theblaze--2020-02-24--Christian USPS worker files suit against postal service accusing it of religious discrimination

Gerald Groff, a former postal service worker from Pennsylvania, is suing the U.S. Postal Service over what he says is religious discrimination.
The postal service relieved Groff of his duties after he refused to work on Sundays in 2019. He was employed by the postal service for seven years.
The U.S. Postal Service partnered with Amazon in 2018 in order to deliver parcel post on Sundays in the U.S.
What are the details?
Groff — who is an evangelical Christian — filed the suit on Feb. 14, according to the Associated Press, accusing the postal service of religious discrimination because they required him to work on Sundays and subjected him to needless disciplinary action when he balked.
In the suit, Groff cited religious reasons in avoiding work on Sundays. To compensate for his Sunday absence, Groff said he offered to work on holidays and extended hours.
Groff is requesting that the postal service allow him to resume working and receive accommodation for his religious beliefs, which prohibit him from working on the Sabbath, to include back pay. He is also requesting an unspecified amount of money to compensate for emotional damages.
What else?
David Crossett, one of Groff's attorneys, said that his client should not be penalized for holding fast to the convictions of his faith.
"In a free and respectful society, government should recognize those differences among us that make us great, rather than punishing those differences, particularly when those differences result from our sincerely held religious beliefs," he insisted.
Jeremy Samek, another one of Groff's attorneys, added, "Employers are actually required to provide reasonable accommodations. It's something that happens every single day. [A]t the end of the day, Mr. Groff wants his job back."
He continued, "It's important for him, but it's also important for lots of other people who work for the federal government or the post office that they be able to continue their employment and to continue to observe their religious beliefs."
www.youtube.com
(H/T: Faithwire)


theblaze--2020-02-24--A 62-year-old former Marine broke the world record by planking for over 8 straight hours

George Hood, a 62-year-old former Marine, has broken the world record after lasting over eight grueling hours in the abdominal plank position — a position most healthy people can only hold for a few minutes.
On Feb. 15, Hood planked for exactly 8 hours, 15 minutes, and 15 seconds, which Guinness World Records certified to be the new world record.
Hood, a former Marine and Drug Enforcement Administration supervisory special agent, has held the world record for planking before. He first set the record in 2011 by planking for 1 hour and 20 minutes. But in 2016, Hood lost in a head-to-head with Mao Weidong from China, who lasted for 8 hours and 1 minute.
According to ABC News, Hood wanted to win the title back for his children and to raise awareness about mental health.
"I'm the father of three sons and part of me did this for them," Hood said after performing the plank at a gym in Illinois, 515 Fitness, that seeks to treat mental health through physical exercise.
"I'm not a paid athlete. I do this thing because I can and I can also help raise awareness," Hood told ABC News. "I've seen enough folks in the military and my law enforcement comrades who haven't fared so well. We want to break that stigma of seeking [mental health] help."
It took impressive mental fortitude to do what Hood did last week — and a whole lot of training. According to the Guinness news release, Hood went through several training camps and fitness regiments that included doing 674,000 sit-ups, 270,000 push-ups, and of course, thousands of hours in the plank position.
"It's 4-5 hours a day in the plank pose," Hood told CNN, breaking down what his daily routine looks like. "Then I do 700 push-ups a day, 2,000 sit-ups a day in sets of a hundred, 500 leg squats a day. For upper body and the arms, I do approximately 300 arm curls a day."
In a conversation after the event, Hood also told CNN that when things got tough up on the platform he would think of his three sons and turn the rock music up loud. He compared it to the walls one hits when running a marathon.
"The burning will set in those elbows. The skin will break and they will bleed," he said. "When that happens, (my coach) talks me through it and I take lots of water and eventually they go numb. When the numbness sets in, I'm generally pretty good. It's just a matter of being tired and wanting to stop."
After Hood reclaimed the world title, he did a quick set of 75 push-ups to celebrate.


theblaze--2020-02-24--Coronavirus spreads outside China, fueling health expert fears of global pandemic: 'It's already out

Coronavirus spreads outside China, fueling health expert fears of global pandemic: 'It's already out'

Coronavirus spreads outside China , fueling health expert fears of global pandemic : 'It 's already out' About 2,200 cases @ @ @ @ @ Italy , South Korea , and Iran have been hit the hardest .

Health experts increasingly fear coronavirus will inevitably become a global pandemic, as more cases of the virus show up worldwide in patients who never traveled to China, according to Vox.
Worldwide cases of coronavirus, which has come to be more precisely known as Covid-19, are approaching 80,000. While an overwhelming majority of the cases are still in China, several other nations have started feeling its disruptive impact and been forced to take extreme measures in an attempt to control the spread.
"I don't think the answer is shutting down the world to stop this virus. It's already out," Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, told Vox.
There are now about 2,200 coronavirus cases outside China, up from only 500 a week before. In particular, Italy, South Korea, and Iran have been hit the hardest.
Italy, home to the largest outbreak outside Asia, has 215 cases and four deaths so far, leading to "draconian" measures to stop the spread in the northern part of the country. From The Guardian:
Italian authorities have implemented draconian measures to try to halt the coronavirus outbreak in the north of the country, including imposing fines on anyone caught entering or leaving outbreak areas, as a third person was confirmed to have died on Sunday.
The number of cases of the virus in the country has risen to 152 (as of Sunday afternoon).
Police are patrolling 11 towns – mostly in the Lombardy region, where the first locally transmitted case emerged – that have been in lockdown since Friday night. The latest victim died in the Lombardy city of Crema.
Events in Italy are also being cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
About 50,000 residents in the towns under lockdown have been told to stay home and avoid social contact, while schools, shops and businesses – apart from chemists – have been closed and festivities and sporting events including Serie A football matches and the final two days of the Venice carnival have been cancelled.
The impact of coronavirus on Iran is somewhat unclear. An Iranian lawmaker was quoted Monday as saying 50 people had died from the virus, but the foreign ministry denies that claim and says only 12 people have died out of 61 total infections.
South Korea has 600 confirmed coronavirus cases and 6 deaths so far, and has raised its alert to the highest level as South Korean President Moon Jae-in says the country faces a "grave turning point" in the situation.
Public health experts told Vox that pandemic seems increasingly likely because the fact that it can be transmitted by people with no symptoms, many cases could be getting missed due to a focus on people who traveled from China, testing capacity is not up to speed, and China could soon relax travel restrictions.
"When several countries have widespread transmission, then spillover to other countries is inevitable," said Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, according to Vox. "One cannot shut out the rest of the world."


theblaze--2020-02-24--Bernie Sanders pressed in interview about how much his agenda will cost. He admits he doesn't know.

Bernie Sanders pressed in interview about how much his agenda will cost .
He admits he does n't know .
@ @ @ @ @ off to you every nickel and every dime '

2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has some ambitious plans for what he wants the federal government to do if he's elected president, but he admitted in an interview that he doesn't exactly know how much his plan is going to cost the American taxpayer in sum.
Speaking on Sunday night's episode of CBS' "60 Minutes" with show contributor Anderson Cooper, the self-described democratic socialist was asked about the costs of his wide-ranging proposed agenda, which the segment pointed out includes a government backed Medicare for All system, taxpayer-funded college education, student debt forgiveness, the controversial Green New Deal, and even a federal jobs guarantee.
"How much will that cost?" Cooper asked the senator at one point during the interview.
Sanders responded, "Obviously, those are expensive propositions, but we have done our best on issue after issue in paying for them."
"Do you know how all, how much though?" Cooper persisted. "I mean, do you have a price tag for, for all of this?"
"We do," Sanders answered. "I mean, you know, and, and, the price tag is — it will be substantially less than letting the current system go. I think it's about $30 trillion."
"That's just for Medicare for All, you're talking about?" Cooper asked.
"That's just Medicare for All, yes," Sanders clarified.
"Do you have a price tag for all of these things?" Cooper pressed.
"No, I don't," Sanders admitted. "We try to — no, you mentioned making public colleges and universities tuition free and cancelling all student debt, that's correct. That's what I want to do. We pay for that through a modest tax on Wall Street speculation."
"But you say you don't know what the total price is, but you know how it's gonna be paid for," Cooper continued. "How do you know it's gonna be paid for if you don't know how much the price is?"
"Well, I can't — you know, I can't rattle off to you every nickel and every dime," Sanders answered, appearing somewhat flustered. "But we have accounted for — you, you talked about Medicare for All. We have options out there that will pay for it."
And Sanders' proposed spending isn't just limited to the programs he had rolled out prior to going on the show. During the appearance, he also rolled out plans for government-funded "universal childcare" for American kids from birth until age for which he said would be paid for by a "tax on wealth."
When pressed again about how he would cover the costs of universal childcare and pre-kindergarten, the senator said, "It's taxes on billionaires" and that he is "a little bit tired of hearing my opponents saying, 'Gee, how you going to pay for a program that impacts and helps children or working-class families or middle-class families? How are you going to pay for that?'"
A 2018 study by the Mercatus Center projected that the Medicare for All plan Sanders proposed the year prior would cost $32.6 trillion over 10 years. A 2019 Study from the Urban Institute similarly placed the price tag of a single-payer health insurance plan similar to the kind Sanders supports at just over $32 trillion over 10 years. The Vermont senator estimated last year that his "free" college and debt cancellation plan would cost $2.2 trillion. A 2019 memo from the think tank Third Way notes that a federal jobs guarantee would cost "at least hundreds of billions of dollars per year and much more during a recession when the employment rolls for the government would naturally increase."
On top of all that, a 2019 American Action Forum study placed for the cost of a "Green New Deal" environmental overhaul — including health care and jobs guarantee costs —placed its price tag between $52 trillion and $93 trillion.
Just for reference, the Congressional Budget Office says that the federal government spent $4.4 trillion overall in fiscal year 2019 and the national debt is currently over $23 trillion.


