year and was hailed by Democrats despite its vague language and pie-in-the-sky social agenda, including a plan to retrofit every building in the United States and overhaul the economy to the tune of tens of trillions of dollars.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell outraged Democrats by calling their bluff and holding a vote on the measure in the upper chamber in March 2019. Not a single member of the Senate voted in favor of the proposal, and 43 Democrats — including Sanders — voted "present."
Yet today, Sanders touts the Green New Deal on his presidential campaign website, promising that if elected, he will "generate the political will necessary for a wholesale transformation of our society," do away with fossil fuels, guarantee the industry's workers five years of their "current salary ... as well as early retirement support for those who choose it or can no longer work," and replace current energy sources with renewable industries that "will be publicly owned."
What does Crenshaw propose?
This week, Rep. Crenshaw introduced what he calls the "New Energy Frontier," a plan focused on carbon capture and "turning CO2 and other greenhouse gasses into valuable commodities."
"It's time to stop offering the American people the false choice of inaction or economy-crushing regulation when it comes to climate change," the congressman said in a news release. "Texas is already leading the way in carbon capture and my legislation will simply allow this innovation to take off across the country, so we can market this technology to the world.
"The New Energy Frontier will help power the American economy in a cleaner way and is based on a bedrock environmental principle: recycling waste into a useful commodity."


theblaze--2020-02-14--Poll shows majority of voters think Hunter Biden's Ukrainian job was 'inappropriate' — and it's hurt

Poll shows majority of voters think Hunter Biden's Ukrainian job was 'inappropriate' — and it's hurting Joe Biden's campaign

Poll shows majority of voters think Hunter Biden 's Ukrainian job was 'inappropriate ' — and it 's hurting Joe @ @ @ @ @ is already on the ropes

A new poll aims to gauge voter attitudes about the controversy of Hunter Biden's job at a Ukraine energy company, and it is not good news for his father's presidential campaign.
The results from the Morning Consult/Politico poll were published on Thursday. More than half of voters, 52%, say that Hunter Biden's job at Burisma was "inappropriate," while only 18% thought it was appropriate.
His tenure at Burisma came at a time when Joe Biden served as vice president in former President Obama's administration, prompting critics to accuse him of influencing U.S. policy to benefit his son and his company.
In the poll, 57% of voters also said that it amounted to a scandal, and only 19% said it did not.
Also, 30% said that the scandal would make them less likely to vote for Biden.
Hunter Biden is also embroiled in a paternity suit by a former stripper who worked at a Washington, D.C., bar he frequented.
Once considered the front-runner in the Democratic presidential primary contest, Joe Biden's fortunes have fallen after his disastrous performance in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
If he cannot recover with a strong showing in South Carolina, the focus in the primary contest will fall on socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
Here's the latest from the Democrat primary:


theblaze--2020-02-14--Dashcam footage shows college football player bodyslamming police officer during arrest

The redshirt sophomore is facing several charges

An Eastern Kentucky University football player is facing multiple charges after bodyslamming a police officer during his arrest for allegedly refusing to leave a business in Ohio earlier this week.
The incident was recorded on dashcam footage released by the Grove City Police Department and has since gone viral.
What are the details?
Redshirt sophomore Michael Harris was confronted by police Monday when officers responded to a disturbance at a Grove City business "involving an aggressive man" who refused to leave, the New York Post reported.
Harris can be seen on video arguing with officers before lifting one officer above his head and slamming the policeman to the pavement. It took three officers to subdue Harris, who was eventually arrested and charged with one felony count of assault and misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct while intoxicated, obstructing official business, and resisting arrest.
According to KFSN-TV, Harris would not calm down and repeatedly told officers to take him to jail. Police said they believed at the time that Harris was intoxicated and appeared to not know where he was or to know anyone in the area, WBNS-TV reported.
The officer bodyslammed by the 6-foot-3, 240-pound football player was not injured in the incident.
Harris has since been suspended from the football program at Eastern Kentucky University.
The school released a statement saying, "Understanding the details of the incident are still under investigation, and, abiding by FERPA laws and regulations, we must respect the privacy of our students. When the facts are established, and the investigation complete, Eastern Kentucky University and EKU Athletics will decide how to move forward responsibly."
Anything else?
Harris transferred to EKU from Auburn University in Alabama. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, the Daily Mail reported.


theblaze--2020-02-14--New Republican bill would punish states that give driver's license to illegal aliens

New Republican bill would punish states that give driver 's license to illegal aliens It 's seen as the latest @ @ @ @ @ city policies

A new bill sponsored by Republicans would cut funding to states that grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens.
The bill is called the "Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act" and would end funding to those states from a program that issues federal criminal justice funding from the Department of Justice.
The bill was introduced to the Senate by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
"Tennesseans know all too well what can happen when illegal immigrants are granted driver licenses," Blackburn said in a statement.
"While Tennessee and many other states prohibit driver licenses for illegal aliens, a growing number of states are moving in the opposite direction and unleashing dangerous open borders policies. Immigrants must follow the proper federal process and obtain citizenship or lawful status before obtaining a state driver license," she added.
"In America, no one is above the law," she concluded.
Proponents of laws that grant driver's licenses to illegals say that such policies would allow them to obtain insurance and put citizens at less risk. Critics argue that it rewards criminality.
The state of New York has been the latest to issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens, which prompted the federal government to respond by cutting off New York residents from the federal Global Entry program over security concerns.
Here's more about the issue:


theblaze--2020-02-14--'At least I'm not a communist': James Carville hits back at Bernie Sanders for calling him a 'hack'

'At least I 'm not a communist ' : James Carville hits back at Bernie Sanders for calling him a @ @ @ @ @ Democratic strategist and the democratic socialist continues

Democratic strategist James Carville did not mince words in reaction to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling him a "hack," firing back on Thursday in response: "At least I'm not a communist."
What are the details?
Carville, who supported former presidential candidate Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) for the Democratic nomination, has repeatedly warned Democrats against electing the radical Sanders to be the party's nominee in 2020.
Sanders was asked about Carville's criticisms by CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday and responded, "Look, James, with all due respect, is a political hack."
He added, "We are taking on Trump, the Republican establishment, Carville, and the Democratic establishment. But at the end of the day, the grassroots movement that we are putting together — of young people, of working people, of people of color — want real change."
The Hill reported that Carville told former CNN reporter Peter Hamby Thursday, "Last night on CNN, Bernie Sanders called me a political hack. That's exactly who the f*** I am! I am a political hack! I am not an ideologue. I am not a purist. He thinks it's a pejorative. I kinda like it! At least I'm not a communist."
Anything else?
Carville is a longtime Democratic operative who was instrumental in helping the campaign of then-Gov. Bill Clinton win the White House in 1992.
He has re-emerged to weigh in on the 2020 elections, he says, because he is terrified that the Democrats will lose to President Donald Trump in November if they continue to embrace a far-left policy agenda.
"I'm 75 years old. Why am I here doing this?" Carville told MSNBC last week. "Because I'm scared to death, that's why!"


