theblaze--2020-05-19--Minnesota imam confirms Rep. Ilhan Omar improperly raised cash from his charity meals program

Omar had dismissed the criminal accusation as a `` 'scary , lying immigrants ' smear ''

Shortly after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz issued a "stay-at home" order on March 25, local Imam Tawakal Ismail partnered with 115-year-old charity GMCC to deliver meals to seniors and disabled individuals in immediate risk of hunger.
On April 9, GMCC's website announced the meal program's partners and major donors. The list included the imam's charitable organization Darul Hadiith, and GMCC's Minnesota FoodShare program.
Absent from the list: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, or any other elected official or candidate.
This was intentional. Responding to questions via phone and email, Imam Tawakal states that the project is strictly "charity work," and that he has been explicitly rejecting political partnerships and forbidding campaign photo or video opportunities.
On May 5, GMCC posted a formal news release announcing the program's growth and success, and again listing partners and major donors. No political campaigns had joined, as expected.
Unexpectedly, Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted this fundraising appeal the same day:
Image source: Twitter screenshot
Soliciting charitable contributions under false pretenses is, of course, a crime. Federal and state election law further governs the act if committed by a political campaign.
The reputational and organizational concerns for the charity project were also clear. "@IlhanMN" is Rep. Omar's campaign account, the fundraiser was hosted by massive Democrat/progressive donation platform ActBlue, and the graphic read "PAID FOR BY ILHAN FOR CONGRESS." As the "@IlhanMN" account has 2 million followers, the unwanted appearance of a political partnership would spread quickly.
Rep. Omar's tweet appeared to cause an emergency. That evening, GMCC's executive director posted a remarkable denial:
Image source: Twitter screenshot
Since August 2016, only one local resident has agreed to speak on-record with evidence of illegal activity by Rep. Omar. (He quickly received multiple threats, and has required security). Imam Tawakal Ismail is now the second. A religious and organizational leader, a source describes him as a high-profile, influential member of the community.
Imam Tawakal states — with compelling evidence, below — that Rep. Omar's tweet was no simple mistake: "She knew."
On May 3, two days prior to Rep. Omar's fundraising tweet, Imam Tawakal was at Safari restaurant to coordinate his program's meal distribution. Per the contract Tawakal had signed on behalf of the charity partnership, his program would begin feeding seniors and disabled individuals at 6 p.m. that evening.
States Tawakal, via email:
Image source: Email screenshot
That weekend, states Tawakal, Rep. Omar's campaign was also at Safari restaurant — but for a separate event. (Video of Rep. Omar at Safari restaurant that weekend was posted on her Facebook account on May 4.)
According to Tawakal, he told Rep. Omar's campaign of the program's "no politicians" policy — in-person:
Image source: Email screenshot
I asked Imam Tawakal why he was certain that Rep. Omar knew of the policy.
Imam Tawakal answered by identifying the Rep. Omar campaign staffer he spoke with, and providing eye-opening details about the discussion:
Image source: Email screenshot
Ali Isse "Ganey" is perhaps the longest-serving, most influential member of Rep. Omar's campaign and congressional staff. He is shown below in a Facebook photo from his account with Omar and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.):
A 2018 article titled, "Congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar Picks Leadership Team," describes him:
Isse has served critical roles in Omar's two successful campaigns as the field organizer for her Minnesota House race and was the outreach director for the historic congressional campaign.
Imam Tawakal also explicitly confirmed the GMCC executive director's statement that Rep. Omar had no involvement whatsoever with the meal project:
Image source: Email screenshot
At some point between the posting of the GMCC executive director's May 5 statement and May 8, Rep. Omar deleted her ActBlue fundraising appeal without comment.
This graphic was published in a May 5 GMCC press release. On-record, the leadership of all partners listed above state Rep. Ilhan Omar was never involved. One leader states he had an altercation with a top Omar staffer, demanding Omar stay away from the meal program. Image source: GMCC press release screenshot
I reported the incident on May 8:
To the meal program's partners and donors — and perhaps the Federal Election Commission — a public apology and thorough explanation from Rep. Ilhan Omar regarding the location of funds donated while her appeal was live might be expected.
This did not occur. In fact, it appears as if the strong-arm tactics similar to those described above by Imam Tawakal continued.
In the 24 hours following my above tweet, the GMCC executive director's May 5 tweet was deleted. The following two tweets later appeared:
Image source: Twitter screenshot
Notably, she did not correct her earlier statement — "Ilhan Omar had nothing to do with the project. I do not know where this money is going to." She simply announced that GMCC had since confirmed that Rep. Omar would be sending funds.
She also posted the correct link for donors to give to GMCC. She did not repost Rep. Omar's ActBlue link.
Rep. Omar and her campaign communications staffer, however, then chose to falsely describe the charity's clear statement while attacking Minnesota state Rep. Steve Drazkowski and myself:
Image source: Twitter screenshot
Image source: Twitter screenshot
Rep. Omar's and her campaign communications staffer's replies are demonstrably false.
Rep. Drazkowski is, objectively, the least appropriate target for Rep. Omar regarding campaign finance issues. In 2018, Rep. Drazkowski filed a complaint against Rep. Omar with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. The Board's investigation found Rep. Omar's campaign had committed at least six infractions, which she was ordered to repay.
(Far more troubling, the Board revealed that Omar had jointly filed her personal taxes with one man while she was married to another — a felony — for at least two years, and perhaps eight.)
Rep. Drazkowski's response and my May 8 tweet are not "deliberate disinformation," or a "rightwing conspiracy theory." They are information confirmed on-record by two principals, along with verifiable screenshots. GMCC's executive director did not refer to her earlier statement as having been inaccurate or false in any manner — let alone a "lie."
Accusing Rep. Drazkowski, myself, and GMCC's executive director of framing Omar with "'scary, lying immigrants' smears" is unfounded and outrageously false. In the cases of Imam Tawakal and Ms. Dorn, Rep. Omar's actions seem particularly reprehensible.
For six weeks, Ms. Dorn and Imam Tawakal — an immigrant — have been feeding immigrant seniors and disabled individuals facing hunger in Rep. Omar's district. According to Imam Tawakal, Rep. Omar's campaign attempted to strong-arm an immigrant's food charity to falsely take credit forrescuing her potential voters.
Imam Tawakal states that he firmly rejected Rep. Omar's campaign in-person, but she then attempted to steal credit later -- when Imam Tawakal was not physically present.
Further, Imam Tawakal states that Rep. Omar explicitly requested donations based on the false pretense of a partnership, and claimed the donations help Minnesota FoodShare feed Minnesotans who "struggle with hunger." This appears to have been completely false.
Since August 2016, reporters Preya Samsundar, Scott Johnson, and myself have reported — with photo, video, and other verified evidence — several such incidents of Rep. Omar's campaign and staff explicitly threatening and bullying the immigrant population of her district. We have reported that, dating back to 2009, Omar appears to have committed the most extensive spree of federal and state felonies committed by a congressperson in U.S. history.
With an apparent crime in progress to investigate, perhaps local Minnesota media and authorities will finally take action to protect the district from her — particularly its Somali immigrant population.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Ted Cruz helps clueless liberal commentator understand why Obamagate is such a massive scandal

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took to Twitter Monday to explain in clear terms to a liberal commentator why the "Obamagate" scandal is such a huge deal.
Gabriel Sherman, an opinion writer for the left-wing magazine Vanity Fair, was apparently confused about what conservatives find to be unseemly about the Obama administration's unmasking of American citizens, including retired Gen. Michael Flynn, in December 2016. Flynn, who was tapped to be President Donald Trump's first national security adviser, was surveilled in conversation with former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
"Serious questions for Trumpers," Sherman wrote on Twitter last Friday. "What is the scandal of unmasking an American official caught on an intercept discussing US sanctions policy with Ambassador of a hostile foreign country that had just launched a massive cyber attack on our election?"
Sherman attempted to explain away the matter by suggesting that to unmask an American "caught" communicating with a foreign official of a hostile country is routine, even advisable. But the question frames the matter incorrectly.
Thankfully, Cruz was there to answer Sherman's question to perfection:
"Uhh, he was the incoming National Security Advisor & a 3-star general. He's SUPPOSED to discuss sanctions policy. That's his job," Cruz explained. "The unmasking was part of outgoing admin launching a massive sting operation to try to entrap him. Maybe this helps: imagine Bush doing same to Obama."
The issue is not that Flynn was in conversations with Kislyak, as Cruz clarified, but rather that the surveillance and subsequent alleged perjury trap of Flynn appear to show an effort by the outgoing Obama administration to frame the incoming Trump administration for wrongdoing.
"Unmasking" is the action taken by national security officials to reveal the identity of an American citizen who is picked up in surveillance of foreign officials. While it's true that "unmasking" is not an uncommon process, the compounding evidence surrounding the incident is what has drawn the attention of Trump supporters as well as Republicans in Congress.
Such compounding evidence includes the extremely long list of ex-Obama officials who requested the unmasking of Gen. Flynn — a list that includes former Vice President Joe Biden, former FBI Director James Comey, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
Furthermore, it's odd that Obama officials were concerned about Flynn talking to Kislyak, since in early 2017, the State Department announced that it would help incoming Trump officials make contact with foreign officials.


theblaze--2020-05-19--'Don't go to the beach': Philly health official warns not to travel to Jersey shore for Memorial Day

'Don't go to the beach': Philly health official warns not to travel to Jersey shore for Memorial Day weekend due to COVID-19