theblaze--2020-02-24--1980 'Miracle on Ice' US Olympic hockey players attend President Trump's rally wearing 'Keep America

1980 'Miracle on Ice' US Olympic hockey players attend President Trump's rally wearing 'Keep America Great' hats — and Trump haters lose it

1980 'Miracle on Ice ' US Olympic hockey players attend President Trump 's rally wearing 'Keep America Great ' hats @ @ @ @ @ it 'Shame on all of you for wearing those divisive racist hats '

The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team will forever carry the moniker "Miracle on Ice" after defeating the practically unbeatable Soviet Union squad 4-3 in a shocking, thrilling upset on the way to a gold medal that captured the imaginations and lifted the spirits of millions of Americans.
But on Friday night — the eve of the 40th anniversary of what's been called the greatest sports moment of the 20th century — members of the team appeared onstage with President Donald Trump at his Las Vegas rally.
And most of the former players wore red "Keep America Great" hats.
From one of the team's Twitter photos and video of the players onstage, it appears at least three of the players did not wear the hats.
But Trump detractors lost it anyway. Chief among them arguably was journalist Soledad O'Brien:
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova tweeted "how disappointing" while actress Valerie Bertinelli added "shame on all of you for wearing those divisive racist hats."
A follow-up post from the team's Twitter account attempted to quell the growing rage:
But leftist heads were exploding far and wide:
"If it's not about politics then you wouldn't be wearing those red hats. But thanks for f***ing up one of our great national memories and finally giving it up to Russia. Assholes."
"You guys just lost to Russia. 40 years later."
"The miracle was tarnished with you wearing what is equivalent to KKK hoods. It was a campaign RALLY; nothing about it was neutral. Nothing more to celebrate. Good bye."
"Shame on you. I cannot believe once of the greatest sports memories of my life is now so heavily tainted by Trumpism. Truly sad."
"Way to destroy the 'Miracle' in one photo-op. I would never, under any circumstances, support or be photographed with this Nazi cult leader. Shame on every single one of you."
"I've let go of people in my life that I've known for over 40 years when they 'came out' in favor of Trump and his policies. Heartbreaking."
"The blowback from the team's appearance at the rally, and the subsequent tweet, was intense enough that the team's Twitter account posted a follow-up tweet that attempted to defend its choice to appear at the rally."
"From defeating Russia to endorsing the president Putin built. Full circle."
Pushback
However, some folks took issue with the negative commentary — as seen in a number of messages under O'Brien's tweet:
"Sorry this happened to you, Soledad! @1980MiracleTeam matured and understand #MAGA is best for this country. You should observe and learn."
"Loving America is crushing to you, eh?"
"Oh, good grief. I remember when I enjoyed watching you. Your leftist rantings have pretty much crushed those fond memories. Give it a rest."
"Liberal tears this early in the morning probably aren't good for me, but what the heck."
"How coincidental! The 1980 Miracle Team was just saying how disappointed they are in you."
Here's a clip from Trump's rally with members of the team onstage:
And how could we not include a clip of the last minute of the game that night in Lake Placid, New York?


theblaze--2020-02-24--Buttigieg's campaign demands Nevada Democratic Party correct 'irregularities' as final results not y

Buttigieg's campaign demands Nevada Democratic Party correct 'irregularities' as final results not yet tallied

Buttigieg 's campaign demands Nevada Democratic Party correct 'irregularities ' as final results not yet tallied Sanders ran away with @ @ @ @ @ vote

Although the Democratic Party narrowly avoided a repeat of the Iowa caucus disaster in Nevada over the weekend, the final official vote for the Silver State's caucus has not yet been tallied.
Now, Pete Buttigieg's campaign is claiming there are inconsistencies in the caucus process.
In a letter sent to the chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party, Buttigieg's campaign demanded the party take "concrete steps" to correct "material irregularities."
"In light of material irregularities pertaining to the process of integrating early votes in to the in-person precinct caucus results, we request that you: (1) Release early vote and in-person vote totals by precinct; (2) Correct any outstanding early vote and second alignment errors identified by presidential campaigns, including ours; and (3) Explain anomalies in the data," the campaign said.
In total, Buttigieg's campaign claimed it had "received more than 200 incident reports today from precincts around the state."
Buttigieg's campaign is not challenging Sanders' decisive victory. Rather, their concerns are related to how close Buttigieg and Joe Biden are for second place.
In a statement to Politico, Nevada Democratic Party spokeswoman Molly Forgey pushed back at the Buttigieg campaign's demands.
"We are continuing to verify and to report results," she said. "We never indicated we would release a separate breakdown of early vote and in-person attendees by precinct and will not change our reporting process now. As laid out in our recount guidance, there is a formal method for requesting a challenge of results."
As of 7 a.m. ET Monday, just 88 percent of Nevada precincts were reporting results. By 9 a.m. ET, 96 percent were reporting, and Biden was projected to win second place as he held a nearly 2,000 vote lead over Buttigieg.


theblaze--2020-02-28--New Zealand prime minister ticked at Australia for deporting Kiwi criminal aliens back to her countr

New Zealand prime minister ticked at Australia for deporting Kiwi criminal aliens back to her country Australia 's policy is @ @ @ @ @ is convicted of a crime in their country

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had strong words for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a joint news conference on Friday, lashing out his country's policy of deporting criminal Kiwis back to their homeland for her to deal with.
But Morrison was unapologetic, saying Australia's policy would not change and telling Ardern that his country's "very clear view" is that "if you have committed a crime and you're not a citizen of Australia, then you have no right to stay."
What are the details?
Australian publication Stuff reported that during a joint news conference on the shores of Sydney Harbor, Ardern lashed out publicly at Morrison, saying that while she understands why Australia holds its policy, the country is shipping back New Zealand-born citizens who have spent so long in Australia that they should be considered Australia's problem.
"I'm not asking that Australia stops the policy," Arden said, according to the Guardian. "You have deported more than 2,000 individuals, and among them will be genuine Kiwis who do need to learn the consequences of their actions."
"But among those 2,000 are individuals who are too young to become criminals on our watch, they were too young to become patched gang members, too young to become criminals," she continued. "We will own our people. We ask that Australia stops exporting theirs."
Ardern added, "We have a simple request: send back Kiwis. Genuine Kiwis. Do not deport your people and your problems."
No deal, said Morrison.
The Australian prime minister answered, "The Australian government's policy is very clear. We deport noncitizens who have committed crimes in Australia against our community."
Morrison explained that his country's policy applies to every criminal alien, not just those born in New Zealand, saying, "This policy is applied not specific to one country, but to any country whose citizens are here. You commit a crime here, if convicted, once you have done your time, we send you home."
The Australian prime minister continued, "Kiwis become citizens. Indians become citizens. Chinese nationals become citizens. And when you become a citizen, well, you have joined the club and if you violate our laws at that point, then that is on our watch and Australia has to take care of those situations."
"But if you're a noncitizen," Morrison said, "our very clear view — and our government is well-known for our clear views when it comes to issues of immigration and border security — if you have committed a crime and you're not a citizen of Australia, then you have no right to stay."


theblaze--2020-02-28--Biden is desperate for black support in South Carolina — and an influential radio host just kneecapp

Biden is desperate for black support in South Carolina — and an influential radio host just kneecapped him '' ... @ @ @ @ @ do n't see what all the hype is ... ''

An influential black radio show host beat down the candidacy of Joe Biden just ahead of the South Carolina primary, where he will to need the black vote to win.
Lenard Larry McKelvey, who calls himself "Charlamagne tha God" on his popular radio show, spoke to Erin Burnett on CNN about the Democratic candidates on Thursday and had a very harsh estimation of Biden.
Burnett asked him if the very emotional endorsement of Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) for Biden would help the candidate, and he said it would.
"I — I just don't understand the hype behind Joe Biden," McKelvey added.
"You know, to quote [rapper] Tupac, when I see Joe Biden I'm like yo, you really ain't sh*t without yo' homeboy!" he continued.
"Because without Barack Obama, I don't see what all the hype is behind Joe Biden," McKelvey said.
"Like they talk about him being the most electable candidate," he added, "and he's the only person that can beat Trump. How? He hasn't even proven he can beat Bernie Sanders in primary yet! So what makes them think he can beat, you know, Donald Trump?"
McKelvey went on to say that he thought the older black voters would turn out for Biden, but that he hoped that younger voters would turn out too, implying they would vote for a different candidate.
He has previously criticized Biden for suffering from "old white male entitlement," which he explained was a reticence to admit that he had made a policy mistake that negatively impacted African Americans.
Biden was once considered the Democratic front-runner but his campaign is on the downturn since his disastrous performance in the key first contests of the primary. Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has taken the lead after Biden lost support.
Here are the comments from McKelvey:


theblaze--2020-02-28--Garth Brooks wore a 'Sanders' jersey at his Detroit show and people on social media are freaking out

Garth Brooks wore a 'Sanders ' jersey at his Detroit show and people on social media are freaking out There @ @ @ @ @ ...