theblaze--2020-02-14--Shocking whistleblower videos suggest China is lying about coronavirus death toll

On the radio program Thursday , Glenn Beck and his chief researcher , Jason Buttrill , have uncovered new evidence @ @ @ @ @ toll numbers coming from China are grossly inaccurate .
After vetting several deep-fake videos circulating @ @ @ @ @ unearthed shocking whistleblower-videos released by citizens of the communist state that show entire warehouses filled @ @ @ @ @ with other atrocities .
Jason and Glenn break down the real numbers and discuss the @ @ @ @ @ to America .
Watch the video below for more details : Do n't miss next @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus in its new time slot at 9PM ET .
Want more from Glenn @ @ @ @ @ of Glenn 's masterful storytelling , thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of @ @ @ @ @ BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America , defend the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ .
Use code GLENN to save $ 10 on one year of BlazeTV .

On the radio program Thursday, Glenn Beck and his chief researcher, Jason Buttrill, have uncovered new evidence that suggests the coronavirus death toll numbers coming from China are grossly inaccurate.
After vetting several deepfake videos circulating on social media, Jason unearthed shocking whistleblower videos released by citizens of the communist state that show entire warehouses filled with body bags, along with other atrocities.
Jason and Glenn break down the real numbers and discuss the possibilities of the outbreak coming to America. Watch the video below for more details:
Don't miss next Wednesday's TV special on the coronavirus in its new time slot at 9 p.m. ET.
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream. Use code GLENN to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.


theblaze--2020-02-14--Sen. Ben Sasse drags 'scumbag attorney' Michael Avenatti in official statement on conviction

Sen. Ben Sasse drags 'scumbag attorney ' Michael Avenatti in official statement on conviction The Nebraska Republican did not hold @

Sen. Ben Sasse released an official statement on the conviction of Trump-hating attorney and antagonist Michael Avenatti on Friday, and the Republican from Nebraska let loose his true feelings on the matter.
What are the details?
"U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after Michael Avenatti, the noted scumbag and left-wing-media darling who orchestrated attacks on Justice Brett Kavanaugh, was found guilty on all counts in his Nike extortion trial," the message from the Nebraska Republican's office began.
Sasse wrote: "Michael Avenatti is a D-list attorny but a Grade-A scumbag. It's hard to get airtime from the slammer, so Nike's win is cable television's loss. In the end, Michael Avenatti wasn't a real attorney, he just played one on TV."
The release from the senator's office concluded with a "background" on the matter, that read, "Michael Avenatti, who once called Senator Sasse a 'moron who knows nothing about the law,' faces up to 42 years in prison for his genius legal theories."
What's the background?
Avenatti, who famously represented porn star Stormy Daniels in a failed lawsuit against President Donald Trump, was found guilty on several counts on Wednesday for attempting to extort $25 million from Nike. The troubled California lawyer faces two more upcoming criminal trials over allegations that he defrauded clients, including Daniels (whose given name is Stephanie Clifford).
Sasse's beef with Avenatti stems from when the "creepy porn lawyer" claimed to represent women who purportedly would testify against now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his nomination hearings in the Senate. At the time, Sasse referred to Avenatti as "the one-man clown circus." Avenatti and his client, Julie Swetnick, were found to have fabricated the allegations against Kavanaugh.
Anything else?
Avenatti became a frequent commentator on left-leaning media outlets after he hit the national stage with the Daniels case.
The Washington Free Beacon reported in 2018 that Avenatti was given $175 million in free media over a two month period when he made more than 100 appearances between CNN and MSNBC.


theblaze--2020-02-14--'Democrats Say' the dumbest things

'Democrats Say' the dumbest things

On Friday 's episode of the `` Steve Deace Show , '' Steve and his crew released the latest installment @ @ @ @ @ '' A weekly video montage packed full of some of the most cringeworthy moments caught @ @ @ @ @ Joaquin Phoenix 's Oscar speech on cows and their milk .
Watch the video below @ @ @ @ @ code DEACE for $ 10 off one year of BlazeTV .
Want more from Steve @ @ @ @ @ of Steve 's take on national politics , Christian worldview and principled conservatism with a @ @ @ @ @ BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America , defend the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ .

On Friday's episode of the "Steve Deace Show," Steve and his crew released the latest installment of "Democrats Say." A weekly video montage packed full of some of the most cringeworthy moments caught on camera, including actor Joaquin Phoenix's Oscar speech on cows and their milk.
Watch the video below for more details.
Use code DEACE for $10 off one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steve Deace?
To enjoy more of Steve's take on national politics, Christian worldview and principled conservatism with a snarky twist, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-02-14--WATCH: Glenn Beck exposes MORE Biden corruption, this time with communist China

WATCH : Glenn Beck exposes MORE Biden corruption , this time with communist China Joe Biden and son Hunter had @ @ @ @ @ VERY shady characters

By now you've probably heard all about former Vice President Joe Biden's alleged corruption in Ukraine with his son, Hunter, and the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma. But as it turns out, the Biden family's dubious dealings weren't limited to Ukraine, but extended to China as well.
In this clip, Glenn Beck explains Hunter Biden's four primary "problems" in China, including partnering with criminals, working with Chinese companies accused of stealing and spying on the U.S. military, as well as some very sketchy investments.
Watch the video below for more details:
Want more from GlennTV?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream. Use code GLENN to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.


theblaze--2020-02-14--Video: DNC chair on Bernie Sanders' socialism: There's no 'ideological divide' in our party

Video : DNC chair on Bernie Sanders ' socialism : There 's no 'ideological divide ' in our party At @ @ @ @ @ to say if they would support him