'Do n't go to the beach ' : Philly health official warns not to travel to Jersey shore for Memorial @ @ @ @ @ 'You may have gone to the beach every Memorial Day weekend for years , but @ @ @ @ @ to do that '

If you're from Philadelphia, you don't go "to the beach" — you go "down the shore."
And one of the time-honored traditions in the City of Brotherly Love is the annual trek over Memorial Day weekend to popular New Jersey coastal destinations such as Ocean City, Wildwood, Cape May, and Stone Harbor.
Image source: KYW-TV video screenshot
But due to the coronavirus, the city's health commissioner is warning Philly residents not to make the trip this year.
What are the details?
"Don't go to the beach," Dr. Thomas Farley said, according to KYW-TV. "We're not recommending people go to the beach this weekend. It is true that being outdoors is probably less risk than being close to people indoors, but if you go into crowds anywhere, there's risks."
Farley added, "We understand the draw, it's very tempting. You may have gone to the beach every Memorial Day weekend for years, but this is not the time to do that. Let's wait until the case counts are lower for it to be safer," the station reported.
What are other officials saying?
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney told KYW he's concerned residents who venture to the boardwalks and sand and surf this weekend could bring the virus back to the city.
"South Jersey does what South Jersey does," Kenney, a Democrat, told the station. "It's going to affect us because people are going to go to the beach this weekend, they're going to congregate with people in too close proximity, then they're going to drive back home to Philadelphia and perhaps give the virus to somebody in their family."
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, also a Democrat, said he's "not sure why the governors of Maryland and New Jersey have opened their beaches, but they have," KYW reported. Wolf added, "I wouldn't go to the beach," the station said.
Image source: KYW-TV video screenshot
In a recent media briefing, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy — another Democrat who's been prominently aggressive against those who violate his social distancing executive orders — seemed sympathetic to those who want to head to the beach.
"The weather gets better, and your cabin fever is up, who can blame anybody for wanting to break free ... and we all want to do that, too, but please, please, please do it responsibly, stay away from each other, and wear something on your face to protect not just you but to protect the folks around you," Murphy said.
Murphy's office told KYW there are no restrictions for out-of-state visitors at New Jersey's beaches, boardwalks, or lakes.
Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron told the station he's not actively encouraging out-of-staters to come down the shore this weekend but understands many plan to just that.
"The forecast isn't so great, and frankly, even if it was, there isn't as many activities for the people to take advantage of as a typical Memorial Day weekend," Byron added to KYW. "Really, if you are going to come to the shore this weekend, you've got the beach if the weather is nice, and the boardwalk is nothing more than a place to walk or grab a slice of pizza."


theblaze--2020-05-19--Good news for anyone hoping to look like a lunatic: New 'Pac-Man' face mask invention allows you to

Good news for anyone hoping to look like a lunatic: New 'Pac-Man' face mask invention allows you to eat while keeping your mask on

Good news for anyone hoping to look like a lunatic : New 'Pac-Man ' face mask invention allows you to @ @ @ @ @ on

Americans have been asked to do — and not do — a lot of things during the coronavirus pandemic.
Stay home. Socially distance. Homeschool. Don't go to church. Snitch on neighbors. Wipe down everything. Follow orders.
The latest fight has been over face masks: Some states and localities are requiring that citizens wear them in public, and some businesses are telling customers that, like shirts and shoes, masks are required.
Many people have not taken kindly to the requirements and have even gone as far as to call mask requirements "Sharia-lite."
So as some areas and restaurants begin to reopen, what is a person who wants to go out to dinner to do if local governments require or "strongly encourage" masks?
Israeli inventors have the answer: the "Pac-Man" mask, KXAS-TV reported.
Image source: KXAS-TV video screenshot
They have created a mask that allows a person to eat without taking the mask off. The user squeezes a lever that opens a slot in the mask and allows him to eat like Pac-Man.
Inventors say that the mask makes visiting a restaurant less risky, KXAS said. But is that accurate?
The Mayo Clinic website says cloth masks "can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by people who have the disease but don't realize it." Those cloth masks, the site says, "should include multiple layers of fabric," which the Pac-Man mask clearly does not — at least at the opening.
Image source: KXAS-TV video screenshot
Live Science reported that experts do not agree about the efficacy of cloth masks. Multiple studies have given a wide range of results on how useful the masks truly are — but none of the experts cited by Live Science said a giant opening in a mask would be helpful.
Also, the masks are to cover the mouth and nose of the user. A mask with an opening does not keep the mouth and/or nose covered.


theblaze--2020-05-19--'That's bulls**t!': Onlookers furious at five police officers during arrest of one person leaving NJ

'That's bulls**t!': Onlookers furious at five police officers during arrest of one person leaving NJ gym

'That 's bulls**t ! '
: Onlookers furious at five police officers during arrest of one person leaving NJ gym @ @ @ @ @ arrested after refusing to give his name

At least one person was arrested Tuesday after leaving Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, which has been in violation of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's coronavirus shutdown executive order since it reopened Monday, NJ.com reported.
Here's video of the arrest. (Content warning: Language):
The outlet said the gym patron was arrested after refusing to give his name. Those gathered around at least five cops on hand for the arrest didn't sound very pleased with the officers.
"That's bulls**t! And you're disobeying the oath!" one person yelled while another hollered, "This ain't China!"
"This is not right! Let him go!" another gym supporter shouted as several others yelled for police to "release him!"
Here's the arrest from a different angle. (Content warning: Language):
Police warned supporters gathered outside to leave or they could face summonses, NJ.com reported.
"This gathering is a violation of the governor's order," Bellmawr Lt. Mike Draham said, according to the outlet. "You are directed to immediately and peaceably disperse. If you do not disperse you can be charged. You can protest from your vehicle…That's all we have right now."
The crowd jeered police as Draham read a statement to gym owners Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti in front of the gym's door shortly after 10 a.m., NJ.com said, and for the second day in a row the pair were charged for violating Murphy's stay-at-home order.
Indeed Murphy on Monday issued a warning to the gym and all those who enter it, KYW-TV said: "If you show up at that gym again tomorrow, there's going to be a different reality than showing today. ... These just aren't words, we've got to enforce this, but I also don't want to start World War III."
What a difference a day makes
Tuesday's tone was a far cry from the day before when a police officer told the crowd and the owners, "Formally, you are all in violation of the executive order." Then came the officer's surprising follow-up statement: "On that note, have a good day. Everybody be safe."
As police turned and walked away, the crowd immediately erupted in cheers:
Nevertheless, Bellmawr police later Monday did issue disorderly persons citations to the gym's owners for violating the governor's executive order, KYW-TV said, adding that a disorderly persons charge carries a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail.
Image source: KYW-TV video screenshot
But if fines are all the owners are handed, the financial burden may be eased a bit as a GoFundMe page for the owners' legal expenses has generated over $24,000 in less than 24 hours.
What's the background?
The gym made big headlines when it opened Monday morning before the governor allowed it. Outside the gym a crowd of several hundred — which began forming hours before the doors opened at 8 a.m. — carried American and Trump 2020 flags and chanted "USA! USA! USA!" and "Let's get back to work!"
Still Trumbetti told KYW Tuesday morning he's concerned about consequences that may be awaiting him.
"People keep asking me, am I afraid. Absolutely," he told the station. "But I'm more afraid that my kids aren't going to have rights ... somebody's gotta stand up to it."
Image source: KYW-TV video screenshot
And while Trumbetti encouraged members to come back to the gym Tuesday, he said there may be repercussions.
"Know that if you walk into Atilis Gym to get your workout in and feel like a normal human being, you're probably gonna be potentially arrested," he told KYW.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Mayor de Blasio rules 'no swimming' at beaches for Memorial Day, anyone who swims will ‘be taken rig

Mayor de Blasio rules 'no swimming' at beaches for Memorial Day, anyone who swims will ‘be taken right out of the water’

Mayor de Blasio rules 'no swimming ' at beaches for Memorial Day , anyone who swims will ‘ be taken @ @ @ @ @ ’

Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that beaches will be closed for swimming over Memorial Day weekend, despite New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's move to allow the reopening of beaches statewide.
"If you want to walk on the beach, fine," the mayor said during a news conference Monday. "But no swimming, no lifeguards, no parties, no barbecues, no sports."
"Anyone tries to get in the water, they'll be taken right out of the water," he warned.
De Blasio added that "fencing" will be "in position" should New Yorkers fail to abide by his orders, though he did say he'd prefer not to use the fencing.
"The fencing, again, is available, but we don't want to use it if we don't have to," de Blasio said. "The goal is not to have it implemented."
Watch video of the comments posted by the Daily Mail:
It wasn't immediately clear why swimming, among all beach activities, drew the ire of de Blasio. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to people through the bodies of water. Though the mayor did add that swimming is dangerous because lifeguards won't be around.
"It is not beach season like normal," de Blasio continued. "It is a pandemic."
"If more enforcement is needed, we'll do it," he added, while suggesting that he is hopeful beaches in the city will be reopen for all activities by the end of the summer.
The mayor noted that opening the beaches to swimming and other activities is "not the right thing to" since New York City remains the "epicenter" of the pandemic in the United States.
As of Tuesday, New York City had reported more than 190,000 confirmed cases of the virus, resulting in at least 15,983 deaths.


theblaze--2020-05-19--President Trump was going to restore funding to WHO — then Tucker Carlson stepped in

President Trump was going to restore funding to WHO — then Tucker Carlson stepped in Now Trump is threatening to @ @ @ @ @ the WHO