Country music megastar Garth Brooks donned a "Sanders" jersey during his concert in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday night.
While the locals did not appear to bat an eye, several folks on social media had strong reactions to his wardrobe selection —mistakenly assuming the icon was declaring his support for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
What are the details?
Brooks posted a picture on Instagram showing his #20 Sanders jersey without explanation.
Several fans immediately accused Brooks of being a "Bernie Bro," with one writing, "Sanders?? Don't care about your politics. Love your music. Let's keep politics and your entertainment separate." Another wrote, "If that's a Bernie shirt I just lost a lot of respect for you!"
Another follower replied, "Weird. That a millionaire would like a socialist. Hey Garth are you going to distribute your millions?"
It wasn't just Sanders critics who reacted to what many assumed was an endorsement of the famous socialist. On Twitter, one user posted Garth's jersey photo with the message, "Welp. Looks like @garthbrooks just became my favorite country singer! #FeelTheBern2020."
She added, "And I despise country music."
Another Sanders supporter tweeted, "Love the Sanders jersey! Feel the Bern!"
But numerous football fans tried to set the record straight, commenting on both social media outlets that Brooks was actually wearing the Sanders jersey in honor of former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders.
Brooks confirmed that as fact during his show, paying tribute to the retired Pro Football Hall of Famer.
"Can I just tell ya that you guys got the greatest player in NFL history in my opinion," he told his audience of 70,000 fans.


theblaze--2020-02-28--Joe Biden hit with another investigation — by Ukrainian officials

Joe Biden hit with another investigation — by Ukrainian officials '' They need to investigate this .
They have no @ @ @ @

A Ukrainian court forced the opening of an investigation into claims that former Vice President Joe Biden pressured the resignation of a special prosecutor in order to benefit his son Hunter Biden.
The Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigations confirmed the investigation into Biden's motivation to press for the 2016 dismissal of Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, according to a report from the Washington Post.
The investigation mirrors the demand made by President Donald Trump in an infamous call made with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The accusations of a "quid pro quo" with Zelensky led to the two impeachment charges that were issued against the president by the Democrat-led House of Representatives.
"They need to investigate this. They have no other alternative," said Shokin's lawyer Oleksandr Teleshetsky.
"They are required to do this by the decision of the court," he added. "If they don't, then they violate a whole string of procedural norms."
Shokin has claimed that his resignation was forced in order to prevent a probe into Burisma, an energy company that had appointed Hunter Biden as a board member in 2014.
Republicans in the U.S. Senate have also opened an investigation into the claims of corruption against Biden and his son.
Hunter Biden is also entangled in his own scandal having to do with fathering a child with a former exotic dancer from a Washington, D.C., club he frequented.
Biden was considered the front-runner in the Democratic presidential primary, but his campaign has performed disastrously in the first state contests, paving the way for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to seize the lead.
Here's more about the Biden Burisma scandal:


theblaze--2020-02-28--Dozens of Turkish soldiers killed in Syrian airstrike, Turkey vows retaliation

Turkish officials are calling for 'concrete actions ' from NATO allies

Turkey said Thursday that dozens of its soldiers were killed in northwestern Syria in an airstrike carried out by the Syrian government, and a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised Turkey would "retaliate against the illegal regime."
What are the details?
The Associated Press reported that the governor of Turkey's Hatay province, Rahmi Dogan, said 29 Turkish troops were killed and another 30-plus wounded in an airstrike carried out in the Syrian province of Idlib.
President Erdogan called an emergency meeting with his top security officials after the attack, according to the Washington Post, which cited local media reports.
Turkish officials blamed the Russian-backed Syrian government ruled by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the attack, and Erdogan spokesman Fahrettin Altun promised Turkey would "retaliate against the illegal regime, which pointed their guns at our soldiers."
The New York Times reported that the attack "could dramatically change the course of the Syrian war as fears grow of a direct conflict between Russia and Turkey, a NATO member." The outlet noted Turkish protesters rallied outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul, chanting, "Murder Russia! Murder Putin!"
According to the Times, the spokesman for President Erdogan's Justice and Development Party told CNN Turk news channel, "The attack against Turkey is an attack against NATO. NATO should have been with Turkey, not starting today but from before these events. We are expecting concrete actions on the safe zone and no-fly zone."
Anything else?
Turkey also announced that it would not longer stop Syrian refugees from fleeing to Europe by land or sea, Reuters reported. A Turkish official told the outlet that Turkey's police, coast guard, and border security officials have all been told to stand down in anticipation of waves of more civilians fleeing Idlib.
Net tracking group NetBlocks.org reported on Twitter Thursday night after the attack that "social media have now been restricted in #Turkey for over two hours. Live network data show transfer of image/video content now also limited on WhatsApp following #Idlib incident."
The organization noted that Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have also been restricted in the country.


theblaze--2020-02-28--Fox Nation's Britt McHenry reveals that she has a brain tumor

Fox Nation 's Britt McHenry reveals that she has a brain tumor

Britt McHenry, the host of online streaming channel Fox Nation, revealed Thursday that she has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
The 33-year-old said on Twitter that she was forced to make the matter public after details were leaked without her consent.
"I was trying to keep this relatively private. But as usual, things are being said without my consent," she tweeted.
"I have a brain tumor," she said. "I'm with an amazing medical team and surgery is imminent. Thank you for continued support and understanding at this time."
McHenry filed a lawsuit against a former Fox Nation host and Fox News over accusations that she had been sexually harassed. She claimed in her lawsuit that George Murdoch, who is known as "Tyrus" on the show, had sent her sexually explicit messages via phone texts. Fox News said it investigated the claims and found them without merit.
She had detailed medical issues from her social media account before the revelation Thursday.
"I had good & bad news today. Overwhelmed by the support by friends & strangers alike," McHenry tweeted Tuesday.
"With the best surgeons and doctors. Just another thing to take on," she concluded before recommending to her more than 220,000 followers to get MRI scans early.
Here's more about McHenry's lawsuit:


theblaze--2020-02-28--Fact-checkers rip Bloomberg and Biden for false claims regarding Trump's handling of coronavirus

Fact-checkers rip Bloomberg and Biden for false claims regarding Trump 's handling of coronavirus The response has been 'excellent ' @ @ @ @

Democrats have blasted President Trump's handling of the coronavirus, accusing him of mishandling and underfunding the federal government's response to the outbreak. The Associated Press now says the allegations made by two leading presidential hopefuls are false.
According to Fox News, the AP declared that former Vice President Joe Biden and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg were "both wrong" when they claimed during Tuesday's debate in South Carolina that Trump had carried out funding cuts for federal health agencies.
What did they say?
Both Bloomberg and Biden argued the nation's 45th president restricted resources for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health, and that this has debilitated the federal government's ability to manage a public health risk.
"There's nobody here to figure out what the hell we should be doing. And he's defunded — he's defunded Centers for Disease Control, CDC, so we don't have the organization we need. This is a very serious thing," Bloomberg said.
Biden made a leveled a similar charge.
"We increased the budget of the CDC. We increased the NIH budget. ... He's wiped all that out. ... He cut the funding for the entire effort," said the former vice president.
'The CDC's response has been excellent'
The AP analyzed the claims and determined the budget cuts never went into effect. In fact, funding to fight the spread of the virus came from a congressional fund dedicated to health emergencies.
In fact, at least one independent expert has applauded the administration's response to the coronavirus.
"The CDC's response has been excellent, as it has been in the past," said John Auerbach, president of the nonpartisan Trust for America's Health, which works closely with officials at the local, state, and federal levels to enhance the nation's readiness for health-related crises.
The fact-checkers also noted that claims made by Democrats that there is "nobody here" to coordinate the response the coronavirus "sells short what's in place to handle an outbreak."
"The public health system has a playbook to follow for pandemic preparation — regardless of who's president or whether specific instructions are coming from the White House," reported the AP. "Those plans were put into place in anticipation of another flu pandemic, but are designed to work for any respiratory-borne disease."


theblaze--2020-02-28--CDC warns coronavirus outbreak in US is not a matter of if, but when

CDC warns coronavirus outbreak in US is not a matter of if , but when

According to top officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an outbreak of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, in the U.S. is inevitable, stating that it's not a question of if, but when it will happen.
"We expect we will see community spread in this country. It's not so much a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, during a press briefing Wednesday.
On the radio program Thursday, Glenn Beck discussed what a COVID-19 outbreak would look like in the United States. The CDC said school closures, postponed events, and self-quarantine are all possibilities.
Watch the video below for more information:
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theblaze--2020-02-28--'Abortion time! TAKE 2': Disturbing video shows girls gleefully celebrating getting an abortion at P

'Abortion time! TAKE 2': Disturbing video shows girls gleefully celebrating getting an abortion at Planned Parenthood

'Abortion time !
TAKE 2 ' : Disturbing video shows girls gleefully celebrating getting an abortion at Planned Parenthood One @ @ @ @ @ in the waiting room

A video of young women celebrating as they document a trip to Planned Parenthood for an abortion is going viral for its shock value, as the girls are seen laughing, dancing, and even fist-pumping in the waiting room of the clinic before taking the camera into the procedure room.
What are the details?
The clip, uploaded to social media site TikTok, has been widely shared. Lila Rose, founder and president of pro-life advocacy group Live Action, posted the video to Twitter on Thursday, reporting that it had already racked up more than 4 million views.
Rose — whose organization's pro-life advertising has been banned by Twitter in the past — pointed out that the video violated "countless Community Guidelines" before adding:
"Our ability to be cruel is endless. When society celebrates abortion, should we be surprised to see this kind of cruelty? My heart breaks for this little helpless baby, killed on camera, his young mother joking about it. And it breaks for her, who will live with this all her life."
The video begins with the caption, "Abortion time! TAKE 2," and two young women are seen getting ready, while laughter can be heard in the background. The footage then cuts to the young women parked in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic as the apparent patient laughs in the passenger seat.
Once inside, two people can be seen in the waiting room holding hands, appearing somber, with a caption that reads, "There's two abortion moods." The subject of the video is then seen fist-pumping and dancing and appears to be in the same waiting room.
The final scene shows the young woman in an exam room, feet elevated in apparent preparation for a procedure. A close-up of the screen showing an ultrasound is the last image the viewer is left with.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Chiefs' Travis Kelce joined in kneeling protest, but he's facing backlash over his comments about vi