After spending years arguing that accusations of socialism against Democrats were merely Republican smears, it seems like the Democratic Party may be preparing to fully embrace the label as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is emerging as the front-runner to win the 2020 presidential nomination.
MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell asked DNC Chair Tom Perez on Wednesday how Democrats will come together despite the "ideological divide" separating the party's moderates from its progressive base.
Perez responded by saying there are no ideological divisions among Democrats:
"I think the real thing that folks understand is that what unites us far exceeds what our differences are. There's no ideological divide on the need to ensure that people with pre-existing conditions can keep their health care. There's no ideological divide on the need to ensure that we keep pharmaceutical companies accountable so that we can lower the price of prescription drugs. There's no ideological divide on the need to make sure that one good job should be enough. The differences between the Democratic Party candidates and Donald Trump, whoever the nominee is, are 100 percent."
Swing State Democrats: Bernie who?
While Perez may want to downplay concerns among Democrats with having Bernie Sanders as the party's nominee, several party leaders have refuse to say whether they will endorse the 78-year-old democratic socialist.
When asked by the Miami Herald this week if they would consider supporting Sanders, three members of Congress from the key swing-state Florida balked at the possibility.
"He's not going to be the nominee," said Rep. Donna Shalala of Florida's 27th Congressional District when asked if she would campaign for Sanders if he were to win the Democratic Party's nomination. "That's [a] hypothetical question and since I don't think he's going to be the nominee I don't have to answer the question."
Former DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-18) and Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) also punted.
"I'm seriously considering endorsing another candidate, that's my answer to you," said Mucarsel-Powell, who represents a purple congressional district in southwest Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys with a large anti-socialist Latino population.
Meanwhile, Bernie is pulling ahead
The DNC's embrace of Sanders comes as polls show him increasingly likely to clinch the party's nomination.
A national YouGov / Yahoo News poll taken Feb. 12-13 shows Sanders beating top Democrats in head-to-head matchups, indicating that the Vermont socialist is in a strong position to win even if the crowded field were to narrow.
Meanwhile, a Las Vegas Review-Journal / AARP poll finds Sanders with a comfortable 7-point lead over former Vice President Joe Biden in the upcoming Feb. 22 caucus in Nevada. Although another recent poll shows Biden continues to maintain his first place position among South Carolina primary voters, his lead has narrowed significantly in recent weeks following his poor performances in Iowa and New Hampshire. The South Carolina primary is Feb. 29.


theblaze--2020-02-14--The Army rejects President Trump's nudging and won't investigate Lt. Col. Vindman over impeachment t

The Army rejects President Trump's nudging and won't investigate Lt. Col. Vindman over impeachment testimony

The Army rejects President Trump 's nudging and wo n't investigate Lt. Col. Vindman over impeachment testimony Is getting fired @ @ @

Despite President Trump's nudging, the Army will not investigate Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman regarding his testimony to impeachment investigators, a top leader in the service said Friday.
"There's no investigation into him," Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said at a National Press Club luncheon Friday, according to Politico.
Vindman drew ire from the president after he raised concerns about President Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, testifying that he didn't think it was "proper" for Trump to "demand that a foreign government investigate" former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden's dealings in Ukraine.
After Trump was acquitted on impeachment charges in the Senate, he quickly removed Vindman from his post on the National Security Council as a part of a staff shake-up in the White House.
Following Vindman's ousting, Trump said that he imagined the military would "take a look" at the "horrible things" Vindman told House investigators and decide if he deserved disciplinary action.
Trump did defer on the matter, acknowledging it would be "up to the military." Now it appears they have chosen no further action action against Vindman.
Instead, McCarthy downplayed Vindman's return to the Army, announcing that he will simply be designated to a "bridging assignment" in Washington before heading to "a senior service college this summer."


theblaze--2020-02-14--It's Valentine's Day, and college students are asked if they'd date those with opposite political vi

It's Valentine's Day, and college students are asked if they'd date those with opposite political views — i.e., Trump supporters

It 's Valentine 's Day , and college students are asked if they 'd date those with opposite political views @ @ @ @ @ In how many different languages can Georgetown University students say 'no ' ?

It's Valentine's Day — when the focus of the nation's collective eye (and heart, of course) is on romantic relationships.
With that in mind, Campus Reform's Eduardo Neret hoofed it over to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., to ask students if they'd consider dating folks who held opposite political views.
Now given the campus' reputation for left-leaning sentiments, the most common answer seemed to be some form of — you guessed it — "No, I hate Donald Trump."
What did they say?
Upon being asked the question, the first person in the clip took direct aim at the guy who made quick work of Hillary Clinton in 2016, noting that she couldn't date someone who "supports who's currently in the White House."
Another student hedged a bit, admitting that dating someone with opposite political views would take some "really strong extenuating circumstances" — whatever that means.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Yet another student said she wouldn't even consider dating "moderates."
Dating someone with opposing political views would invite "too much conflict in the relationship," another student said.
One student said he'd draw the line if a dating partner was "pro-life":
Image source: YouTube screenshot
And there was more Trump disdain to come, with one student noting that "honestly, if they're just overall Trump supporters," the dating dealbreaker has arrived.
“If they were a Trump supporter, I don't think I could date them 'cause I feel like in my opinion that shows a little bit about their character," yet another student said.
On that note, another student offered that "at some point your political views could mean you're a bad person."
But not every student saw things that way: “I think just because you disagree on some topical political issues doesn't mean you have a radically different set of values."


theblaze--2020-02-14--DOJ says it will not pursue charges against former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Does this impl

DOJ says it will not pursue charges against former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Does this implicate James Comey?

DOJ says it will not pursue charges against former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe .
Does this implicate James Comey @ @ @ @ @ of the two men is lying