President Donald Trump had considered restoring partial American funding of the World Health Organization, but that was before Fox News host Tucker Carlson exposed the plan.
According to Axios, Trump was prepared to restore 10% of America's funding to the WHO to "maintain some influence over the organization."
But that all changed when Carlson revealed the president's plan to his viewers last Friday.
Carlson obtained a leaked letter draft that the White House was planning to send to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In the letter, Trump said he would restore partial U.S. funding despite the WHO's "shortcomings" because he wanted to "see the WHO live up to this potential, particularly now during this global crisis."
Carlson condemned Trump's proposal, slamming the WHO for spreading the "baldest kind of Chinese propaganda" that Carlson said "killed people."
By Saturday, Trump said the plan was "just one of numerous concepts being considered."
But sometime between Saturday and Monday, Trump decided to completely withdraw consideration of the plan, instead sending the WHO an ultimatum.
In a scathing letter released Monday, Trump said he would permanently end American funding if the WHO did not undergo substantial reforms over allegations the organization colluded with China to suppress the truth about the coronavirus.
"[I]t is my duty, as President of the United States, to inform you that, if the World Health Organization does not commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days, I will make my temporary freeze of United States funding to the World Health Organization permanent and reconsider our membership in the organization," Trump wrote to Tedros.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Clothing company announces plans to sell underwear with Dr. Anthony Fauci's name on it

Clothing company announces plans to sell underwear with Dr. Anthony Fauci 's name on it

Just in case you thought 2020 could not get any weirder, the 79-year-old head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is about to have his name emblazoned on women's underwear.
According to the New York Post, the clothing brand responsible for this bizarre piece of fanwear is Canava, which describes itself as a "profit-for-purpose" brand. The retailer announced the line — which also includes underwear celebrating New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) — on its Instagram account.
According to Canava, Fauci, Newsom, and Cuomo constitute a "dream team" that the company wanted to honor. The company promises in the post to match "dollar for dollar" any purchases of the underwear with a donation to health care workers in New York City and California.
The advertisement for the Fauci zuma bikini notes the obvious, which is that "Anthony Fauci may be an unlikely sex symbol," but states that "we are living in unlikely times, and we heard you loud and clear that you wanted to show their 'appreciation' with more than a thank you. Viola Fauci bikinis."
The NY Post notes that the company's advertisement for the Cuomo-branded undies states that they are perfect for anyone who is "thirsty" for the governor.
The company proudly notes of its products that they are sustainably manufactured: "Nearshore cotton from Colombia and the United States that is then spun and knitted in Medellin, Colombia. The fabric is dyed in Medellin with a partner that has both water reclamation and recycling programs to offset their environmental impact. Both vendors have robust recycling programs for waste."
Canava's underwear is just the latest (and perhaps most bizarre) product to celebrate Fauci. A cottage industry of pro-Fauci merchandise — including prayer candles, masks, and T-shirts — has sprung up since Fauci became the public face of the Trump administration's coronavirus response.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Black man and his mother say police brutalized them after false accusations of TV theft. Cops say th

Black man and his mother say police brutalized them after false accusations of TV theft. Cops say there's much more to the story.

Black man and his mother say police brutalized them after false accusations of TV theft .
Cops say there 's @ @ @ @ @ .

Four white St. Louis-area police officers reportedly "beat" a black man and his ill, elderly mother after falsely accusing the two of stealing a television from a local Sam's Club.
According to a Monday Daily Mail report, the woman, 68-year-old Marvia Gray, and her son, Derek Gray, 43, filed a lawsuit on Monday, seeking unspecified damages.
A spokesperson for the police department say that there's much more to the viral story than what's being reported.
What are the details?
The lawsuit accuses at least four police officers of beating Gray and her son after accusing them of stealing a television.
The suit states that Marvia Gray — who suffers from osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and more — received "serious and permanent injuries," including to the tailbone, back, shoulder, knees, and arms, as a result of the alleged incident, which reportedly took place on March 23 in Des Peres, Missouri.
The suit also claims that Derek Gray was diagnosed with a concussion after the alleged attack. He also reportedly suffered three shattered teeth.
According to the Daily Mail report, the duo visited the Sam's Club to purchase a television. Derek purchased a 65-inch flat-screen TV with his mother along with other personal items. The two took their purchases out to the vehicle, where they determined that the television would not fit into the waiting SUV. Derek then reportedly went back into the store and asked employees to hold the television so he could return at a later time with a bigger vehicle.
When Derek returned to the store, an unnamed party reportedly said they thought he was attempting to steal the television. A police officer who was in the store reportedly then followed Derek to the vehicle and accused him of theft. A store employee reportedly confirmed, however, that Derek was visiting the store in order to pick up his previous purchase.
Derek was able to take the television and leave, but his mother was not happy about the false accusations. Derek and his mother then returned to the store, where they planned to return the television for a refund.
The suit states that when the two arrived at the store, no fewer than four officers accosted Marvia and Derek, "throwing them to the floor, beating them, handcuffing them, then arresting them."
Social media video of the incident shows police arresting Derek as two officers force him down. He repeatedly yells, "Get off me," "I'm humiliated," and "Please let me go."
For her part, Marvia Gray can be heard screaming throughout the video and begging officers to leave them alone.
Raw video: Woman, her adult son arrested while trying to return TV www.youtube.com
What are people saying about this?
The duo's lawyer says that Marvia was worried that one of the officers might shoot her son.
"Mrs. Gray thought her son was about to be another black man unjustifiably shot and killed by the police," the family's lawyer Andrew M. Stroth of Chicago's Action Injury Law Group, said in a statement about the alleged incident. "You can see in the video that she is terrified with respect to what they're doing to her son."
The suit also alleges:
While the Grays were at the Store attempting to get a refund, Officer (Michael) Clayborne, Officer (Bradley) Summers, Officer (Ryan) Ringeisen, and Officer (Bill) Maull, without cause or adequate provocation and in the presence of countless witnesses, violently and physically seized Marvia Gray and Derek Gray, throwing them to the floor, beating them, handcuffing them, then arresting them. These actions are captured on closed-circuit video taken by the surveillance cameras in the Store and cell phones of onlookers.
Law enforcement officials declined to comment on the lawsuit, according to the outlet.
A portion Facebook statement from the Des Peres Department of Public Safety read:
Upon our arrival, officers were notified … that the items were in fact stolen. A family member who began to grab and pull at the officers during the initial contact was also taken into custody and charged with interfering and resisting arrest.
Further, the statement alleges that Derek reportedly "attempted to remove a fire extinguisher from the wall (during the struggle) in a manner to attempt to use it against the officer but it was dislodged from him as he was wrestled to the ground."
The police statement also said that four officers and Derek were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Authorities charged Marvia with interfering with an officer as well as resisting arrest. Authorities did not charge Derek with any crimes.
In a statement, Des Peres City Administrator Douglas Harms said, "Director of Public Safety Eric Hall has reviewed all reports and a video of the incident and unequivocally denies that officers used excessive force to 'beat' the plaintiffs. … Charges remain under review by Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell who has been provided a copy of the store video and all incidents reports by Des Peres police. The city will have no further comment at this time."
A spokesman for Bell, the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, said Bell's office intended to conduct a "full and complete independent investigation of the matter."
"We are demanding accountability," the family's attorney said during a news conference about the incident. "Mrs. Gray thought her son was about to be yet another black man, unjustifiably shot and killed by the police. Whether it's Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, or Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, we demand justice and accountability to prevent these tragic events from happening in our communities."
Anything else?
Marvia Gray told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she feared only for her son's life.
"They going to kill him," she said. "I gave up. This is the way Derek is going to go. They were beating him so bad."
"I have no faith in the police anymore," she added. "They tried to take my only child."


theblaze--2020-05-19--Six of seven 'high-risk' sex offenders released early in California over coronavirus are back in jai

Six of seven 'high-risk' sex offenders released early in California over coronavirus are back in jail

Six of seven 'high-risk ' sex offenders released early in California over coronavirus are back in jail They reportedly were @ @ @ @ @ crimes such as drug possession or making criminal threats , not sex offenses