Chiefs' Travis Kelce joined in kneeling protest, but he's facing backlash over his comments about visiting the White House

Chiefs ' Travis Kelce joined in kneeling protest , but he 's facing backlash over his comments about visiting the @ @ @ @ @ unhappy at his decision about the Super Bowl celebration

Kansas City Chiefs star player Travis Kelce is facing online criticism after he explained why he would visit the White House to celebrate the team's Super Bowl victory despite his personal political objections.
"Grew up my whole life watching teams win championships and then go to the White House and get recognized for their greatness... regardless of who is in office I think it's a unique opportunity to experience our nations Capital," he tweeted.
While Kelce was excited to visit the White House, many online were less than enthused, as they were expecting him to protest against President Donald Trump. Kelce had previously participated in the controversial kneeling protest during the national anthem.
Kelce's teammate, Frank Clark, had mixed feelings about attending.
"I know historically," he said, "that's something you do as a Super Bowl champion. But we'll see, man. It's a lot of mixed emotions about stuff going on there. We'll see."
Kansas City Head coach Andy Reid said that he would be attending the celebration.
"If they're inviting us, I'll be there," Reid said. "It's quite an honor, I think."
President Trump had said previously that he was excited to host the Chiefs.
"Every one of them wants to be here. And the coach loves us. The coach is great. Andy Reid," he said.
Here's more about the White House visit:


theblaze--2020-02-27--Glenn Beck: Bernie Sanders and 'Bros' are more dangerous than we ever imagined

Glenn Beck : Bernie Sanders and 'Bros ' are more dangerous than we ever imagined Show me your friends and @ @ @ @ @ future

The Democrats are on the verge of nominating for president of the United States a man whose lifelong ambition has been to radically transform our nation into a socialist stronghold, who repeatedly fails to speak out against the violence his campaign workers and supporters advocate, and who has praised (and is still praising) nearly every communist regime throughout history.
If you are one of the millions of Americans who see Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as a harmless, Sweden-loving man of the people, think again. Bernie's brand of "democratic socialism" is full of Marxist philosophy, revolutionary thinking, anti-police rhetoric, and even support for authoritarian governments.
Then there are the people helping Bernie win the Democratic nomination. From his senior campaign staff to the so-called "Bernie Bros.," the socialist senator's supporters have a history with some of America's most radical movements and revolution attempts.
On Wednesday's GlennTV special, Glenn Beck exposed the truth about Sen. Sanders' dangerous extremist ideals and the radicals who are running his presidential campaign.
Watch the video clip from Glenn's Wednesday night special below:
The full episode is available on-demand with your subscription to BlazeTV.
Use code GLENN to save $10 when you subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Over 8,000 in California, hundreds in Massachusetts being monitored for coronavirus

Over 8,000 in California , hundreds in Massachusetts being monitored for coronavirus The disease may be starting to spread among @

Thousands in California and Massachusetts are being monitored for coronavirus in preparation for an outbreak in the U.S., officials from each state have reported.
What are the details?
More than 8,400 people in California are being monitored for COVID-19, or commonly known as coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday, also confirming that 33 people in the state have contracted the virus.
On Wednesday, the state reported the first coronavirus contraction without a known cause in the U.S., leading to speculation that a "community spread" may be starting. The patient had not recently traveled to a foreign country and had not been exposed to another known infected person, authorities said.
"We are not overreacting but we are not underreacting," Newsom said in the news conference. "Yesterday's case generated a lot of attention, but we all knew this was inevitable."
The news follows an announcement from Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel that over 600 in that state have been quarantined while being monitored following their return from China.
The Massachusetts individuals — 608 in total — have voluntarily placed themselves under a 14-day quarantine in their homes, according to Bharel. Of the quarantined individuals, 377 have completed the monitoring with no symptoms, but 231 are still completing the process and are being monitored.
Bharel stressed that the health risk for the area "remains low," and that there is currently no "community-level spread" in the state.
"We're preparing for whatever comes our way here in Massachusetts," she added. "People should live their lives normally, and go about their normal activities."
Health officials say an epidemic in the US is inevitable
On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans to prepare for the spread of the disease in communities across the country, saying it is not matter of if — but when.
Nancy Messonnier, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said that "as more and more countries experience community spread, successful containment at our borders becomes harder and harder."
Messonnier also said that two out of three "requirements" for a "pandemic of new disease" have been met, and thus Americans should start to prepare for a mass spread.
"It's not a question of if this will happen, but when this will happen, and how many people in this country will have severe illnesses," she added, warning that "disruption to everyday life might be severe."
To date, the disease has infected over 80,000 around the world and has resulted in over 2,700 deaths. While most of the infections and fatalities have occurred in China, experts fear that the virus will begin to spread rapidly to the rest of the world.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Village People say President Trump has been 'respectful' of their songs, has every right to play the

Village People say President Trump has been 'respectful' of their songs, has every right to play them at rallies — and leftists go nuclear

Village People say President Trump has been 'respectful ' of their songs , has every right to play them at @ @ @ @ @ nuclear 'You 've lost the f***ing plot .
Where is your sense of self-respect ?
@

The Village People's iconic disco-era tune "Macho Man" blasted through the speakers at a stadium as President Donald Trump made his entrance during a visit to India earlier this week — and many among the 100,000-plus in attendance cheered, danced, and appeared quite ecstatic:
But left-wing fans of the Village People? They're not happy in the least.
What's going on?
Seems the Village People have been getting an earful from folks who are hoppin' mad that the group's music is played at Trump rallies.
So the Village People on their Facebook page sent a message to their fans addressing the issue:
"We have received numerous requests demanding that we prevent or ban President Donald Trump's use of our songs, particularly 'Y.M.C.A.' and 'Macho Man,'" the group's post began. "With the latest use of 'Macho Man' in India, we are being inundated and can no longer remain silent."
The Village People went on to say that since their music "is not being used for a specific endorsement, the president's use is 'perfect[ly]' legal" and that Trump "has remained respectful in his use of our songs and has not crossed the line."
The group added that "if he or any other candidate were to use any of our songs in a manner that would suggest our endorsement, or in a promotional advertisement, that would cross the line."
"Like millions of Village People fans worldwide, the president and his supporters have shown a genuine like for our music," the Village People concluded. "Our music is all-inclusive and certainly everyone is entitled to do the YMCA dance, regardless of their political affiliation. Having said that, we certainly don't endorse his use as we'd prefer our music be kept out of politics."
Let the backlash begin
As you might expect, leftists flipped out at the Village People over their position on the issue:
"How is Trump, who is ENDORSED by the GOP, not an endorsement of your music being used by a specific party? Really disappointed in the band for taking this stance."
"You've lost the f***ing plot. Where is your sense of self-respect?"
"This should be a no-brainer: simply by having your material as accompaniment to Trump's events, whether it's playing under his entrance onstage or used to get the crowds going, it is by definition promotional. You're being disingenuous when you deny the obvious: the audience is going to associate what they hear with what they see, and pretending it's all a non-partisan use of your songs is willful blindness. This is an administration directly and proudly dedicated to defeating inclusiveness in this country, so it's shameful that your music, which has always promoted tolerance and acceptance, should be used as a rallying cry to bludgeon those who believe in the sanctity of 'all men created equal.' But perhaps it's my bad: I keep forgetting that artistry doesn't necessarily come equipped with integrity."
"You can choose to distance yourself from the perception that you are endorsing Trump by requesting that he no longer use it, as other artists have already done. Considering the administration's actions toward the LGBT community, I would think you would want to make a bolder statement than this. Enjoy those royalties."
"Cop out."
"Seriously? What the actual f*** guys. You're better than this."
"Disappointing...wonder how much you got paid and how much you needed the money...let's face it, that's what it boiled down to...Trump is the biggest disgrace this country has ever seen, and you fed right into it."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night. Gross."
"Ugh. No."
But a cursory look at the comments the group received showed that the majority were positive, thanking the Village People for taking the high road in an entertainment universe full of political venom. Here's one of the more humorous takes:
Image source: Facebook
(H/T: Red State)


theblaze--2020-02-27--Taylor Swift is unrecognizable as she dresses as a man for her new music video all about feminism an

Taylor Swift is unrecognizable as she dresses as a man for her new music video all about feminism and sexism @ @ @ @ @ whatever