The Department of Justice announced Friday that it would not pursue charges against former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe following a yearslong investigation into whether he lied to the department about having authorization to leak information to the media during an agency investigation in 2016.
In a letter to McCabe's counsel, the Justice Department called the case officially "closed."
"We write to inform you that, after careful consideration, the government has decided not to pursue criminal charges against your client, Andrew G. McCabe," the brief letter said. "Based on the totality of the circumstances and all of the information known to the government at this time, we consider the matter closed."
In response to the news, McCabe's lawyers, Michael Bromwich and David Schertler, said that justice had finally been served.
"At long last, justice has been done in this matter," the lawyers said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "We said at the outset of the criminal investigation, almost two years ago, that if the facts and the law determined the result, no charges would be brought."
What's the background?
In 2018, the Justice Department opened an investigation into McCabe after Inspector General Michael Horowitz issued a criminal referral for him, accusing him of lying.
The referral claimed that McCabe "lacked candor" in four separate instances "when discussing the disclosure of information for a Wall Street Journal article about the FBI's Clinton Foundation investigation," reported CNN, which had obtained a copy of the report.
Responding to the accusation, McCabe's legal team denied its client conducted any improper behavior, instead shifting the blame to then-FBI Director James Comey.
"One thing is clear: Mr. McCabe never misled Director Comey. Director Comey's memory of these interactions was equivocal and speculative, while Mr. McCabe's recollection is clear, unequivocal and supported by documentary evidence," the counsel said at the time.
Does this implicate James Comey?
As such, another possible fallout from the closing of McCabe's case could be the implication of former FBI Director James Comey. At the time that IG Horowitz placed a criminal referral on McCabe, it appeared that it was essentially Comey's word against his. In other words, it appears that one of the two men is lying.
Comey had told DOJ inspectors that he had never been informed about the leak McCabe authorized, which put him at direct odds with his deputy director.
After being fired in 2018 amid the speculation, McCabe not only argued that he had authority to make the leak but claimed that Comey knew about it, though he did not specify whether Comey simply knew about the leak or if he authorized it.
It should be noted that no word has come from the department as of yet regarding an investigation into Comey.
What else?
McCabe was a frequent target of attacks from the president. Apart from simply having differing political views, Trump also believed that McCabe sought to undermine his candidacy while heading the FBI.
With the news of his case being closed coming amid a week marked by tensions between the president and the DOJ, it will likely serve to further exacerbate the situation.
On Thursday, Attorney General William Barr publicly admonished the president to stop tweeting about active DOJ investigations saying it makes it "impossible for me to do my job."
Trump had gone on a Twitter tirade denouncing recent sentencing recommendations for his friend Roger Stone and roughly the same time the DOJ had suggested the same thing. The timing made it seem as if Trump was directing the department. Both the White House and Barr have since rejected this accusation, but the tensions have remained.


theblaze--2020-02-14--Bill O'Reilly: The Democratic Party has been hijacked by the progressive left

Bill O'Reilly : The Democratic Party has been hijacked by the progressive left Bernie Sanders is a 'dangerous man ' @ @ @ @ @ better

Bill O'Reilly joined the "Glenn Beck Radio Program" on Friday for his weekly take on the 2020 presidential race.
O'Reilly emphasized what a dangerous candidate socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) really is, and how the media is working to mislead voters by depicting other Democratic candidates, such as former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, as "moderate."
"The Democratic Party has been hijacked -- and this is no breaking news -- by the progressive left. Which is now being enabled by the national media," said O'Reilly.
"Bernie Sanders is a dangerous man. In any sane time, media time, that would be clear to everybody. But it's not," he added. "It's like, 'Oh, there's uncle Bernie and he just wants to give stuff away. What a great guy.' [He's] not a great guy, all right? He's a totalitarian. He'll take your freedom, in every area, away. Every area. There isn't one area, that Bernie Sanders wouldn't intrude upon, in your personal freedom. Yet, that's not reported. You don't know it unless you pay attention. It's all a bunch of dishonest blather that has obliterated the so-called moderate Democrat. And there are millions of those people. They don't know what to do because they have no voice in the media."
Glenn pointed out that the media has been "trying to make Pete Buttigieg into a moderate" ever since his strong showing in the Iowa caucuses last week.
"So, Pete Buttigieg: Harvard grad. Rhodes Scholar. Brilliant man, he is brilliant. Great speaker. Almost as good as Beck and I. Not quite, but almost," O'Reilly said. "He's only 38, all right? So, the guy goes out and runs for president after being the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, for eight years, and almost destroying that city. The city is in chaos, yet he's re-elected with 80% of the vote the second time. That's what a good BS'er Pete Buttigieg is.
The two went on to break down Buttegieg's radical policy plans on immigration, abortion, gun control, and more.
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream. Use code GLENN to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.


theblaze--2020-02-14--HGTV's 'House Hunters' episode features first 'throuple' — drawing polarized reactions

That 's a new one

The popular HGTV show "House Hunters," which typically features couples searching for a home and navigating their varied preferences, featured its first "throuple" in an episode this week.
The episode focused on Brian, Lori, and Geli. Brian and Lori were already legally married when they met Geli, and apparently fell in love with her, at a bar. The couple later exchanged vows in a "commitment ceremony, which was attended by Brian and Lori's two children.
The show, titled, "Three's Not A Crowd In Colorado Springs," aired Wednesday night, and followed the trio as they searched for a home with a three-car garage, or a kitchen with enough room for three people to operate comfortably, or a master bedroom suitable for three inhabitants.
HGTV, which has put gay couples on its shows before, has never used a throuple — although a network spokesperson would not say whether there could be more of that in the future. From Newsweek:
HGTV issued a statement on the episode in support of all couples. "Yes, we did feature a throuple," HGTV told Newsweek. "We feature all homebuyers and living choices." The channel did not immediately clarify if it will continue to expand the representation of nontraditional couples in its other series.
House Hunters first aired on HGTV in September 1999. It has since prompted spin-offs like House Hunters International and House Hunters Renovation, among others. In the past, the series has included both gay and straight couples, though none have featured more than two partners.
Some viewers were excited about the new twist.
"I was legit about to change the channel until I heard throuple. You have my FULL attention now," one user wrote on Twitter.
Others were put off by the nontraditional nature of featuring a polygamous couple.
"The normalization of polyamory rolls down the track, just as I and others predicted it would," Princeton professor Robert George wrote. "It was, as I said, less a 'slippery slope' than a simple unfolding of the logic of social liberalism."
Then, there was the somewhat surprising take that the "throuple" was not progressive enough.
"Without looking, I knew it was two women with a man (all white) who don't use the word triad," wrote one viewer. "I really hope poly representation gets wider soon."
(H/T The Daily Caller)


theblaze--2020-02-14--Trump critic Michael Avenatti found guilty on all counts in Nike extortion trial

Trump critic Michael Avenatti found guilty on all counts in Nike extortion trial The 'creepy porn lawyer ' faces up @ @ @ @ @