Remember those seven "high-risk" sex offenders released early in California recently to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus? Well, six of them are back in jail, the Orange County Register reported.
What are the details?
Their release was decried by Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, who issued a warning to residents.
"These kinds of high-risk sex offenders are the most dangerous kind of criminal and the most likely to re-offend," Spitzer said in a news release. "They are doing everything they can to avoid detection by the parole officers assigned to monitor them so they can potentially commit additional sex offenses. These are not the kind of people who should be getting a break."
The sex offenders — convicted of crimes ranging from indecent exposure and sexual battery to child molestation — were released beginning April 7, many of them spending just days behind bars instead of the six months required by law for registered sex offenders who violate parole by removing or disabling GPS monitors.
The DA's office told the Register that most of the six accused of violating parole after their release either failed to adhere to their supervision or rendered their GPS units inoperable. The paper, citing local jail records, said that as of May 11 they were behind bars.
The public defenders office told the Register that the sex offenders didn't carry out sex crimes this time around but rather committed offenses such as drug possession or making criminal threats. The public defenders office also told the paper that many parolees charge their GPS devices at now-closed county facilities.
"It comes as no surprise that these high-risk sex offenders continue to violate the law and do everything they can to avoid being tracked by law enforcement," Spitzer said in a statement to the Register regarding the rearrests. "There is a concerted effort here in California and across the nation to open up the jailhouse doors and let dangerous criminals back into our streets without regard for the safety of the public which we are sworn to protect."
But Public Defender Sharon Petrosino accused Spitzer of "fearmongering" and distorting the facts to scare the public, the paper said.
More from the Register:
Law enforcement officials across the state have wrestled with how to halt the spread of coronavirus in prisons and local jails. Some efforts — including the early release of non-violent inmates near the end of their sentences — have been backed by police. Others — including a "no bail" edict for low-level crimes backed by the California Judicial Council — have drawn local opposition.
The release of the sex offenders also drew condemnation from some local leaders. In a letter to Commissioner Joe Dane, Santa Ana Councilman Phil Bacerra denounced the decision to release the inmates early.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Orange County Sheriff's Department has taken the appropriate steps to responsibly reduce the population at the Orange County Jail to help limit the spread of Coronavirus," Bacerra wrote, according to the paper. "However, there has not been a need to release additional inmates, particularly dangerous ones, from the jail. Your actions jeopardize the safety and well-being of our community."
'Let out the front door of a jail by a court commissioner who refuses to follow the law'
Spitzer also blasted appointed Court Commissioner Joseph Dane for the release of the sex offenders.
"It is not the Court's responsibility to control the jail population by releasing these dangerous criminals back into our communities," Spitzer said. "The residents of Orange County deserve to have the peace of mind that registered sex offenders are being held accountable and not just let out the front door of a jail by a court commissioner who refuses to follow the law."
Dane has not commented on the criticism, the Register reported, adding that Orange County judicial officials say they are legal and ethical restrictions that bar judges or commissioners from speaking about active criminal cases. The paper said that since Dane is an appointed commissioner — as opposed to a sitting judge — the DA's office is using its right to object to his oversight of sex offenders' parole violations.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Most of the media is trying to keep us shut down forever with absurd, unscientific fearmongering

Most of the media is trying to keep us shut down forever with absurd , unscientific fearmongering

You know the old saw about how the media works: "If it bleeds, it leads." That's maybe less true than it used to be, but it's still generally true that the media feeds on panic and bad news. There's no ratings in a story that says "Everything is fine, go about your business and you'll almost definitely be OK."
The media's addiction to panic is the source of a lot of terrible public policy. They even have a term for it: "Moral panic." A lot of the idiotic laws that criminalize trivial behavior and interfere with the economy and individual freedom in unnecessary ways are the fault of the media's addiction to it.
Usually, the stakes aren't tremendously high, at least for the public at large. Apple growers and sellers were temporarily devastated by the Alar panic, but most of us just kind of went on with our lives. The current crisis, which is becoming the biggest moral panic in the history of the universe, is different.
I noticed today this story from Business Insider that featured the screaming headline, "France recorded 70 new coronavirus cases in schools, a week after it let more than 1 million kids go back to class." The article favorably quotes from anonymous European parents who are mad that their kids are being used as "guinea pigs" and scolds French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer for calling the 70 positive test results (out of 1.4 million children) "inevitable."
Let us start by stating the obvious: The reporter who wrote this story did not bother to do even a cursory job of coming to grips with the science of coronavirus transmission before writing this story. Given what we know about the virus' incubation period, the chances that any of these 70 cases (which popped up in 7 days) came from school transmission is extraordinarily small. There is a possible story that could be written in two or three weeks about school transmission of the coronavirus in France, but to write a story like this after seven days means you either don't know or don't care about the subject at hand, as long as you can scare people.
Second, yes, it is inevitable that some kids are going to get the coronavirus when schools reopen. There is literally nothing that can be done to stop this. Even if schools never reopen, or don't reopen for 18 months while we wait for a vaccine, there will still be some in-school transmission of coronavirus. The overwhelming majority of these kids will show no or very mild symptoms. Yes, a very small number of them will develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which itself is treatable but can be fatal if left untreated.
Here is something any parent who has small kids already knows: Sending your kids to any school is an invitation for them to catch disease. The vast majority of these diseases will come and go. But sometimes, in rare cases, it will be something serious, or it will be something that is normally not life-threatening (like hand, foot and mouth disease or strep throat) but can become serious or even fatal in rare cases (like multisystem inflammatory syndrome with coronavirus).
There is literally no way to avoid this, other than to have at least one parent stay at home and homeschool — which does not eliminate the risk of infectious disease but certainly reduces it. Of course, we are regularly told by liberals and the media that homeschooling is bad and should not be encouraged, but apparently the media's insatiable demand for panic trumps even their disdain for homeschooling and their insistence that everyone must go to government-funded public school.
One might get the impression, from the tenor of the coverage, that the majority of the media wants us all to stay home forever, scared of venturing outside and constantly checking our phones for the latest dose of panic from ... the media. Their coverage certainly seems intended to have that effect.


theblaze--2020-05-19--More than 100,000 people are still stuck on cruise ships because of COVID-19

More than 100,000 people are still stuck on cruise ships because of COVID-19 They do n't know when they 'll @ @ @ @ @

More than two months after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the cruise industry, more than 100,000 crew members are still stuck on ships with no idea when they'll get home, and with some of them not getting paid, according to the Miami Herald.
During this time, 578 crew members on various ships have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and seven have died from the disease. Two more crew members have jumped overboard in apparent suicides.
Crew members on a Royal Caribbean cruise went on a hunger strike for more than 72 hours in an attempt to get the company to let them go home.
Gan Sungralingum, a crew member who works in the retail department on a Carnival cruise ship, hasn't been on land in more than two months, according to the Herald. The ship dropped off its last passengers in Florida on March 14. He hasn't been paid since April 12. His home country, Mauritius, is not allowing citizens to return home.
Sungralingum compared the time on the ship to prison. He eats meals in the dining hall, and spends his days either in his passenger room or in the gym during his allotted time slot.
The cruise companies say complications with government rules of various nations are the reason so many crew members have been stuck on ships. Ports around the world are closed, and countries have varying travel restrictions.
Although the International Labor Organization, a United Nations organization, has recommended that crews at least get sick pay during the pandemic, many crew members say that hasn't happened. From the Herald:
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, MSC Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line crew who are no longer working on board say they are not getting paid. Royal Caribbean crew say they're receiving $400 per month. Carnival Cruise Line crew say they are being paid 60 days past the end of their contract. Crew on other Carnival Corp. brand ships, like Princess Cruises, say they are not being paid.
Norwegian Cruise Line crew say they have not been paid since the end of March. The company did not respond to requests for comment about this issue.
"I pay rent for my parents and sister," Meshal Habib of Romania, who works for the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, said. "I need to go home to work."
(H/T: New York Post)


theblaze--2020-05-19--Harvard professor who wants to ban homeschooling says it is used to indoctrinate children with 'extr

Harvard professor who wants to ban homeschooling says it is used to indoctrinate children with 'extreme' ideologies, like Christianity

Harvard professor who wants to ban homeschooling says it is used to indoctrinate children with 'extreme ' ideologies , like @

A Harvard University law professor is arguing that homeschooling is used to dangerously indoctrinate children with "extreme" ideologies, such as Christianity.
Last month, Harvard Law professor Elizabeth Bartholet made headlines calling for a "presumptive ban" on homeschooling in the United States. In an article, titled "The Risks of Homeschooling," she suggested that the practice is dangerous because it allows parents to have "authoritarian control" over their children.
Then on Friday, in a follow-up interview with the Harvard Gazette, Bartholet doubled down on her anti-homeschooling stance, specifically citing why she believes giving control of education to parents is such a terrible thing.
What did she say?
Bartholet credited the recent growth of homeschooling to "the growth in the conservative evangelical movement."
She added: "Conservative Christians wanted the chance to bring their children up with their values and belief systems and saw homeschooling as a way to escape from the secular education in public schools."
The fact that many Christians homeschool their children is detrimental, Bartholet reasoned, because "many homeschooling parents are extreme ideologues, committed to raising their children within their belief systems isolated from any societal influence."
Bartholet then went on to make sweeping stereotyped generalizations of conservative Christians, suggesting that "some believe that black people are inferior to white people and others that women should be subject to men and not educated for careers but instead raised to serve their fathers first and then their husbands."
"The danger is both to these children and to society," Bartholet concluded. "The children may not have the chance to choose for themselves whether to exit these ideological communities; society may not have the chance to teach them values important to the larger community, such as tolerance of other people's views and values."
Anything else?
Bartholet's concerns that homeschooling is primarily used to close off children from society and indoctrinate them with beliefs in female subservience and racial supremacy is unfounded, according to data from the Institute for Family Studies.
David Sikkink, a professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame, analyzed surveys of homeschooling families and found that the families "are not overwhelmingly Christian nor religious, and are not as universally closed-off to the outside world as Bartholet asserts," the Catholic News Agency reported.
Data from one of the large surveys showed that only about 16% cited religious beliefs as the most important reason for homeschooling and only 5% cited moral instruction. Rather, the most cited reason for choosing to homeschool was concern over the environment at other schools in the area.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Commentary: President Trump should pardon Barack Obama