Pop star Taylor Swift is at it again — this time with a music video for her latest single, the feminist anthem "The Man."
What are the details?
In the video, Swift dresses up as a man and parades around, exhibiting stereotypically negative male behaviors such as demeaning subordinates, carousing, having temper tantrums over sports, smoking large cigars while manspreading on the subway, and, of course, objectifying women.
Swift released the video Thursday, and if the male lead looks familiar, it should: It's Swift herself dressed up in layers of makeup and hair.
The 30-year-old singer-songwriter portrays a suave and debonair businessman who engages in decades of abominable behaviors, including, but not limited to, marrying a woman several generations his junior when he grows to be an elderly playboy.
Swift's video has been viewed more than 3 million times.
You can read the song's full lyrics below.
I would be complex
I would be cool
They'd say I played the field before
I found someone to commit to
And that would be okay
For me to do
Every conquest I had made
Would make me more of a boss to you
I'd be a fearless leader
I'd be an alpha type
When everyone believes ya
What's that like?
I'm so sick of running
As fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker
If I was a man
And I'm so sick of them
Coming at me again
'Cause if I was a man
Then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man
They'd say I hustled
Put in the work
They wouldn't shake their heads
And question how much of this I deserve
What I was wearing, if I was rude
Could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves
And we would toast to me, oh, let the players play
I'd be just like Leo, in Saint-Tropez
I'm so sick of running
As fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker
If I was a man
And I'm so sick of them
Coming at me again
'Cause if I was a man
Then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man
What's it like to brag about raking in dollars
And getting b****es and models?
And it's all good if you're bad
And it's okay if you're mad
If I was out flashin' my dollas
I'd be a b****, not a baller
They'd paint me out to be bad
So it's okay that I'm mad
I'm so sick of running
As fast as I can (as fast as I can)
Wondering if I'd get there quicker
If I was a man (hey!)
And I'm so sick of them
Coming at me again (coming at me again!)
'Cause if I was a man (if I was man)
Then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man (oh)
I'd be the man (yeah)
I'd be the man (I'd be the man)


theblaze--2020-02-27--Here's why Dems should be more interested in contracting coronavirus than voting for Pete Buttigieg

Here 's why Dems should be more interested in contracting coronavirus than voting for Pete Buttigieg

On Thursday's episode of "Stu Does America," Stu explained why Democrats ought to be more interested in contracting coronavirus than voting for former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg in the Democratic presidential primary election. Watch the video below for the full story:
Want more from Stu?
To enjoy more of Stu's lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Democratic former Baltimore mayor sentenced to three years in prison over children's book scandal

Democratic former Baltimore mayor sentenced to three years in prison over children 's book scandal 'This is not the last @ @ @ @ @ Pugh '

A federal judge sentenced Baltimore's former Democratic mayor to three years in federal prison Thursday following what became a nationwide scandal involving her self-published children's book series.
According to the Baltimore Sun:
Pugh, 69, asked U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow for mercy and apologized in court "to anyone I have offended or hurt through my actions."
Outside the courthouse, Pugh again apologized to the people of Baltimore, stating "nobody loves Baltimore more than I do."
She also said that she had not intended any harm, but nonetheless would pay the price for her actions. She told reporters: "This is not the last you'll see of Catherine Pugh."
Chasanow had some harsh words for the former mayor in response and her crime.
"This was not a tiny mistake, lapse of judgment," the judge said in the newspaper's report. "This became a very large fraud. The nature and circumstances of this offense clearly I think are extremely, extremely serious."
Pugh's corruption saga began last spring when it was revealed that she had sold $500,000 of her "Healthy Holly" books to the University of Maryland Medical System — where she served as a board member while an elected official — over the course of several years. She also failed to report the sales of the books on ethics forms.
Following calls for her to step down, as well as IRS and FBI searches of her homes and offices, Pugh resigned the following May, saying in a statement that she was "sorry for the harm that I have caused to the image of the city of Baltimore, and to the credibility of the office of the mayor."
Pugh was eventually indicted on several federal fraud and tax evasion charges in November. Prosecutors accused her of accepting payments for books she never intended to deliver, and selling books to companies and nonprofits that either did business or were attempting to do business with the city of Baltimore. She would later plead guilty to four of the charges.
The books themselves became a point of ridicule for its sloppy publishing and numerous spelling and grammatical errors. The event became the subject of a segment of comedian John Oliver's HBO show "Last Week Tonight."
According to the Baltimore Sun, Pugh was also ordered to pay $400,000 restitution to the medical system and will have to forfeit her home, the Baltimore Sun reports. She has also agree to have all the book copies in government custody destroyed.


theblaze--2020-02-27--History prof gives 'trigger warning' to class before reciting historical document containing N-word.

History prof gives 'trigger warning' to class before reciting historical document containing N-word. Student sit-in, hunger strike follow.

History prof gives 'trigger warning ' to class before reciting historical document containing N-word .
Student sit-in , hunger strike @ @ @ @ @ a `` trigger warning '' before her recitation does not lessen the pain caused by @ @ @ @ @ '

After a University of Oklahoma history professor prepared her class with a "trigger warning," she recited a "historical document" containing numerous N-word references, which she also read aloud, according to a letter to the OU community from interim President Joseph Harroz.
"We are all weary of racially charged incidents occurring within our university community," Harroz noted, adding that the professor "could have made the point without reciting the actual word, [but] she chose otherwise. Her issuance of a 'trigger warning' before her recitation does not lessen the pain caused by the use of the word. For students in the class, as well as members of our community, this was another painful experience. It is common sense to avoid uttering the most offensive word in the English language, especially in an environment where the speaker holds the power."
As a result of the incident, which took place Monday, the Norman Transcript reported — as well as another earlier this month when a journalism professor told his class that saying "OK, boomer" is akin to calling someone a "n*****" — Harroz said all faculty, staff, and administrators will undergo a "required diversity, equity, and inclusion training regimen" that will address "our implicit bias" and "force us to consider our words and actions."
Also coming is an "incident response protocol that quickly employs culturally restorative justice practices designed to create a pathway to reconciliation through education and the changing of behavior," Harroz added.
Campus Reform said it asked OU for more details on the training and if the history professor had been reprimanded but received no response in time for publication.
Then what?
On Wednesday, more than 100 students, faculty, and staff staged a sit-in at Evans Hall, an administration building that's home to the president's office and the office of Provost Kyle Harper, the Transcript said.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Faculty from OU's offices of Student Affairs and Diversity and Inclusion stayed with students through Wednesday night, the paper said, adding that six executive members of OU's Black Emergency Response Team — which led the sit-in — are on a hunger strike and haven't eaten since at least 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
"We are here today as Black students who are fed up," Miles Francisco, co-director of BERT, told the Transcript. "... We're tired of talking, we're tired of meeting, we're tired of sitting, we're tired of waiting."
Student demands
BERT issued demands to the administration in the wake of the two incidents, the paper said:
The provost's resignation
Mandatory equity training for all faculty (which Harroz announced in his Monday letter)
Mandatory semesterlong class for all incoming and transfer students that trains them in diversity
A multicultural student center for marginalized student groups with an office, study and meeting spaces, multimedia lab, computer lab, auditorium — and a Popeyes restaurant.
Significantly more black therapists and counselors to help students adequately process racism and trauma.
"We will not leave Evans Hall until we have a signed resignation letter from Provost Harper and a signed contract from President Harroz, VP [David] Surratt, and the interim provost affirming a specific timeline to get these demands met fully," BERT said in a statement, the Transcript said. "We will be sitting in Evans Hall permanently until these demands are met. To the upper administration: there will be no meetings, you either meet our demands or you starve us of our freedom. Join us."
The paper added that BERT representatives on Thursday were meeting in an undisclosed location with Harper.
In addition, the university released a statement Thursday morning saying it's working on some of BERT's demands and will create a semesterlong general education course for the student diversity training experience and expand mental health resources on campus, the Transcript said.
However, OU's statement doesn't address the demand that Harper resign, the demand for a multicultural center on campus, or the demand for more black counselors and therapists, the paper added.
In response, BERT said the sit-in will continue since not all of their demands have been met, the Transcript reported.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Coronavirus response in Iran hindered by government disinformation and economic sanctions

'They always want to hide the truth' Coronavirus response in Iran hindered by government disinformation and economic sanctions Officials carry @ @ @ @ @ trains to prevent spreading the new type of coronavirus in the capital city Tehran , @ @ @ @ @ Agency via Getty Images )

The coronavirus outbreak in Iran may be much worse than officials are letting on, and doctors in the country believe the virus has been there for weeks longer than previously disclosed by the government, according to Time.
Iranian officials have attempted to downplay the seriousness of COVID-19 — but those efforts seem to have contributed to some of those officials getting the virus themselves. Among those officials who have contracted coronavirus are the deputy health minister, a member of parliament, a mayor in Tehran, and the head of a medical university in Qom.
"The reason these government officials are contracting the virus is because, they always want to hide the truth; so they don't use any protective measures when going from this hospital to another just so they project this image that there's nothing serious going on. It's only natural that they have been exposed to the virus," an anesthesiologist in Iran told Time anonymously.
Doctors in Iran believe coronavirus has been there for three or four weeks, although its presence in Iran was not announced by the government until last week. Out of 245 confirmed cases there have been 26 deaths. But medical experts in Iran believe that limitations in Iran's testing capability mean there are likely hundreds more cases that can't be confirmed.
"We didn't have a way to test people earlier and don't have the capacity to screen everyone," an Iranian doctor told Time in a phone interview. "Let me put it this way, if in general two out of 100 corona patients die, in Iran, if we now have 20 deaths that means we have 1,000 infected patients."
Multiple doctors told Time that people have been dying of flu-like symptoms even though they tested negative for the flu. They believe those could've been coronavirus patients, but there was no way to confirm at the time.
In addition to the problem of government officials underestimating or downplaying the severity, some of the sanctions against Iran make it difficult for them to get the supplies they need to treat a higher volume of patients. From Time:
Medical workers also said that their equipment is badly outdated, a situation made worse by the U.S. sanctions on the Iranian economy. Although the U.S. administration says "humanitarian and medical needs" are exempt from sanctions, few European companies dare to do business in Iran in fear of potential retribution from the U.S. Moreover, sanctions on Iranian banks make it highly complicated to carry out transactions with Europe.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Lawyers for Lori Loughlin and husband say new evidence in college admissions scam exonerates them of

Lawyers for Lori Loughlin and husband say new evidence in college admissions scam exonerates them of wrongdoing The money was @ @ @ @ @ a bribe , they say