A New York jury has found Michael Avenatti, the attorney who represented porn actress Stormy Daniels in a dispute with President Donald Trump and was once considered a possible 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, guilty on all charges in his Nike-related fraud and extortion case.
The disgraced lawyer was accused of attempting to extort $25 million from the athletic wear giant by threatening to publicize evidence that the company paid off the families of young athletes heading to the NBA.
Faces up to 42 years in prison
According to Fox News, jurors found Avenatti guilty on three felony charges: transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort, wire fraud, and attempted extortion. He now faces up to 42 years in prison.
The trial lasted about three weeks and included testimonies from several key prosecution witnesses, among them lawyers and Nike employees, as well as recordings of Avenatti's meetings with representatives for Nike. Avenatti's legal team argued that he was only being an assertive attorney attempting to advance the best interests of his client. However, Avenatti's client, Gary Franklin, the founder and coach of youth basketball team California Supreme, testified that he was unaware of his attorney's dealings with Nike.
Throughout the trial, Avenatti was held in custody after violating the bail terms of a separate federal case against him in California. He was held in Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center during his trial.
'Creepy porn lawyer' faces two more trials
Avenatti rose to fame by representing adult film star Stormy Daniels in her various legal battles against President Trump and soon became a darling of the media and the left. Democrats and media personalities were so enamored with Avenatti that he was said to be considering running for president in 2020 before his fall from grace.
"I'm exploring a run for the presidency of the United States, and I wanted to come to Iowa and listen to people and learn about some issues that are facing the citizens of Iowa and do my homework," Avenatti told the Des Moines Register in August 2018.
Dubbed a "creepy porn lawyer" by Fox News' Tucker Carlson, Avenatti's fortunes began turning south in late 2018 after he was accused of domestic violence by a former girlfriend in November of that year.
In addition to his current conviction, Avenatti now faces two other criminal trials. Beginning in April, a Manhattan jury will consider whether the disgraced lawyer cheated Daniels out of $300,000 in proceeds of a book deal. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Avenatti faces a separate federal indictment where he is accused of defrauding his own clients and others.
Avenatti has denied all charges.


theblaze--2020-02-14--Left-wing NY Times columnist Paul Krugman declares that 'Bernie Sanders Isn't a Socialist.' And we l

Left-wing NY Times columnist Paul Krugman declares that 'Bernie Sanders Isn't a Socialist.' And we laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

Left-wing NY Times columnist Paul Krugman declares that 'Bernie Sanders Is n't a Socialist . '
And we laughed , @ @ @ @ @ .
'Anyone with brains , common sense , and an educated background in the 'isms @ @ @ @ @ of Kool aid Bernie 's selling '

New York Times op-ed writer Paul Krugman — a lauded economist — has been with greater frequency of late delving into political punditry, albeit with varying degrees of success.
Beyond question is his devotion to left-wing causes and, to a lesser degree, the Democratic Party.
And now Krugman threw down a gauntlet that few could ignore: That Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders — who just won the New Hampshire primary — isn't a socialist. Check the headline of his Thursday op-ed if you doubt it: "Bernie Sanders Isn't a Socialist."
That's right. And be damned the mountain of evidence indicating that Sanders not only is one but, er, refers to himself as one.
What are the details?
What's Krugman's rationale? Let's have a look.
Krugman indeed is hip to the fact that Sanders calls himself a socialist — except he apparently just doesn't buy it, noting that the 78-year-old Vermont senator "isn't actually a socialist in any normal sense of the term. He doesn't want to nationalize our major industries and replace markets with central planning; he has expressed admiration, not for Venezuela, but for Denmark. He's basically what Europeans would call a social democrat — and social democracies like Denmark are, in fact, quite nice places to live, with societies that are, if anything, freer than our own."
So why does Sanders call himself a socialist?
Krugman is glad you asked: "I'd say that it's mainly about personal branding, with a dash of glee at shocking the bourgeoisie. And this self-indulgence did no harm as long as he was just a senator from a very liberal state."
But now that Sanders is the unofficial Democratic front-runner and has his sights set on South Carolina, we're talking about a whole new ballgame. Krugman knows this and added in his Times' piece that "if Sanders becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, his misleading self-description will be a gift to the Trump campaign. So will his policy proposals. Single-payer health care is (a) a good idea in principle and (b) very unlikely to happen in practice, but by making Medicare for All the centerpiece of his campaign, Sanders would take the focus off the Trump administration's determination to take away the social safety net we already have."
What do others have to say about Krugman's Sanders-ain't-no-socialist mantra?
The pickings were so easy on this one that you have to wonder if Lucy is preparing to snatch the ball from the grass to watch Charlie Brown land on his ... behind.
David Harsanyi, senior writer for National Review Online, riffed off Krugmans's piece and opined that "by November, these guys will be referring to [Sanders] as a moderate Democrat."
Others on Harsanyi's Twitter thread saw things similarly:
"He's a Marxist. Anyone with brains, common sense, and an educated background in the 'isms' knows exactly the kind of Kool aid Bernie's selling."
"The media is working overtime trying to paint a more moderate picture of all the candidates. Unfortunately for them, the candidates don't stop talking & pandering to the voters every chance they get — promising an everything for 'free' Utopia...ya know like Venezuela."
"Perhaps when AOC and Omar are running we will look back on the good old days of moderates like Sanders!"
"Some of them are saying Obama is actually a moderate conservative, so I wouldn't be surprised."
"Paul Krugman is skillfully eradicating the very last traces of his credibility."
(H/T: Red State)


theblaze--2020-02-14--US Olympic marathon trials to include first transgender athlete, a biological male competing with wo

US Olympic marathon trials to include first transgender athlete, a biological male competing with women

'it 's all about making a pathway for all the trans athletes' US Olympic marathon trials to include first transgender @ @ @ @ @ competing with women Female athletes compete at the Marathon Grand Championship , which is also @ @ @ @ @ the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games , on Sept. 15 , 2019 , in Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ Getty Images )

Megan Youngren, a biological male who transitioned to become a transgender female, will become the first openly transgender athlete to qualify for the U.S. Olympic marathon trials later this month, according to Sports Illustrated.
Youngren, who came out as transgender in 2012 and finalized her official paperwork for the transition in 2019, meets the International Olympic Committee standard of testosterone levels allowable for biological men to compete as transgender women.
USATF says that it follows the (somewhat controversial) rules set forth by the International Olympic Committee in regards to transgender qualifiers or entrants for the Olympic marathon trials. A transgender female athlete must demonstrate that her testosterone level in serum is below 10 nanomoles per liter for at least 12 months before competition and must remain below that level for the period of desired eligibility to compete as a woman. The IOC has been planning to implement stricter guidelines that could lower the testosterone levels in serum to 5 nanomoles per liter.
Youngren, who has been working with the same doctor since 2013, has levels that are well below either standard, which were last measured at below 2 nmol/L when tested.
Youngren began seriously running in 2013, and pushes back against the claim that qualifying for the women's trials is easier due to being born male.
"People will try to put it down by saying, 'That's too easy because you're trans,'" Youngren said. "But what about the 500 other women who will qualify? There's probably someone with the exact same story. I trained hard. I got lucky. I dodged injuries. I raced a lot, and it worked out for me. That's the story for a lot of other people, too."
The issue of whether biological males who become transgender women should be able to compete against biological women in sports is far from settled. In Connecticut, some high school girls' runners have filed a federal lawsuit to prevent transgender girls from being able to compete, citing the inherent unfairness of such an arrangement.
"Our dream is not to come in second or third place, but to win, fair and square," student Chelsea Mitchell said. "All we're asking for is a fair chance."


theblaze--2020-02-14--Student rolls 'free speech ball' on campus to recruit for conservative club — until official shuts h

Student rolls 'free speech ball' on campus to recruit for conservative club — until official shuts her down. Now student is fighting back.