2020 has been a rough year already .
We 're aging in dog years now .
We 've already been through an impeachment , the worst pandemic in a century , the worst economic recession since the Great Depression , and now we 're unmasking perhaps the greatest political scandal in American history .
And it 's not even June .
We need healing as a country .
As I 'm told , frequently , we 're all in this together .
To that end , we need something to rally the nation as one people once more , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it — one troll to rule them all .
Donald Trump is more than just a president .
He 's America 's troll-in-chief .
From `` low energy Jeb '' to `` fake news '' and `` lock her up , '' he masterfully used the quick-draw capability of social media to brand his political opponents all the way to the White House .
Which is why I must confess to being surprised he has yet to realize he 's sitting on the greatest troll of all time .
The troll of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just think of President Trump standing up at one of his rallies , maybe even holding it in Obama 's home state of Illinois , and announcing the following on national television in front of one of his adoring crowds : This country has been through Hell this year fighting the invisible enemy , coronavirus .
But we 're coming back , and coming back strong .
This will be one of the great American comeback stories , except there 's one thing we still desperately need right now .
We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
We all suffered together , and we can only come back together .
And I think as your president , it 's my place to make the first move .
That 's why tonight , in front of all of you and the nation , I will be taking the extraordinary step of signing a full presidential pardon for my predecessor , Barack Hussein Obama .
Because the last thing this country needs right now is another investigation and distraction .
We 've had enough of those the past few years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than anyone else .
It 's time to get back to Making America Great Again .
We have to confront China for what they did to the world , restore the greatest economy in history , and then save this country from Sleepy Joe Biden 's dementia-riddled mind .
If people wanted to go back to the Obama years , they would 've elected Hillary in 2016 .
We all want to move on , and get back to where we were before the coronavirus .
But we ca n't do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Obama himself once said — Forward !
I know Barack Obama orchestrated the greatest political scandal in American history .
I know that he unleashed illegal surveillance of an opposing presidential campaign .
I know that he permitted the FBI and deep state to target and entrap innocent people like Gen. Flynn , one of our military heroes .
I know these things , because I was the target of `` ObamaGate . ''
But it was n't just me , as much as all of you that are here tonight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the deep state and bureaucrats who think they 're better than you , so they committed a series of high crimes and misdemeanors to steal the election you won , in collusion with enemy media .
Some of whom are here tonight .
They accused me of collusion for four years , when they were the ones colluding .
The only collusion was the deep state with enemy media .
We already wasted too much of my first term you gave me fighting back against their clumsy coup attempts .
I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 'll give me in November doing it all over again .
That 's why now , tonight , is finally the time to put this all behind us .
And for Joe Biden and I to share our contrasting visions for the future , if Sleepy Joe can even remember what his is .
To that end , I now sign this full pardon of Barack Obama .
Though he deserves to be locked up right next to Hillary , we do n't need any more FISA warrants , Fake News leaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Keeping America Great on CNN .
And with that , I wish Barack Obama well , and congratulate him on his new $ 12 million home in the Hamptons .
Of course , mine 's bigger , but I still want you and your lovely bride free to enjoy all the riches you apparently acquired all those years struggling in public service .

2020 has been a rough year already. We're aging in dog years now. We've already been through an impeachment, the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, and now we're unmasking perhaps the greatest political scandal in American history. And it's not even June.
We need healing as a country. As I'm told, frequently, we're all in this together. To that end, we need something to rally the nation as one people once more, and this is how we're going to do it — one troll to rule them all.
Donald Trump is more than just a president. He's America's troll-in-chief. From "low energy Jeb" to "fake news" and "lock her up," he masterfully used the quick-draw capability of social media to brand his political opponents all the way to the White House. Which is why I must confess to being surprised he has yet to realize he's sitting on the greatest troll of all time. The troll of trolls. The greatest troll ever trolled.
President Trump should pardon Barack Obama for "ObamaGate."
Just think of President Trump standing up at one of his rallies, maybe even holding it in Obama's home state of Illinois, and announcing the following on national television in front of one of his adoring crowds:
This country has been through Hell this year fighting the invisible enemy, coronavirus. But we're coming back, and coming back strong. This will be one of the great American comeback stories, except there's one thing we still desperately need right now. We need less division and more unity in our country. We all suffered together, and we can only come back together.
And I think as your president, it's my place to make the first move.
That's why tonight, in front of all of you and the nation, I will be taking the extraordinary step of signing a full presidential pardon for my predecessor, Barack Hussein Obama. Because the last thing this country needs right now is another investigation and distraction. We've had enough of those the past few years. Trust me, I know that better than anyone else. It's time to get back to Making America Great Again.
We have to confront China for what they did to the world, restore the greatest economy in history, and then save this country from Sleepy Joe Biden's dementia-riddled mind. If people wanted to go back to the Obama years, they would've elected Hillary in 2016. We all want to move on, and get back to where we were before the coronavirus.
But we can't do that if we keep looking back. So as Obama himself once said — Forward!
I know Barack Obama orchestrated the greatest political scandal in American history. I know that he unleashed illegal surveillance of an opposing presidential campaign. I know that he permitted the FBI and deep state to target and entrap innocent people like Gen. Flynn, one of our military heroes. I know these things, because I was the target of "ObamaGate."
But it wasn't just me, as much as all of you that are here tonight. You dared to take your country back from the deep state and bureaucrats who think they're better than you, so they committed a series of high crimes and misdemeanors to steal the election you won, in collusion with enemy media. Some of whom are here tonight. They accused me of collusion for four years, when they were the ones colluding. The only collusion was the deep state with enemy media.
We already wasted too much of my first term you gave me fighting back against their clumsy coup attempts. I don't want to waste the second term you'll give me in November doing it all over again. That's why now, tonight, is finally the time to put this all behind us. And for Joe Biden and I to share our contrasting visions for the future, if Sleepy Joe can even remember what his is.
To that end, I now sign this full pardon of Barack Obama. Though he deserves to be locked up right next to Hillary, we don't need any more FISA warrants, Fake News leaks, and corrupt FBI officials distracting us from Keeping America Great on CNN.
(Trump signs the pardon)
And with that, I wish Barack Obama well, and congratulate him on his new $12 million home in the Hamptons. Of course, mine's bigger, but I still want you and your lovely bride free to enjoy all the riches you apparently acquired all those years struggling in public service.


theblaze--2020-05-19--CNN's Chris Cuomo claims Trump's drug announcement meant to cover up news, escape accountability

CNN host Chris Cuomo suggested Monday that President Donald Trump announced he is taking hydroxychloroquine to distract Americans from important news stories .
`` It 's all a beautiful distraction , '' Cuomo said during his opening monologue .
Trump claimed at a news conference on Monday that he has been taking the anti-malarial drug , which has reportedly been successful in helping treat coronavirus in some cases , for several weeks as a precautionary step to ward off the deadly virus .
Trump 's announcement came on the same day the FBI announced a direct connection between al-Qaeda and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Station Pensacola last year .
According to Cuomo , Trump conveniently made his announcement to cover up the al-Qaeda news and to escape accountability .
`` Our president wants to talk about how strong he is to take hydroxychloroquine because he just does everything he can to make himself strong and make this country strong , '' Cuomo said .
`` I know this much , I do n't know that it will help with his health , but it certainly helps to cover up his weaknesses . ''
`` Another day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be pressing him about never dealing in any real way with how we reopen .
And he bought a pass today on a bad piece of news that I bet you probably have n't even heard about , '' Cuomo continued .
`` Did you know that the first foreign-directed terror attack since 9/11 , foreign-directed , happened on Trump 's watch ?
We now know the FBI has found an al-Qaeda link to that Pensacola attack last year at the military base . ''
At the beginning of the show , Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the drug , despite a note from the White House physician .
The reason Trump claimed he is taking hydroxycholoroquine is because `` it 's a winning argument for him , '' Cuomo claimed .
`` He wins this argument .
Why ?
Because he believes .
Because he 's taken a chance .
Because he 's strong .
He 's not the 'Party of No . '
He 's not the Democrats , '' Cuomo said .
`` That 's where he 's put the Democrats . ''

CNN host Chris Cuomo suggested Monday that President Donald Trump announced he is taking hydroxychloroquine to distract Americans from important news stories.
"It's all a beautiful distraction," Cuomo said during his opening monologue.
Trump claimed at a news conference on Monday that he has been taking the anti-malarial drug, which has reportedly been successful in helping treat coronavirus in some cases, for several weeks as a precautionary step to ward off the deadly virus. Trump's announcement came on the same day the FBI announced a direct connection between al-Qaeda and the gunman who opened fire on Naval Air Station Pensacola last year.
According to Cuomo, Trump conveniently made his announcement to cover up the al-Qaeda news and to escape accountability.
"Our president wants to talk about how strong he is to take hydroxychloroquine because he just does everything he can to make himself strong and make this country strong," Cuomo said. "I know this much, I don't know that it will help with his health, but it certainly helps to cover up his weaknesses."
"Another day that most of the media wouldn't be pressing him about never dealing in any real way with how we reopen. And he bought a pass today on a bad piece of news that I bet you probably haven't even heard about," Cuomo continued. "Did you know that the first foreign-directed terror attack since 9/11, foreign-directed, happened on Trump's watch? We now know the FBI has found an al-Qaeda link to that Pensacola attack last year at the military base."
At the beginning of the show, Cuomo expressed doubt that Trump is even actually taking the drug, despite a note from the White House physician.
The reason Trump claimed he is taking hydroxycholoroquine is because "it's a winning argument for him," Cuomo claimed.
"He wins this argument. Why? Because he believes. Because he's taken a chance. Because he's strong. He's not the 'Party of No.' He's not the Democrats," Cuomo said. "That's where he's put the Democrats."


theblaze--2020-05-19--California governor says first responders will be 'first ones laid off' without federal government b

California governor says first responders will be 'first ones laid off' without federal government bailout

California governor says first responders will be 'first ones laid off ' without federal government bailout