Lawyers for actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, argue that new evidence proves the couple did not knowingly bribe their daughters into admission to the University of Southern California.
According to a report by CBS News, prosecutors recently provided the defense with new information, including notes written by Rick Singer — the admitted mastermind of the college admissions scandal — in which he alleges that the FBI told him to lie by saying that he made known to parents involved in the scheme that their payments were bribes, and not "legitimate donations," as Loughlin has maintained.
"They continue to ask me to tell a fib and not restate what I told my clients as to where their money was going — to the program not the coach and that it was a donation and they want it to be a payment," Singer reportedly wrote in the filing.
Defense attorneys argue that the notes written by Singer about his discussions with the FBI supports the couple's claim that they were not under the impression that their payments were bribes.
"This belated discovery ... is devastating to the government's case and demonstrates that the government has been improperly withholding core exculpatory information, employing a 'win at all costs' effort rather than following their obligation to do justice," wrote defense attorney Sean Berkowtiz.
On Thursday, a federal judge scheduled an Oct. 5 trial for Loughlin, her husband and six others, Variety reported.
What's the background?
The "Full House" actress and her husband are accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to ensure their daughters were accepted into USC as crew recruits despite neither of them having any experience as rowers.
They were charged last March as part of the largest college admissions cheating scandal ever prosecuted in the U.S.
Loughlin has maintained her and her husband's innocence, arguing that they did not knowingly pay off the university in turn for their daughters' admission. Last April, a source close to Loughlin claimed that the actress "felt that she hadn't done anything that any mom wouldn't have done, if they had the means to do so."
The couple had also reportedly accused the prosecution of "concealing" key evidence in the trial that would prove their innocence. In a court motion filed in December, the couple's lawyers asked a judge to turn over FBI records needed to mount a proper defense.
"This court's intervention is urgently needed," defense lawyers wrote in the filing. "The government is applying a flawed disclosure standard that systematically deprives Giannulli and Loughlin of information necessary to prepare their case and ensure a fair trial."
What's next?
While the new evidence at least appears to put the prosecution on the defensive, it is unclear whether it will effectively exonerate Loughlin and Giannulli.
In its coverage of the news, Hot Air asks whether Singer's word is reliable, anyways: "If Singer's word can't be trusted in his own notes to himself, why should a jury believe Singer when he testifies that Loughlin and Giannulli knew that the money was a bribe and not a donation?"
Then there is the accusation that, in addition to paying half a million dollars to Singer, the couple also created a fake resume for one of their daughters.
Here's more about this story:


theblaze--2020-02-27--Newly proposed bill in California would require stores' toy aisles to be gender-neutral

Newly proposed bill in California would require stores ' toy aisles to be gender-neutral Businesses that fail to comply could @ @ @

As California faces a major homeless crisis, skyrocketing taxes, and serious affordable housing issues, a California state legislator is focused on issues that truly matter: gender-neutral toy aisles.
According to KRON-TV in San Francisco, a new California law would require retailers to have gender-neutral sections inside of their stores.
Proposed by Assemblyman Evan Low (D), Assembly Bill 2826 would apply to retail department stores with over 500 employees. If passed, the law would eliminate boys and girls aisles, and require that children's toys be offered in one, gender-neutral section inside the store.
"A retail department store shall maintain one, undivided area of its sales floor where, if it sells childcare articles, all childcare articles, regardless of whether a particular item has traditionally been marketed for either girls or for boys, shall be displayed," reads the text of the bill.
Low's proposed legislation adds: "Keeping similar items that are traditionally marketed either for girls or for boys separated makes it more difficult for the consumer to compare the products and incorrectly implies that their use by one gender is inappropriate."
The bill specifies that it extends to toys, clothing, and other children's products:
(f) For purposes of this section: (1) "Childcare articles" means any product designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep, relaxation, or the feeding of children, or to help children with sucking or teething.(2) "Clothing" means any wearing apparel, worn for any purpose, including under and outer garments, shoes, and accessories composed primarily of woven material, natural or synthetic yarn, fiber, or leather or similar fabric.(3) "Toys" means all products designed or intended by the manufacturer to be used by children when they play.
Though the law would not go into effect for a couple years, if approved by the California state assembly, retailers that do not comply could face a civil fine of $1,000 beginning Jan. 1, 2023.


theblaze--2020-02-27--More bad news for Joe Biden clan: Judge orders Hunter Biden to appear for sworn testimony

More bad news for Joe Biden clan : Judge orders Hunter Biden to appear for sworn testimony 'Unless his hair @ @ @ @ @ needs to be in Arkansas ' to testify

Joe Biden has had a rough few weeks. After losing three consecutive Democratic primary election battles in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, an Arkansas judge has now ordered the former vice president's son to testify in court in person.
According to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Circuit Judge Holly Meyer has ordered Hunter Biden to appear next month for a deposition after he said he was unavailable until April.
"He needs to make himself available and unless his hair is on fire, he needs to be in Arkansas and he needs to be in a deposition," she told the lawyers involved in the case during a recent telephone call.
What's this about?
Hunter Biden is the defendant in a paternity lawsuit filed by Lunden Alexis Roberts. In January, an Arkansas court determined that the 50-year-old Biden is the father of her toddler after a DNA established his paternity.
The legal battle now turns to the issue of child support, which Biden has delayed, claiming that he is unemployed.
In a Nov. 27 affidavit, Biden swore to the court that he did not have a reliable source of income since last May.
Clint Lancaster, an attorney representing the child's mother, had tried unsuccessfully to depose Biden before a March 13 pretrial hearing. However, Biden's attorney, Brent Langdon, has argued a notice of deposition instructing Biden to testify in Little Rock on March 5, was "unduly burdensome and oppressive."
Langdon wrote that Biden "can be available April 1, 2020," in a "motion to quash" and "motion for protective order" he filed on Tuesday.
"My client cannot be available prior to that date," he argued.
However, during a conference call with lawyers on Wednesday, Judge Meyer probed Langdon on Biden's availability and current employment status.
"My question to you is, why could your client not be available until after April 1? All the information I have is that he's unemployed," she said, according to the Democrat Gazette.
Langdon did not tell the court what was keeping Biden so busy, the report said.
What else?
Democrats fret that Hunter Biden testifying in court could further jeopardize his father's campaign, as he could be forced to disclose the nature and sources of his business dealings in Ukraine, which came under scrutiny during the Democratic-led impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump.
Judge Meyer ordered Hunter Biden to appear in court in January after he was accused of improperly withholding financial records. Hunter Biden was instructed to "show cause, if any exists, as to why he should not be held in contempt for any of the alleged violations of this Court's orders."
Hunter Biden has denied any allegations of wrongdoing.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Bill to ban performing transgender procedures on minors moves forward in Alabama Legislature

'It is irresponsible to permanently mutilate them '

A bill to prohibit doctors from performing transgender medical treatments on minor-aged children moved ahead in two committees of the Alabama Legislature on Wednesday, bringing it another step closer to becoming law.
Introduced last week, the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, which is sponsored by Republican state lawmakers Rep. Wes Allen and Sen. Shay Shelnutt, would "prohibit the performance of a medical procedure or the prescription or issuance of medication, upon or to a minor child, that is intended to alter the minor child's gender or delay puberty" and would make doing so a class C felony under state law. It does, however, make exception in the case of procedures "undertaken to treat a minor born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development."
According to a story at AL.com, the bill is now ready to be considered and voted on in both of the state's legislative chambers:
The Alabama House Health Committee approved Allen's bill [Wednesday] morning after 10 people spoke at a public hearing on the measure, five in favor and five against. They included medical professionals on both sides and people with first-hand experiences on both sides. The committee approval moves the bill in line for consideration by the full House.
Several Democratic lawmakers on the committee opposed the bill, which was approved on a voice vote.
The Senate Health Committee followed with a public hearing on Shelnutt's bill that included some of the same speakers and some different speakers. Both hearings drew overflow crowds. The Senate Health Committee approved Shelnutt's bill on a 10-1 vote, sending it to the full Senate.
The findings section of the bill says, "Studies have shown that a substantial majority of pre-pubescent children who claim a gender identity different from their biological sex will ultimately identify with their biological sex by young adulthood or sooner when supported through their natural puberty," and adds, "The continued performing of these therapies upon children constitutes a public health risk."
"These patients are children who have not reached physical or mental maturity," Allen said in announcing the bill last week, according to the Yellowhammer News. "It is irresponsible to permanently mutilate them at their request or at the request of their parents. We don't allow minors to enter into contracts, buy alcohol or get a credit card because they aren't capable of making those decisions and we should not allow them to do this either."
And, naturally, transgender advocates are opposed to the measure. In a statement opposing the bill, Human Rights Campaign Alabama State Director Carmarion D. Anderson criticized "anti-trans legislators" for "targeting transgender and non-binary youth, spreading misinformation and using vicious, harmful rhetoric to advance an extremist agenda," the Associated Press reported.
A similar bill was introduced in South Dakota last month; it passed in the House but ultimately failed in a GOP-led state Senate committee.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Survey: 1 in 5 Europeans believe a secret Jewish cabal orchestrates global affairs

The same number believe 'Jews exploit Holocaust victimhood for their own needs '