Student rolls 'free speech ball ' on campus to recruit for conservative club — until official shuts her down .
@ @ @ @ @ .
'The only permission slip students need to speak on public college campuses is the @ @ @

Sofie Salmon, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, decided last September she'd break out an oversized beach ball — dubbed a "free speech ball" — and roll it around campus to encourage fellow students to express their First Amendment rights by writing messages on it, Alliance Defending Freedom said.
It also was a way for Salmon and her friends who accompanied her to get the word out that she was starting a chapter on campus for a conservative student organization Turning Point USA, The College Fix reported.
"In doing so, Sofie did not block any sidewalks, impede traffic, hinder instruction, or in any way disrupt the campus educational environment," ADF noted in a Monday letter to the college's chancellor Dean Van Galen. "She stayed only in public outdoor areas where other students often walk and talk."
More from the ADF letter:
Even so, UW-River Falls Conference and Contract Services Manager Kristin Barstad approached Sofie and told her that she must stop and leave immediately. When Sofie asked why and what policy forbade her from speaking, Ms. Barstad was unable to cite a specific policy but stated that even though Sofie was a student she would have to pay to reserve space to engage in expression. The only place she could speak without permission from the University, Sofie was told, is on the public sidewalk on the edge of campus. When asked what the consequences would be if she kept talking with other students without permission, Sofie was told that the police would be called. Under this threat, Sofie reluctantly packed up and returned to her dorm.
Here's video of the exchange between Salmon and Barstad:
youtu.be
What happened next?
According to the ADF letter, several weeks later Salmon asked via email where she could find the relevant policies on where she was allowed to speak on campus and how to reserve space in the future.
"I was really surprised about this as I'd never heard of these policies and it is confusing me as to how I'm supposed to go about talking with other students without paying a fee or having to book a space," Salmon wrote to Barstad last November, ADF noted.
But the ADF letter said the "only reply Sofie received was from another administrator advising her on how to form a student club." When she asked again for information on campus free speech policy, the letter said she "never received a response."
What is the ADF demanding?
The ADF's letter says the school's policies are vague and unconstitutional and, to avoid litigation, officials should permit students to exercise their First Amendment rights without unwarranted restraints.
"The only permission slip students need to speak on public college campuses is the U.S. Constitution," ADF Legal Counsel Caleb Dalton said. "The First Amendment doesn't allow a university or college to play favorites or limit free speech to so-called 'speech zones.' The current University of Wisconsin–River Falls policies are unconstitutional because they force students to ask permission before speaking and allow school administrators to silence student speech based on viewpoint or other vague, arbitrary reasons."
Dalton told The College Fix that Salmon "gave the university the opportunity to respond, and they didn't."
The ADF letter also asks the university for a written response no later than Feb. 24 identifying the policy used to prohibit Salmon from speaking and agreeing to revise the outdoor facility use policies to ensure that administrators do not prohibit students from speaking spontaneously in public outdoor areas, the law firm added.
How did the college respond?
The College Fix said UW-River Falls spokeswoman Dina Fassino indicated the matter is under review.
“At this time, the university is reviewing the letter received from the Alliance Defending Freedom in consultation with the UW System Office of General Counsel," Fassino said in an email, adding the school would make no further statements at this time, the outlet reported.


theblaze--2020-02-14--Let's take a look back at Bernie's communist-hailing past

Let 's take a look back at Bernie 's communist-hailing past

With Bernie as the front-runner of the Democrat candidates right now, it's a good time to revisit some of the times he praised communists like Castro, and communist countries like the former Soviet Union and China.
On Thursday's episode of " White House Brief," Miller expressed his opinion about socialists. Plus, actor Jussie Smollett is indicted by a grand jury. And finally, the University of Virginia opened a new multicultural center that's open to everyone. Well, except white people.
Watch the video below for details.
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theblaze--2020-02-14--Heroic 5-year-old boy rescued his toddler sister, the family dog, and seven other relatives from a b

Heroic 5-year-old boy rescued his toddler sister, the family dog, and seven other relatives from a burning house

Heroic 5-year-old boy rescued his toddler sister , the family dog , and seven other relatives from a burning house @ @ @ @ @ and sizes

A 5-year-old boy from Bartow County, Georgia, is being called a hero after rescuing his toddler sister and his dog from a burning house before going back in to alert the rest of his family.
Noah Woods managed to save his entire family of nine and escape with nothing but a minor burn on his hand after his family's house in Kingston caught on fire earlier this week, WSB-TV reported.
Bartow County Fire Department said the fire started in the children's room while the the family was sleeping and was the result of an issue with an electrical outlet.
Noah reportedly woke up when he saw flames beside his bed and immediately sprang into action. He told WSB-TV that he knew something wasn't right and that he needed to get his 2-year-old sister, Lily, to safety.
"I picked Lily up, got to the window with Lily, got the dog and got out," he said. "That's it."
After exiting through the window with his sister and dog in tow, Noah then went back into the burning house to alert his uncle and get the rest of his family outside.
"If it wasn't for Noah, I mean, we were all asleep, so we wouldn't have known what was going on," David Woods, Noah's grandfather, said. "We could've all lost our lives."
The Fire Department is calling Noah "our hero" after the boy showed unusual courage and alertness during the incident.
"We've seen children alert their families before," Fire Chief Dwayne Jamison told CNN. "But for a 5-year-old to be alert enough to do this ... that's pretty extraordinary."
The family suffered $75,000 in damage from the fire and is seeking help from the community because they had not updated their homeowner's insurance.
"By the grace of God, all nine of our loved ones were able to get out of our home," David Woods said in a GoFundMe post. "If it wasn't for Noah, we may not be here today."
"Unfortunately, our home was a total loss," Woods continued. "Due to a recent lapse in our home insurance, this has made a difficult situation a little worse."
"It is difficult for us to ask for help from our community, however, we know this feat is too great for us to achieve alone," he added.
As of midday Friday, over $17,000 had been donated.


theblaze--2020-02-14--Trans woman reports man to police for his ‘gender critical’ tweets. Judge says too bad — that’s free

Trans woman reports man to police for his ‘gender critical’ tweets. Judge says too bad — that’s free speech.