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday that if his state doesn't receive federal financial assistance, first responders will be the first government employees to get laid off.
House Democrats passed a $3 trillion relief bill last week, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) said the bill is "dead on arrival" in the Senate. The bill includes $500 billion for state governments and $375 billion for local governments, Axios reported.
Newsom said California was running a $21.5 billion surplus a year ago, but now has a $54.3 billion deficit because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Can you explain what you think will happen to California if the federal government doesn't give you money to help you out?" Tapper asked Newsom.
"I hope they'll consider this; the next time they want to salute and celebrate our heroes, our first responders, our police officers and firefighters, consider the fact that they are the first ones who will be laid off by cities and counties," Newsom responded. "The folks who are out there, the true heroes of this pandemic, are health care workers and nurses. Those county health systems have been ravaged, their budgets have been devastated and depleted, the budget counts depleted since this pandemic. They're the first ones to be laid off. So we've got to square our rhetoric with the reality."
Newsom announced that counties could begin easing lockdown restrictions if they have 25 or fewer cases per 100,000 residents, or no higher than an 8% positive rate among those who are tested for COVID-19. Counties that meet those standards can look to reopen restaurants for sit-down service and allow people to shop in retail stores.
It could be weeks before another coronavirus-related relief bill is passed by Congress, if one passes at all. The Senate has no plans to produce an alternative bill to the Democrats' package before the Memorial Day recess. This week, the Senate will vote on judicial appointments, Politico reported.
"I'd put the chance of another bill right now at way less than 50% for the foreseeable future," Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said, according to Politico. "I mean, I hear all this talk that, 'Well, we'll get back together and something will get worked out in June.'"


theblaze--2020-05-19--'Somebody's gotta stand up to it': Owner of NJ gym declares it's staying open despite Democratic Gov

'Somebody's gotta stand up to it': Owner of NJ gym declares it's staying open despite Democratic Gov. Murphy's warning

'Somebody 's got ta stand up to it ' : Owner of NJ gym declares it 's staying open despite @ @ @ @ @ warning 'People keep asking me , am I afraid .
Absolutely .
But I 'm @ @ @ @ @ are n't going to have rights . '

The owners of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, are vowing to stay open for a second day in defiance of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's coronavirus shutdown order — and in spite of the governor's warning to the owners and anyone who steps foot in the gym.
"He can do whatever he wants," co-owner Frank Trumbetti told KYW-TV Tuesday morning regarding Murphy. "I'm going to do this tomorrow and the next day and the next day."
What are the details?
The gym made big headlines when it opened Monday morning before the governor allowed it. Outside the gym a crowd of several hundred — which began forming hours before the doors opened at 8 a.m. — carried American and Trump 2020 flags and chanted "USA! USA! USA!" and "Let's get back to work!"
Later that morning, a police officer told the crowd and the owners, "Formally, you are all in violation of the executive order." Then came the officer's surprising follow-up statement: "On that note, have a good day. Everybody be safe."
As police turned and walked away, the crowd immediately erupted in cheers:
Nevertheless, Bellmawr police eventually did issue disorderly persons citations to the gym's owners for violating the governor's executive order, KYW said, adding that a disorderly persons charge carries a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail.
Image source: KYW-TV video screenshot
The station added that the owners were the only ones to receive citations Monday, but police gave warnings to gym members who were working out.
And Murphy also warned the gym and all those who enter it Tuesday, KYW said: "If you show up at that gym again tomorrow, there's going to be a different reality than showing today. ... These just aren't words, we've got to enforce this, but I also don't want to start World War III."
Image source: KYW-TV video screenshot
'People keep asking me, am I afraid. Absolutely.'
Trumbetti was strident in his response to the the citations he and his business partner Ian Smith received Monday, declaring to the gathered crowd, "I don't care how much it is" and that "it's going to get thrown out because it's against the Constitution, so I'm not worried about it!"
Image source: KYW-TV video screenshot
But Trumbetti admitted in a quieter moment with KYW Tuesday morning that he's indeed concerned about consequences that may be awaiting him.
"People keep asking me, am I afraid. Absolutely," he told the station. "But I'm more afraid that my kids aren't going to have rights ... somebody's gotta stand up to it."
Image source: KYW-TV video screenshot
Get ready for arrests
And while Trumbetti encouraged members to come back to the gym Tuesday, he said there may be repercussions.
"Know that if you walk into Atilis Gym to get your workout in and feel like a normal human being, you're probably gonna be potentially arrested," he told KYW.
Trumbetti and Smith retained a lawyer to send a letter to Murphy calling his shelter-in-place orders "draconian and unconstitutional" and arguing against distinctions between essential and nonessential businesses, the station said.


theblaze--2020-05-20--Thousands in Michigan told to evacuate after two dams collapse due to heavy rains

Thousands in Michigan told to evacuate after two dams collapse due to heavy rains Residents in Midland County have been @ @ @ @ @

Thousands of people in central Michigan have been urged to flee their homes, after two dams failed following sustained heavy rains in the area.
What are the details?
ABC News reported that "two breached dams caused by several days of rainfall and rising water on Tuesday forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people in mid-Michigan, where the governor said one downtown could be 'under approximately 9 feet of water' by morning."
The Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam — both located in Midland County — both collapsed, leading officials to urge residents to flee their homes and find higher ground, according to Reuters.
Pilot captures rushing water flowing through failed Edenville Dam www.youtube.com
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) declared a state of emergency following the breaches and issued a statement saying, "This is unlike anything we've seen in Midland County. If you have a family member or loved one who lives in another part of the state, go there now."
Whitmer, who has been criticized for her strict lockdown orders during the COVID-19 crisis, added, "To go through this in the midst of a global pandemic is almost unthinkable."
According to Michigan Advance, Whitmer "asks everyone going to shelters to wear their masks and maintain social distancing as best they can."
Reuters noted:
In 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revoked the license of the company that operated the Edenville Dam due to non-compliance issues that included spillway capacity and the inability to pass the most severe flood reasonably possible in the area.
The Edenville Dam, which was built in 1924, was rated in unsatisfactory condition in 2018 by the state. The Sanford Dam, which was built in 1925, received a fair condition rating.
Both dams are in the process of being sold.


theblaze--2020-05-20--Planned Parenthood improperly received $80 million in virus funds — Republicans demand they give it

Planned Parenthood improperly received $80 million in virus funds — Republicans demand they give it back

Planned Parenthood improperly received $ 80 million in virus funds — Republicans demand they give it back The abortion provider @ @ @ @ @ funding

Affiliates of abortion provider Planned Parenthood improperly applied for and received $80 million in coronavirus relief funds, and Republicans are demanding they give back the money.
The report from Fox News says that 37 affiliates received the funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), despite the abortion provider being explicitly blocked from doing so.
The affiliates are being contacted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in an attempt to warn them of possible fines and explaining why they were ineligible for the funding.
The largest allotment of coronavirus funds was $7.5 million for the Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties in California.
After the report from Fox News was published, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) released a statement condemning the abortion provider and demanding the money be given back.
"There is no ambiguity in the legislation that passed or public record around its passage that organizations such as Planned Parenthood, whose parent organization has close to half a billion dollars in assets, is not eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program," said Rubio, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
"Those funds must be returned immediately," he added.
Rubio also called for an investigation into the violations of the PPP loan regulations.
"Furthermore, the SBA should open an investigation into how these loans were made in clear violation of the applicable affiliation rules and if Planned Parenthood, the banks, or staff at the SBA knowingly violated the law all appropriate legal options should be pursued," he concluded.
Whatever happens with the PPP violators, they may receive a further windfall if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) succeeds with planned legislation that would make additional funding available to the abortion provider.


theblaze--2020-05-20--Biden tries to counter 'Sleepy Joe' moniker by nicknaming Trump—and fails miserably

Biden tries to counter 'Sleepy Joe ' moniker by nicknaming Trump—and fails miserably

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden attempted to assign a label to rival President Donald Trump after months of being successfully branded as "Sleepy Joe" by the president and his allies. But Biden's attempt failed to launch, while earning him plenty of online ridicule.
What are the details?
During an interview on Monday, Biden declared, "Trump is out there tweeting again this morning. I call him President Tweety. 'Reopen the country?' How are we supposed to do that if you're sitting on the money small businesses need? Stop tweeting about it. Get the money out to Main Street."
Biden's new moniker for Trump is 'President Tweety' www.youtube.com
Fox News pointed out that President Trump is indeed "famously known for his voracious tweeting habits at all hours of the day and night," but skeptics on social media reacted to the "President Tweety" moniker by criticizing it as a weak attempt to beat the president at his own skilled ability to assign nicknames to rivals.
Former Fox News journalist Megyn Kelly, who famously sparred with Trump during the 2016 election cycle, reacted to Biden's attempt to assign a label to Trump by tweeting, "People not named Trump should really stop playing the nickname game. No one seems very good at it and it's embarrassing."
One Twitter user asked, "Out of all the nicknames you could possibly think of for him, that's the best you can do? It's barely even insulting," while another wrote, "Imagine sitting in your basement for 2 months. Reading prepared lines and answering prepared questions. You have an entire team of people helping you and the best nickname you can come up with is #PresidentTweety...@JoeBiden that was embarrassing bruh."
Several Biden supporters embraced his nickname for Trump and urged others to work to get "#PresidentTweety" trending.
Trump has referred to Biden as "Sleepy Joe" throughout the 2020 election cycle in an attempt to draw attention to questions over the former vice president's fitness for office. The New York Post noted that "the commander-in-chief became known during the 2016 presidential election for his political nicknames, including 'Crooked Hillary' Clinton, 'Lyin' Ted' Cruz, and 'Little Marco' Rubio."
Biden admitted last week to Vanity Fair that Trump is "a master at laying nicknames on people" and signaled then that he was holding back on trying to assign a label to the president. Biden said, "In terms of energy, I don't have any problem comparing my energy level to Donald Trump, who I'm really resisting giving a nickname to."