One-fifth of Europeans believe an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that a secret Jewish cabal influences global political and economic affairs, a new survey found.
More than 16,000 citizens from 16 different European countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Belgium were interviewed over the last couple months as a part of the survey conducted by the Hungary-based Action and Protection League.
The results were disclosed at a conference on anti-Semitism in Paris on Monday, according to the Jewish Telegraph Agency, which also reported findings that one in five Europeans agreed with the statement that "Jews exploit Holocaust victimhood for their own needs."
Here are some of the other results from the survey:
A quarter of respondents agreed with the statement that Israel's policies make them understand why some people hate Jews.
More than a quarter concurred with the statement that "Israel is engaged in legitimate self defense against its enemies." A quarter of respondents disagreed and 46% did not express a position.
More than a third agreed with the assertion that "During World War II, people from our nation suffered as much as Jews."
A sample of 1,000 adults from each of the 16 countries were presented with 45 questions or statements in face-to-face interviews about Jews and Israel, the Action and Protection League told JTA. The survey reportedly has a margin of error of +/-0.8 percent.
Commenting on the results, Rabbi Slomo Koves, the chairman of the Action and Protection League, reported that Holocaust revisionism and stereotypes about Jewish people were more prevalent in Eastern European countries, while anti-Israel sentiments were more prevalent in Western Europe.
A complete breakdown of the survey results on a country-by-country basis is still being worked out, Koves acknowledged.
The survey follows a similar study conducted by the Anti-Defamation League, an international Jewish organization that aims to stop the defamation of Jewish people worldwide, last spring and summer. That study, which interviewed people living in 18 countries around the world, found that 1 in 4 Europeans "harbor pernicious and pervasive attitudes toward Jews."
Anti-Semitism is not isolated to European countries, though. A recent FBI statement titled, "Confronting the Rise in Anti-Semitic Domestic Terrorism," noted that "2019 was the deadliest year for domestic violent extremism" since 1995.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Transgender woman uses hammer to threaten UK store manager — then avoids jail time after judge can't

Transgender woman uses hammer to threaten UK store manager — then avoids jail time after judge can't decide between male, female prison

Transgender woman uses hammer to threaten UK store manager — then avoids jail time after judge ca n't decide between @ @ @ @ @ live in a society which acknowledges and embraces diversity '

A transgender woman who used a hammer to threaten a store manager in the United Kingdom was spared jail time when a judge couldn't decide whether to send the attacker to a male-only or female-only prison, the Daily Mail reported.
What are the details?
Leila Le Fey, 40, pleaded guilty to common assault and possession of an offensive weapon after trying to steal wine from a store in Brighton last November, the outlet said.
Judge Stephen Mooney initially sentenced Le Fey to six months in jail, but defense lawyers argued that LeFey would be forced to go to an all-male prison after their client failed to present a Gender Recognition Certificate, the Daily Mail noted.
Such a document can be issued only if someone has transitioned for two years, and the outlet said it's unknown when Le Fey transitioned or if Le Fey has undergone any sex reassignment surgery.
Attorney Rebecca Upton also said Le Fey would be vulnerable in a male-only prison and couldn't be kept in solitary confinement, the Daily Mail said, adding that the judge recalled Le Fey to court an hour after his initial sentence.
"We live in a society which acknowledges and embraces diversity and allows and encourages people to live the life they want to," Mooney said, according to the outlet. "Sometimes society does not make the necessary or appropriate adjustments in all ways it can to reflect the adjustments of society as a whole."
With that, the judge gave Le Fey a six-month suspended sentence in the "hope for some form of rehabilitation," the Daily Mail said.
What's the background?
An intoxicated Le Fey threatened store manager Enoch Adetayo with a hammer after entering the store at 4 a.m., the outlet said.
Adetayo told police he managed to grab the hammer Le Fey pulled out, the Daily Mail added.
"You were caught in the act of taking some wine and confronted by Adetayo, who was perfectly within his rights to challenge you," Mooney told Le Fey, according to the outlet. "People who work in convenience stores offer a service to the community. They do so for little pay and deserve to be protected."
The judge also said "there is no excuse whatsoever for what you decided to do," the Daily Mail said.
Anything else?
Le Fey has previous convictions for more than 50 offenses, including brandishing a bladed article in public, shoplifting, and low-level violence, the outlet said.
Upton argued that Le Fey's November offense occurred during a period of addiction to alcohol and drugs, the Daily Mail said.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Nancy Pelosi calls for ‘unity, unity, unity’ behind eventual Democratic nominee while trying to crea

Nancy Pelosi calls for ‘unity, unity, unity’ behind eventual Democratic nominee while trying to create distance from Bernie Sanders' far-left agenda

Nancy Pelosi calls for ‘ unity , unity , unity ’ behind eventual Democratic nominee while trying to create distance @ @ @ @ @ agenda 'Do you believe Sen. Sanders ' agenda is mainstream ? '

One of the many questions hanging over the current presidential race is how having self-described democratic socialist and Democratic primary frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as the party's nominee might impact Democrats' efforts to hold on to control of the House of Representatives.
On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) answered a question to that effect by urging "unity" behind whoever her party's eventual nominee is — Sanders included — but was also careful to create some distance between the House Democrats' campaign agenda and the socialist senator's far-left policy aspirations.
"You just said that it's your job to put forth an agenda that's mainstream and I think I heard you say 'non-menacing,'" one reporter said. "And your agenda, though, differs somewhat from Sen. Sanders' agenda; you're not advocating, for instance, 'Medicare for All.' So I'm wondering, do you believe Sen. Sanders' agenda is mainstream?"
"Well, I think that health care is the most important issue in the campaign," Pelosi began. "There are three issues: Health care, health care, and health care."
She went on to say that's why one part of House Democrats' agenda in the 2018 midterm election was to address health care costs by trying to lower the costs of prescription drugs.
"Now, it's not unusual for a party platform or the candidates for president to have their own agenda that they would put forth," Pelosi later explained. "And it's not unusual for the House of Representatives to have its agenda as well. We have to win in certain particular areas; we're not about a popular vote in the country or in particular states in terms of the Electoral College. We are district by district, and that's how we won last time."
The speaker went on to add, "When we win, we put everything on the table, have a discussion and see where we go from here, but it's not about causing any division as we go forth. Unity, unity unity. Whoever our nominee is, we will support with respect for his or her positions and hopefully with their respect for our positions as well."
Sanders' far-left agenda includes such controversial positions as a government-backed "Medicare for All" health care plan, a "Green New Deal," taxpayer-funded college tuition and student loan forgiveness, a federal jobs guarantee, and taxpayer-funded universal childcare, among others.
During a recent interview on CBS' "60 Minutes," Sanders was unable to come up with a total cost estimate for his proposals, but simply said, "We have options out there that will pay for it."
Pelosi's remarks come against a background of multiple House Democrats voicing concerns about what having Sanders as the nominee would mean for their prospects and control of the House.
"I think it would be difficult to have a socialist at the top of the ticket," Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) told the Hill earlier this month. "I think he clarifies it and says 'a democratic socialist,' but a socialist is a socialist, whether it's Republican socialist or democratic socialist, if there is such a thing."
Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) also told the Associated Press a couple weeks ago that some Democrats from more moderate congressional districts "might actually have to run away from our nominee to get elected" and also added, "It's highly unlikely that Bernie Sanders will moderate his views, either."
When asked on ABC's "This Week" Sunday whether Sanders' ideology would put Democrats' majority in peril, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said, "I do believe it'll be an extra burden for us to have to carry."


theblaze--2020-02-27--Popular singer says she disappeared from public after being kidnapped, drugged, and raped over a per

Popular singer says she disappeared from public after being kidnapped, drugged, and raped over a period of several days

Popular singer says she disappeared from public after being kidnapped , drugged , and raped over a period of several @

British pop star Duffy — real name Aimee Anne Duffy — says that she disappeared from the public eye after being kidnapped, drugged, and raped over the period of several days.
What are the details?
In a now-viral Wednesday Instagram post, the 35-year-old Duffy recounted her "terrifying" ordeal.
She began by revealing that she spoke to a journalist over the summer, and told him a story he'd likely never forget.
"You can only imagine the amount of times I thought about writing this," she began. "The way I would write it, how I would feel thereafter. Well, not entirely sure why now is the right time, and what it is that feels exciting and liberating for me to talk. I cannot explain it. Many of you wonder what happened to me, where did I disappear to and why."
Duffy continued, "A journalist contacted me, he found a way to reach me and I told him everything this past summer. He was kind and it felt so amazing to finally speak. The truth is, and please trust me I am ok and safe now, I was raped and drugged and held captive over some days.
"Of course," she added, "I survived. The recovery took time. There's no light way to say it. But I can tell you in the last decade, the thousands and thousands of days I committed to wanting to feel the sunshine in my heart again, the sun does now shine."
Duffy went on to reveal that she needed the appropriate amount of time to heal in order to come clean with the allegations.
"You wonder why I did not choose to use my voice to express my pain?" she wrote. "I did not want to show the world the sadness in my eyes. I asked myself, how can I sing from the heart if it is broken? And slowly it unbroke."
What else?
The artist said she plans to reveal further information in the coming days through a "spoken interview."
She concluded, "Please respect this is a gentle move for me to make, for myself, and I do not want any intrusion to my family. Please support me to make this a positive experience."
Duffy enjoyed success around 2007 and 2008 with the release of her hit songs, "Warwick Avenue" and "Mercy." But in recent years, she has not been very active on social media.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Comedian Pete Davidson says he was forced to apologize to Rep. Dan Crenshaw on 'SNL'

Comedian Pete Davidson says he was forced to apologize to Rep. Dan Crenshaw on 'SNL' ' I did make that @ @ @ @ @ name for no reason '