Trans woman reports man to police for his ‘ gender critical ’ tweets .
Judge says too bad — that @ @ @ @ @

A British judge ruled Friday that a man who issued "gender critical" comments on Twitter is protected by free speech.
What are the details?
According to Reuters, a British judge issued the ruling after a transgender woman complained to authorities that a man on social media made what she called "brazen transphobic comments."
Former police officer Harry Miller allegedly shared 31 "gender critical" remarks between November 2018 and January 2019.
One such message included, "I was assigned mammal at birth, but my orientation is fish. Don't mis-species me."
The outlet also reported that he made remarks about Caitlyn Jenner — formerly known as Olympian Bruce Jenner.
The unnamed trans woman called authorities and filed a complaint. Upon investigation, authorities determined that Miller's Twitter remarks were considered a "non-crime hate incident."
Reuters reported that Humberside police paid a visit to Miller about the complaint, which Miller said "left him with the impression that continuing to tweet could cause Miller to face criminal prosecution."
In response, Miller took legal action against the police, insisting that authorities tried to tamp down Miller's freedom of speech.
What did the judge say?
Judge Julian Knowles at London's High Court said that Miller's remarks were lawful and protected by free speech.
"In this country we have never had a Cheka, a Gestapo, or a Stasi," Knowles declared. "We have never lived in an Orwellian society."
Knowles added:
The claimants' tweets were lawful and there was not the slightest risk that he would commit a criminal offense by continuing to tweet. I find the combination of the police visiting the claimant's place of work, and their subsequent statements in relation to the possibility of prosecution, were a disproportionate interference with the claimant's right to freedom of expression because of their potential chilling effect.
Miller said that he stands by his remarks and is not biased against transgender people.
"I want to raise awareness by stating that which used to be instinctively obvious — a biological man is a man, and a biological woman is a woman," he insisted. "To claim otherwise is extraordinary."
According to the BBC, Miller added, "This is a watershed moment for liberty — the police were wrong to visit my workplace, wrong to 'check my thinking.'"
Miller's lawyer, Paul Conrathe, said, "It is a strong warning to local police forces not to interfere with people's free speech rights on matters of significant controversy."
What else?
In a statement, the Humberside Police said it acted in good faith.
"Our actions in handling the incident were carried out in good faith but we note the comments of the judge and we will take learning from this incident moving forward," the statement read.
The police are still able to classify the remarks as "non-crime hate incident," but Miller plans to appeal the decision. The BBC reported that the appeal has been granted and will go straight to the Supreme Court.
(H/T: The Daily Caller)


theblaze--2020-02-14--104-year-old WWII vet is ‘floored’ after receiving more than 200,000 Valentine’s Day cards

104-year-old WWII vet is ‘ floored ’ after receiving more than 200,000 Valentine ’ s Day cards

A 104-year-old World War II veteran received more than 200,000 Valentine's Day cards from around the world.
What are the details?
Maj. Bill White, a Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II, said that he's speechless in response to the turnout of Valentine's Day cards he received.
According to Fox News, one of White's friends launched a social media campaign called "Operation Valentine" in order to bring in Valentine's Day cards for the retired major.
White, who fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 and came away with a Purple Heart, lives at an assisted living facility in Stockton, California, and collects scrapbooks and mementos. This year, he hoped to expand his mementos to include 100 Valentine's Day cards to commemorate his century on earth.
He received scores more than that.
White told Fox News host Martha MacCallum on Wednesday that he was "floored" by the turnout.
"It just floored me, this is something that has never happened to me before in my life, and I doubt this will ever happen again!" he said.
"It's something I've never heard of or seen. All of a sudden here, like a ton of bricks. I'm sort of speechless," he added.
What did the Facebook post say?
A Facebook post benefitting White reads:
This is Maj. Bill White (Ret.), the oldest living Marine at 104 years old. Let's do something special for him.
His assisted living home wants to get him a basket of Valentine's Day cards. Go ahead [and] send one to this hero at:
Operation Valentine
ATTN: Hold for Maj Bill White, USMC (Ret)
The Oaks at Inglewood
6725 Inglewood Ave
Stockton, CA 95207


theblaze--2020-02-14--Oregon police falsely arrested a black man to prevent him from filing a discrimination lawsuit again

Oregon police falsely arrested a black man to prevent him from filing a discrimination lawsuit against his employer

Now he 's received more than $ 1 million in settlements Oregon police falsely arrested a black man to prevent @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit against his employer Michael Fesser has received settlements from his employer and West Linn @ @ @ @ @ have him falsely arrested .
( Image source : Oregon Live video screenshot )