theblaze--2020-05-20--Declassified Susan Rice email conflicts with her statement to Congress from 2018

Declassified Susan Rice email conflicts with her statement to Congress from 2018 Rice needs to clear up these questions

A newly declassified email from former Obama official Susan Rice appears to conflict with the statement her lawyer gave to Congress about that email in 2018.
The email was sent by Rice to herself on the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration in order to document her notes about a meeting of Obama officials about incoming national security adviser Mike Flynn.
The newly unredacted portion of the email involves the warning from former FBI Director James Comey that Flynn had an unusual number of interactions with a Russian ambassador.
Director Comey affirmed that he is proceeding "by the book" as it relates to law enforcement. From a national security perspective, Comey said he does have some concerns that incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak. Comey said that could be an issue as it relates to sharing sensitive information.
President Obama asked if Comey was saying that the NSC should not pass sensitive information related to Russia to Flynn. Comey replied, 'potentially.' He added that he has no indication thus far that Flynn has passed classified information to Kislyak, but he noted that the 'level of communication is unusual.'
But in a statement sent in 2018 from her attorney Kathryn Ruemmler to Congress, Rice indicated that she had no knowledge about any investigation by the FBI into Trump officials colluding with Russian officials.
While serving as National Security Advisor, Ambassador Rice was not briefed on the existence of any FBI investigation into allegations of collusion between Mr. Trump's associates and Russia, and she later learned of the fact of this investigation from Director Comey's subsequent public testimony.
The letter goes on to claim that Rice didn't know about any FISA applications made during the investigation into alleged collusion:
Ambassador Rice was not informed of any FISA applications sought by the FBI in its investigation, and she only learned of them from press reports after leaving office.
This appears to conflict with the declassified portion of her self-email that shows Comey discussed the communications that the FBI had obtained between Flynn and the Russian ambassador.
Rice responds
Rice released a statement through her spokesperson Erin Pelton in response to the release of the declassified email.
The statement denies that the meeting had anything to do with an FBI investigation and decries "dishonest accusations" making such claims.
Ambassador Rice's email makes clear that no discussion of law enforcement matters or investigations took place, despite dishonest accusations to the contrary. The email clearly states that President Obama stressed that he was "not asking about, initiating or instructing anything from a law enforcement perspective."
The statement goes on to ask that the director of national intelligence release the "unredacted transcripts of all Kislyak-Flynn calls."
Anything else?
In the wake of the release of the declassified email, a resurfaced video of Rice's claims was circulated on social media to further corroborate the claim that she had been dishonest about the unmasking of Trump officials. The video comes from an interview on PBS in March 2017.
"During the transition, after President Trump, uh, had been elected, he and the people around him may have been caught up in surveillance of foreign individuals and that their identities may have been disclosed," said PBS host Judy Woodruff. "Do you know anything about this?"
"I know nothing about this," claimed Rice.
Here's the video of Rice from PBS in 2017:


theblaze--2020-05-20--Florida sheriff defends dispersal of large party over coronavirus, calls out those using the 'race c

Florida sheriff defends dispersal of large party over coronavirus, calls out those using the 'race card' as cowards

Florida sheriff defends dispersal of large party over coronavirus , calls out those using the 'race card ' as cowards @ @ @ @ @ black , hispanic , or yellow , you 've got a gun and point it @ @ @ @ @ going to shoot you '

A Florida sheriff defended the dispersal of a large block party violating social distancing guidelines by saying those waving the race card were using the "coward's way out."
Police engaged in various altercations on Saturday in Deland while trying to disperse the party, which appeared to be predominately attended by African-Americans.
Residents reportedly threw jars and glasses at the police, and two convicted felons were arrested.
Police released their chopper video of the incident that involved thousands of residents:
GRAPHIC CONTENT: County sheriffs in Florida released footage of a block party with over 3000 people in attendance, despite social distancing guidelines pic.twitter.com/CXYJpNgF2Q
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 19, 2020
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood addressed the accusations of racism in a media briefing on Monday.
"If you're white, black, Hispanic, or yellow, you've got a gun and point it at me, I'm going to shoot you," said Chitwood.
"And I think to raise the race card around is a coward's way of saying this was out of control, this was an embarrassment," he added.
Chitwood said that guns were brandished during the arrests and called the party a "s**tshow." He said that the vast majority of people attending the block party were just out there to have a good time.
He also addressed the controversy in a lengthy Twitter statement where he acknowledged the history of racism in America, but defended the actions of the police as necessary and not at all racist.
The behavior from the crowd was unacceptable and dangerous. The deputies and police officers did the best they could in extremely difficult circumstances, and I commend every one of them for resolving the situation without retaliation, prejudice or fear.
— Mike Chitwood (@SheriffChitwood) May 18, 2020
WKMG Orlando reported that no permits were issued for the party.
"It has nothing to do with race, it has everything to do with lawlessness!" said Chitwood.
Here's part of the sheriff's statement:


theblaze--2020-05-20--County accuses Texas Gov. and Lt. Gov. of white supremacy for criticizing black judge who jailed sal

County accuses Texas Gov. and Lt. Gov. of white supremacy for criticizing black judge who jailed salon owner

County accuses Texas Gov .
and Lt. Gov .
of white supremacy for criticizing black judge who jailed salon owner @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) and Lt. Gov .
Dan Patrick ( R @ @ @ @ @ in the case

The Dallas County Commissioners Court has accused Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) of exhibiting white supremacy after the Republicans condemned the actions of Judge Eric Moyé, who jailed salon owner Shelley Luther for reopening her business in defiance of the state's lockdown order.
Moyé is black, and Abbott, Patrick, and Luther are all white.
What are the details?
On Tuesday, the commission passed a resolution declaring that "Dallas County residents suffer as the world gazes upon the travesty of justice caused when the Governor of the State of Texas and Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor (who appears to spend an excessive amount of time with his Conservative radio talk show) intervened in a ruling against a media-manufactured cause celebre, a lawbreaker and owner of Salon a la Mode."
The document went on to say that the county "had its reputation questioned and ridiculed as this staged-circus, was reduced to issues of race and the superiority of Anglos over all other Americans, which was exhibited by the Governor and the Lt. Governor's reintroduction of Dred Scott v. Sanford which briefed by any reasonable party reads; 'a Black man (Moyé) has no rights that a White man (Trump, Abbott, Patrick) are bound to respect!"
The resolution also demanded that Abbott and Patrick "issue an earnest apology" to Moyé and that the money raised to defend Luther "in this firestorm of foolishness be donated to worthy causes and people who are genuinely in need of this State's intervention."
Moyé ordered Luther to be jailed for seven days and fined thousands of dollars for openly defying state and local mandates by reopening her business and refusing to re-close amid the coronavirus shutdown.
The next day, Abbott and Paxton both issued statements condemning Moyé for having Luther incarcerated and demanding her release from jail. The state supreme court then intervened and Luther was let out.
In its resolution, the Dallas County Commissioners Court said that the actions by the governor and lieutenant governor led to the judge's life being threatened and his "professional record" being called into question.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Infamous Susan Rice self-email declassified by DNI Grenell has been released

Infamous Susan Rice self-email declassified by DNI Grenell has been released The email has more details about the investigation into @ @

An email at the center of the "Obamagate" scandal was released to the public on Tuesday after being declassified by Richard Grenell, the acting director of national intelligence.
The email was sent by former Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice to herself for documentation purposes on the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration.
It details her notes from a meeting about suspicions of Russian meddling in the 2016 election on January 5, 2017. In attendance were former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, Rice, and former FBI Director James Comey.
Catherine Herridge of CBS News posted the email after obtaining it:
In the previously redacted portion of the email, Rice says Obama told them he wanted the investigation to continue going "by the book":
President Obama began the conversation by stressing his continued commitment to ensuring that every aspect of this issue is handed by the Intelligence and law enforcement communities "by the book".
The section of the newly unredacted portions of the email have to do with Comey's concerns about Mike Flynn, the incoming national security adviser at the time, and his interactions with a Russian ambassador.
Director Comey affirmed that he is proceeding "by the book" as it relates to law enforcement. From a national security perspective, Comey said he does have some concerns that incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak. Comey said that could be an issue as it relates to sharing sensitive information.
President Obama asked if Comey was saying that the NSC should not pass sensitive information related to Russia to Flynn. Comey replied, 'potentially.' He added that he has no indication thus far that Flynn has passed classified information to Kislyak, but he noted that the 'level of communication is unusual.'
Critics of the Obama administration hoped the declassified email would contain more evidence proving that the investigation into Russian election meddling was politically motivated.
Rice has admitted that she requested the unmasking of Trump officials in surveillance, but denied that it was done out of political motivation.
"The allegation is that somehow Obama administration officials utilized intelligence for political purposes," Rice said in April 2017. That's absolutely false."
Here's a video compiling statements from Susan Rice:


theblaze--2020-05-21--MADNESS: Transgender who identifies as a deer is now in charge of Twitch censorship: 'I have power'

MADNESS : Transgender who identifies as a deer is now in charge of Twitch censorship : ' I have power' @ @ @ @ @ should be afraid of me '