"Saturday Night Live" cast member Pete Davidson made fun of Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) for losing an eye in Afghanistan. Then "SNL" had Crenshaw on for a segment, during which Davidson apologized. At the time, it seemed like a pleasant resolution — now Davidson says he regrets the apology.
YouTube youtu.be
In his new stand-up comedy special, "Alive from New York," Davidson addressed the Crenshaw saga and said he was forced to apologize and that he regrets the fame Crenshaw gained from the situation.
"So I made fun of this guy with an eyepatch and then, like, I kind of got forced to apologize," Davidson said, also adding that he had received death threats. "My roommate (how he refers to his mother) thought I should apologize so that I didn't get shot in the face."
The joke came during a 2018 "SNL" segment during which Davidson made jokes about various congressional candidates. Of Crenshaw, Davidson said he was "surprised he's a congressional candidate from Texas and not a hitman in a porno movie."
Having allegedly found out about the cause of Crenshaw's eye injury just before the segment, Davidson said he decided at the last minute to add on the line, "I'm sorry, I know he lost his eye in war or whatever," which many took to be disrespectful to Crenshaw's military service and sacrifice. Davidson claims it was just an expression because he wasn't completely sure how the injury occurred.
Davidson drove the point home by saying he made Crenshaw needlessly famous.
"The only thing I did do, which I am guilty of — and I apologize for — is I did make that guy famous and a household name for no reason, right?" Davidson said. "I did what, like, Ariana Grande did for me, right? I sucked his d**k at 'SNL.'"
These remarks are, of course, jokes from a comedy routine, so it's difficult or impossible to tell how much truth is in them — but Davidson does appear frustrated with how things played out.
(Content warning: rough language):
(H/T: The Daily Beast)


theblaze--2020-02-27--Study claims self-deportation of 1.1 million illegals to Mexico shrank America’s illegal immigrant p

Study claims self-deportation of 1.1 million illegals to Mexico shrank America’s illegal immigrant population over past decade

Study claims self-deportation of 1.1 million illegals to Mexico shrank America ’ s illegal immigrant population over past decade 'There @ @ @ @ @ flow '

A new study finds that America's illegal immigrant population has actually decreased during the past decade as the result of more than 1 million people voluntarily self-deporting back to Mexico.
"The total undocumented population in the United States continued to decline in 2018, primarily because large numbers of undocumented residents returned to Mexico," the executive summary of a study announced by the Center for Migration Studies of New York on Wednesday states. "From 2010 to 2018, a total of 2.6 million Mexican nationals left the US undocumented population; about 1.1 million, or 45 percent of them, returned to Mexico voluntarily."
The study also found that, during the eight-year window, "The undocumented population from Mexico fell from 6.6 million in 2010 to 5.1 million in 2018, a decline of 1.5 million, or 23 percent."
As a result of the decreased overall illegal immigration population, the study claims, the state of California saw its own illegal population decline by 600,000 from 2010 to 2018, and New York state saw a decrease of 230,000. However, Texas actually saw an increase of 77,000 in its illegal immigrant population over the same time frame, the report adds.
"There's a widespread assumption that everyone wants to come to the United States and no one ever leaves, but that's never been true," Robert Warren, who conducted the study, said in a story at the Washington Times. "There has always been a return flow, but until recently we weren't able to measure it well in the undocumented population."
In order to estimate the United States' illegal immigrant population during the described years, the study employed a series of five steps to derive estimates based on census and survey numbers.
Given the clandestine nature of illegal immigration, it's impossible to know exactly how many illegal immigrants are in the United States at any given time and estimates have varied. As a recent Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report pointed out, DHS estimated a total 12 million in 2015 but a 2018 academic study placed the estimation at 22.1 million.
Furthermore, it's also important to keep in mind that the CMS study analyzes only up until 2018, and therefore doesn't account for immigration flows that happened afterward. For example, 2019 saw overwhelmingly high numbers of apprehensions at the southwest border which peaked in May and eventually leveled off to Obama-era levels towards the end of the calendar year.


theblaze--2020-02-27--Bombshell: Top Dem leaders are planning to stop Bernie Sanders at the convention, says NY Times

Bombshell : Top Dem leaders are planning to stop Bernie Sanders at the convention , says NY Times

Despite Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying she would be "comfortable" with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as the party's nominee in the upcoming presidential election, a bombshell New York Times report says that a growing group of DNC superdelegates and party leaders are planning to stop the democratic socialist at the nominating convention in Milwaukee this summer.
Based on dozens of interviews with party leaders and 93 superdelegates, the Times reported that a significant contingent of top Democrats are secretly planning to stop him at the Democratic National Convention this summer, even if it risks damaging Democrats' chances in November.
"This article is based on interviews with the 93 superdelegates, out of 771 total, as well as party strategists and aides to senior Democrats about the thinking of party leaders. A vast majority of those superdelegates — whose ranks include federal elected officials, former presidents and vice presidents and D.N.C. members — predicted that no candidate would clinch the nomination during the primaries, and that there would be a brokered convention fight in July to choose a nominee," the Times, which also spoke on-the-record with various top Democrats, reported.
There's 'a vibrant conversation' about whether anything can be done to stop Sanders
"We're way, way, way past the day where party leaders can determine an outcome here, but I think there's a vibrant conversation about whether there is anything that can be done," Connecticut Congressman and superdelegate Jim Himes said.
The Times noted that only nine of the 93 superdelegates they contacted said that Sanders should become the Democratic Party's nominee if he arrives at the convention with a mere plurality of delegates.
"I've had 60 years experience with Democratic delegates — I don't think they will do anything like that," superdelegate and former Vice President Walter Mondale said. "They will each do what they want to do, and somehow they will work it out. God knows how."
A Stop Sanders super PAC?
The Times noted that since Sanders emerged as the party's clear front-runner after winning the Nevada caucus, four large donors have contacted former Congressman Steve Israel of New York to ask if he knew of someone who can help them build a super PAC aimed at stopping Sanders. He declined.
"People are worried," said former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, who once led the DNC and is endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden. "How you can spend four or five months hoping you don't have to put a bumper sticker from that guy on your car?"
Top Dems want Obama to get involved
Democrats are so anxious about Sanders potentially being the party's nominee that some are urging former President Barack Obama to get involved to broker a truce either among the remaining "moderate" candidates or between progressives and the DNC establishment.
At least one DNC member has even floated the idea of former first lady Michelle Obama being nominated as vice president as a way of unifying the party.
"She's the only person I can think of who can unify the party and help us win," William Owen of Tennessee told the Times. "This election is about saving the American experiment as a republic. It's also about saving the world. This is not an ordinary election."


theblaze--2020-02-27--New IG report: Sanctuary policies place massive strain on ICE resources, put public at risk; over 17

New IG report: Sanctuary policies place massive strain on ICE resources, put public at risk; over 17,000 illegals still at large

New IG report : Sanctuary policies place massive strain on ICE resources , put public at risk ; over 17,000 @ @ @ @ @ violent offenders at large requires even more resources to ensure officer safety '

A recent Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report found that sanctuary jurisdictions not only put considerable strains on federal immigration enforcement resources and have also resulted in over 17,000 illegal aliens who were still at large as of last year.
The report, which the department's inspector general released earlier this month, evaluated the difficulties that ICE's Criminal Alien Program, or CAP, faces as a result of having to deal with "uncooperative jurisdictions" that try to shield illegal immigrants from enforcement.
"ICE's inability to detain aliens identified through CAP who are located in uncooperative jurisdictions, results in increased risk those aliens will commit more crimes," the report found. "Furthermore, having to arrest 'at-large' aliens may put officer, detainee, and public safety at risk and strains ICE's staffing resources."
According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's website, CAP provides the enforcement agency "direction and support in the biometric and biographic identification, arrest, and removal of priority aliens who are incarcerated within federal, state, and local prisons and jails, as well as at-large criminal aliens that have circumvented identification."
When ICE finds out that an illegal alien is in law enforcement custody on criminal charges, it will issue a detainer request asking that local law enforcement agency notify ICE of the individual's expected release and to hold onto said individual until federal immigration agents can take him or her in for removal proceedings.
However, many sanctuary jurisdictions do not honor such requests to varying degrees and instead release removable aliens without notifying ICE, which forces the agency to conduct at-large arrest operations as a result.
"In such cases, ICE officers must investigate to determine each alien's location and then make arrests in communities rather than in more secure and safe environments such as in jails or prisons," the audit report noted. "Moving arrests from secure, controlled locations (jails) to unknown environments (homes, workplaces, or the public) places heavy demand on ICE personnel and increases safety risks for officers, arrestees, and local communities. Arresting violent offenders at large requires even more resources to ensure officer safety."
In addition, the report also showed that the number of ignored immigration detainers has consistently gone up during the Trump administration. In fiscal year 2017, the report said, law enforcement agencies ignored 7,565 ICE detainers. That number spiked to 15,451 in FY 2018 and increased still to 16,396 during FY 2019.
The report concluded that "ICE does not have sufficient resources" to fully address the enforcement challenges posed by sanctuary jurisdictions refusing its detainer requests, which means that thousands of removable aliens have slipped through the cracks as a result.
"Of the 58,900 declined detainers between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2019, ICE arrested about 70 percent of those aliens," the report said "As of September 30, 2019, the remaining 17,700 remained at-large."
ICE's acting chief Matthew Albence hailed the audit's findings, saying that they back up the administration's point about the dangers of sanctuary policies.
"This report further confirms what we have said for years: our communities are safer when law enforcement works together to take criminal aliens off the streets," Albence said in a prepared statement on Tuesday. He added that at-large arrest "efforts require significantly more time and resources, and worst of all, while we're still out looking for these criminals, many of these criminals commit further crimes, further victimizing the very communities these uncooperative jurisdictions are purporting to protect."
The report also suggested that the number of illegal aliens in the United States could be much higher than the government has previously estimated. While noting a 2015 DHS estimation of 12 million, the report points to a 2018 academic study that placed the estimation at 22.1 million.