Michael Fesser of Portland, Oregon, has received more than $1 million in settlement money after his employer conspired with local police to have him falsely arrested in order to prevent him from filing a discrimination lawsuit, according to Oregon Live.
In 2017, Fesser told his boss, Eric Benson, about racial discrimination he faced while working for A&B Towing, the company Benson owned. Fesser had worked at A&B for 16 years.
Fesser told Benson that co-workers called him racial slurs and that one of them asked if he was bothered by the Confederate flag sticker on the employee's truck.
Benson, fearing that Fesser was going to sue the company for racial discrimination, called former West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus, a friend of Benson's. Benson asked Timeus to help fabricate a case to arrest Fesser based on the false accusation that Fesser was stealing money from the proceeds of car auctions he oversaw.
Timeus, still having influence within the West Linn Police Department, enlisted the help of West Linn officers, including Detective Tony Reeves, to surveil Fesser at work. They monitored security camera footage and had another employee secretly record Fesser.
After not finding any evidence of wrongdoing, Reeves simply decided to have Fesser arrested anyway in an attempt to do so before a potential lawsuit against A&B, so the arrest couldn't be seen as retaliation.
"My game, my rules," Reeves wrote in a text to Benson about the plan.
Without any probable cause, West Linn police arrested Fesser on the way home from work. Without a warrant, they searched his vehicle and took some cash and his phone, and a letter about the racial discrimination issue. He was arrested on the charge of aggravated theft. When Fesser went to the police station to recover his belongings, he was informed by Reeves that he had been fired by A&B — which was strange to Fesser.
"How do police fire me from my job?" Fesser told Oregon Live he thought at the time.
The charges were later dropped — until Fesser went through with the discrimination lawsuit in November 2017. Reeves and Benson falsely testified against Fesser and had the theft charges revived. In summer 2018, Fesser sued the West Linn Police Department.
The case turned when Fesser's lawyers obtained text messages between Benson and Reeves, showing them discussing the plot to frame Fesser while using racist and homophobic language. At one point, Benson told Reeves he wished he could have Fesser arrested in Clackamas County so that he would be detained with "some real racist boys."
"Dreams can never come true, I guess," Benson wrote.
All charges against Fesser were dropped. A&B Towing agreed to pay Fesser $415,000 in a settlement. The West Linn Police Department recently settled with Fesser for $600,000. Reeves, who actually got promoted while this scheme was unfolding, has been placed on paid administrative leave, along with another officer who participated.
"This case vividly illustrates a ready willingness on the part of the West Linn police to abuse the enormous power they have been given, and a casual, jocular, old-boy-style racism of the kind that we Oregonians tend to want to associate with the Deep South rather than our own institutions," Fesser's lawyer Paul Buchanan told Oregon Live.
Fesser said he was motivated to continue his legal battle against the police department not only for his sake, but for the sake of other black men who could potentially fall victim to such egregious abuses of power. Fesser is a father of eight who now runs a prison ministry and transitional program to support men getting out of prison.
(H/T: Insider)


theblaze--2020-02-14--Sony wants to introduce a bisexual Spider-Man with a boyfriend in an upcoming movie

Sony wants to introduce a bisexual Spider-Man with a boyfriend in an upcoming movie Andrew Garfield would likely play the @

Sony wants to break ground by introducing a bisexual Spider-Man in an upcoming movie, sources reportedly told We Got This Covered.
Tom Holland, who currently plays Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has lobbied for a gay Spider-Man in the past, and now it appears that his wishes are that much closer to becoming a reality.
The entertainment blog reported that sources have informed them that Sony "is developing a live-action 'Spider-Verse' movie" that would "unite Holland with his predecessors, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield."
The report said that the studio "is particularly keen on getting Garfield back, as they want to portray his version of the hero as bisexual and give him a boyfriend in the film."
Garfield played the lead in "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in 2012 and 2014, respectively, before Holland signed on to play the hero in a series reboot.
Garfield had floated the idea of a gay Spider-Man back in 2013 during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, so it seems the actor would be more than willing to play the part should Sony move forward with the project.
The news comes just months after Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that Marvel would be debuting an openly transgender superhero in short order.
When asked during a Q&A session at the New York Film Academy in October if Marvel had plans to introduce more LGBTQ characters into the universe, "specifically the T — trans characters," Feige replied in the affirmative.
"Yes. Absolutely. Yes. Very soon. In a movie we're shooting right now," he said.


theblaze--2020-02-14--State employee 'heavily involved with the Democratic Party' arrested for allegedly vandalizing GOP h

State employee 'heavily involved with the Democratic Party' arrested for allegedly vandalizing GOP headquarters in New Mexico

State employee 'heavily involved with the Democratic Party ' arrested for allegedly vandalizing GOP headquarters in New Mexico Suspect also @ @ @ @ @ Michelle Lujan Grisham when she was a U.S. congresswoman

A New Mexico state employee who once interned for Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was arrested for allegedly vandalizing Republican Party headquarters in Albuquerque, KOAT-TV reported.
Detectives said Cameron Chase McCall was identified on surveillance video spray painting the words "Still Traitors" on the building last week, the station noted.
Image source: KOAT-TV video screenshot
"The [criminal] complaint says McCall is heavily involved with the Democratic Party," KOAT reported.
Image source: KOAT-TV video screenshot
What else?
McCall is an employee with Expo New Mexico and is now on leave, the station said, adding that an Expo spokesman noted that if McCall is the individual on the video, he could be terminated.
A spokesman for the governor confirmed McCall interned for her when she was a U.S. congresswoman and noted that Grisham condemned the vandalism as unacceptable behavior, KOAT said.
GOP staff told the station it will cost about $4,000 to repair the vandalism.
Police also are investigating if McCall is the same person who spray painted GOP headquarters last March with the word "Traitors," KOAT reported.
Image source: KOAT-TV video screenshot
Following last year's vandalism, Republican Party staffers installed cameras, the station said.
The police report indicated photos and tips led them to McCall, who was arrested Wednesday night, KOAT noted.
In addition, police said the same type of paint was used in last year's and this year's vandalism, the station reported.
Since McCall has no prior arrests on his record, he was released from jail until his next court date, KOAT said.


theblaze--2020-02-14--Alabama Democrat introduces bill requiring men to get vasectomies after age 50 or after third child

An Alabama Democratic lawmaker is retaliating against the state's pro-life law by introducing a bill that would require all men to get a vasectomy shortly after turning 50 years old, or after the birth of their third child, according to Yellowhammer News.
State Rep. Rolanda Hollis filed House Bill 238 in an attempt to place reproductive restrictions on men since the state voted to criminalize abortion. Because the law in Alabama (which is not in effect due to legal obstacles related to Roe v. Wade) makes the killing of unborn children illegal, Hollis apparently believes that men should not be able to father children after a certain point in life.
"Under existing law, there are no restrictions on the reproductive rights of men," the bill's synopsis reads. "This bill would require a man to undergo a vasectomy within one month of his 50th birthday or the birth of his third biological child, whichever comes first."
The bill specifies that the vasectomy must be obtained at the man's own expense.
The bill is clearly an attempt to make a point about so-called reproductive rights and not a legislative proposal with a serious chance at passage, and the apparent comparison of a vasectomy to an abortion is imperfect, to say the least.
Alabama's law criminalizes the performing of an abortion on the basis that a child in the womb is deserving of the same right to life as a child outside the womb, and that an abortion unjustly ends a human life. The law does not require a woman to pay for an invasive, life-changing procedure. In fact, it does the exact opposite.
In theory, a law requiring men to get vasectomies after a third child or after age 50 would hinder the reproductive rights of women nearly as much as men, considering women may also want large families or may desire to have children with a spouse or partner who is 50 or older.
During debate over Alabama's abortion law last year, Hollis made another comparison when she read a poem titled, "If my Vagina was a Gun," to express her opposition to the law.