In a recent episode of Slightly Offens*ve, Elijah Schaffer offered a "daily dose" of madness as he discussed a new member of the Twitch moderation team: a transgender who identifies as a deer and who openly threatened to ban Twitch users with less "diverse" opinions.
"I have power, they can't take it away from me," bragged Steph Loehr, also known as FerociouslySteph. "And honestly there are some people that should be afraid of me, and they are because I represent moderation and diversity and I'm gonna come for harmful people. If you're a really sh**ty person – I'm gonna stand up against you. Period. And Twitch is endorsing me to do that."
"At least mental illness has a name, and that name is apparently Steph Loehr," said Elijah. He played videos of Loehr explaining how she likes to "prance around and eat grass," as well as having a "deergasm."
"This is the state of free speech online. This is who's censoring you," added Elijah.
Watch the video below to get your Slightly Offens*ve daily dose:
Want more from Elijah Schaffer?
Subscribe to Elijah's "Slightly Offens*ve" channel on YouTube for FREE access to his man-on-the-street interviews, protest coverage and more craziness that happens everyday in the USA.


theblaze--2020-05-20--Mike Pompeo slaps Dem senator with his own history of problems with the law

Mike Pompeo slaps Dem senator with his own history of problems with the law ' I do n't get my @ @ @ @ @ who was criminally prosecuted . '

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came out swinging on Wednesday amid pushback over last week's firing of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, reminding the press that the Democratic senator leading a probe over Linick's termination was himself prosecuted on corruption charges.
What are the details?
President Donald Trump fired Linick on Friday, prompting outrage from Democrats. The president later said he was asked by Pompeo to let Linick go, and reports have emerged indicating that the watchdog had been investigation Pompeo.
In response, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) launched an investigation into Linick's firing, saying "it may be an illegal act of retaliation."
Pompeo addressed questions surrounding Linick during a press conference on Wednesday, acknowledging, "I recommended to the president that Steve Linick be terminated. Frankly, should've done it some time ago."
The secretary of state told reporters, "This is all coming through the office of Sen. Menendez. I don't get my ethics guidance from a man who was criminally prosecuted. Case number 15-155."
Sen. Menendez was charged during the Obama administration with conspiracy, bribery, and honest services fraud and accused of abusing the power of his office. A federal judge declared a mistrial in the case in 2017, and the New Jersey Democrat was subsequently reelected.
The Washington Examiner noted that despite the Department of Justice abandoning the prosecution of Menendez following the mistrial, the senator was "severely admonished" by the Senate Ethics Committee.
Pompeo said of Menendez, "His Senate colleagues, bipartisan, said basically that he was taking bribes."


theblaze--2020-05-20--Mika Brzezinski calls Trump a 'cruel, sick, disgusting' person over intern tweet, demands Twitter ba

Mika Brzezinski calls Trump a 'cruel, sick, disgusting' person over intern tweet, demands Twitter ban him

MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski angrily excoriated President Donald Trump on her show and said that she would be calling the CEO of Twitter to have the president 's social media account shut down .
Brzezinski was angry because the president was drudging up a conspiracy theory about Joe Scarborough , her co-host and husband , and the tragic death of a congressional intern at his office in 2001 .
`` He 's tweeting again , all sorts of crazy things , uh , once again , uh , tweeting conspiracy theories about Joe , falsely accusing him of murder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffer in his congressional office years ago .
And calling him dangerous to walk the streets , '' Brzezinski said .
And I 'll just say I 'll take a point of personal privilege here , that 's sick , Donald you 're a sick person !
You 're a suck person ! ''
she added .
`` To put this family through this ?
To put her husband through this ?
To do this just because you 're made at Joe because Joe got ya again today ? ''
Brzezinski continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she added , `` and he speaks plainly about your lack of interest and empathy in others , and your lack of ability to handle this massive human catastrophe ?
The fact that you make it worse ? ''
Brzezinski went on to say that Twitter should take down the president 's tweets and ban his account from their social media platform .
`` But Donald , you 're a sick person .
You 're really a cruel , sick , disgusting person ! ''
she concluded .
Brzezinski tweeted at Jack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shut down the president 's account , and said that she would be making a phone call to him .
`` TAKE DOWN TRUMP 's ACCOUNT— the world world be safer .
Retweet if you agree , '' she said to her nearly a million followers .
Scarborough was criticized by many after a video from 2003 showed him laughing at a joke about the death of his intern .

MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski angrily excoriated President Donald Trump on her show and said that she would be calling the CEO of Twitter to have the president's social media account shut down.
Brzezinski was angry because the president was drudging up a conspiracy theory about Joe Scarborough, her co-host and husband, and the tragic death of a congressional intern at his office in 2001.
"He's tweeting again, all sorts of crazy things, uh, once again, uh, tweeting conspiracy theories about Joe, falsely accusing him of murder, talking about the death of a young staffer in his congressional office years ago. And calling him dangerous to walk the streets," Brzezinski said.
And I'll just say I'll take a point of personal privilege here, that's sick, Donald you're a sick person! You're a suck person!" she added.
"To put this family through this? To put her husband through this? To do this just because you're made at Joe because Joe got ya again today?" Brzezinski continued.
"Because he speaks the truth," she added, "and he speaks plainly about your lack of interest and empathy in others, and your lack of ability to handle this massive human catastrophe? The fact that you make it worse?"
Brzezinski went on to say that Twitter should take down the president's tweets and ban his account from their social media platform.
"But Donald, you're a sick person. You're really a cruel, sick, disgusting person!" she concluded.
Brzezinski tweeted at Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, to shut down the president's account, and said that she would be making a phone call to him.
"TAKE DOWN TRUMP's ACCOUNT— the world world be safer. Retweet if you agree," she said to her nearly a million followers.
Scarborough was criticized by many after a video from 2003 showed him laughing at a joke about the death of his intern.
Here's the video from MSNBC:


theblaze--2020-05-20--Kamala Harris and other Democrats introduce resolution to condemn terms 'Chinese Virus' and 'Wuhan V

Kamala Harris and other Democrats introduce resolution to condemn terms 'Chinese Virus' and 'Wuhan Virus'

Kamala Harris and other Democrats introduce resolution to condemn terms 'Chinese Virus ' and 'Wuhan Virus' They blame the rhetoric @ @ @

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and a group of other Democratic senators introduced a resolution calling for the condemnation of the use of terms such as "Chinese Virus" or "Wuhan Virus" to describe COVID-19.
The resolution ties the use of such terms to acts of violence or discrimination carried out against Asian Americans over the past several months.
The resolution "calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce anti-Asian sentiment in any form" and "condemns all manifestations or expressions of racism, xenophobia, discrimination, anti-Asian sentiment, scapegoating, and ethnic or religious intolerance."
The novel coronavirus that caused a pandemic that has killed more than 300,000 people worldwide originated in Wuhan, China. Some theorize that it was transmitted to humans from bats in a Wuhan outdoor wet market, while others suspect it may have been spread by way of an accidental transmission at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The Chinese government attempted to cover up the uncontrolled spread of the virus in the early days after it was discovered, and it has likely underreported the true number of Chinese residents who died from it. The Chinese communist government has since tried to blame the United States for the virus.
Harris's resolution points out that Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agreed that the use of the term "Chinese coronavirus" was wrong and inappropriate.
A number of mainstream media outlets referred to the virus by its geographical origins in stories and segments before the virus spread throughout the world. Once it became a severe issue in the U.S., sentiment on the use of terms such as "Chinese coronavirus" changed abruptly.
Numerous diseases have been named after the location where they originated, such as Ebola or Zika in recent memory. The 1918 influenza pandemic is still commonly referred to as the Spanish flu.


theblaze--2020-05-20--Sen. Rubio: 'Someone broke the law’ by leaking contents of Flynn call, and that alone is cause for f

Sen. Rubio: 'Someone broke the law’ by leaking contents of Flynn call, and that alone is cause for further investigation

Sen. Rubio : 'Someone broke the law ’ by leaking contents of Flynn call , and that alone is cause @ @ @

New acting Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Wednesday that "someone broke the law" by leaking the contents of retired Gen. Michael Flynn's December 2016 phone call with former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak — and that this fact alone is cause for investigation.
In an appearance on Fox News' "Fox & Friends," the senator explained the importance that information collected by intelligence agencies is not leaked — especially in order to "further a political narrative" — before suggesting that "at the end of the day, elements of a phone call between Mr. Flynn and the ambassador from Russia at the time were leaked to the press."
"Someone broke the law," he stated, adding that this fact "alone is cause for accountability to find out who did it."
Rubio then suggested that since the information was owned by the FBI, it seems likely that an FBI official may have been responsible for the leak, adding further suspicion as to whether top officials at the FBI broke the law during the bureau's probe of the Trump campaign.
"That is information that was owned not by the intelligence community," he said. "It was owned by the FBI, they have possession of it, and so I think it's very valid to ask who knew about this information.
"You cannot have a law enforcement agency have people within it break the law," Rubio added.
Rubio Talks Intelligence Matters, Oversight of PPP Funds, and Reopening Florida on 'Fox & Friends' youtu.be
Rubio discussed a wide range of issues during the interview, including the newly declassified email from Susan Rice, former national security adviser for the Obama administration.
The email documents a meeting of Obama officials regarding Flynn on Trump's inauguration day and demonstrates that former FBI Director James Comey was at that time proceeding in an investigation into the incoming national security adviser.
Rubio highlights this fact to again argue that Judiciary Committee hearings into potential wrongdoing by the FBI is justified.
"[The email] actually makes it abundantly clear that this is actually at that point no longer an intelligence community issue, this was an FBI issue, which is why I believe that the hearings in Judiciary is the proper forum to look at how the FBI handled this entire process and figure out if there was any wrongdoing in the way it was approached," Rubio said.