theblaze--2020-11-17--Bill Gates compares people who refuse to wear masks amid COVID to nudists who won't wear pants in pu

Bill Gates compares people who refuse to wear masks amid COVID to nudists who won't wear pants in public

Bill Gates compares people who refuse to wear masks amid COVID to nudists who wo n't wear pants in public

Billionaire Microsoft founder and climate activist Bill Gates has compared people opposed to mask-wearing to nudists who refuse to wear pants in public.
What are the details?
As highlighted by Business Insider, Gates addressed the coronavirus pandemic and the wearing of masks as a prophylactic against infection on his brand-new podcast with actress Rashida Jones.
During the exchange, Gates told Jones that he simply doesn't understand why some people are so opposed to masks.
"The idea that somebody's resisting wearing a mask, that is such a weird thing to me," he told Jones during "Bill Gates and Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions."
"What are these, like, nudists?" he added. "I mean, you know, we ask you to wear pants, and no American says, or very few Americans say, that that's, like, some terrible thing."
Jones responded, "If you want to get back to normal life any time sooner, wear a mask, or don't wear a mask, and stay home. But, like, to ask for both things feels like you just want things to be better, and they're not, so you kind of just have to deal with what it is."
Gates and Jones also spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci during the premiere episode and discussed a potential vaccine rollout.
"One of the things we're dealing with is a degree of essentially fatigue that people have about going through this," Fauci said during the interview. "It's amazing. It's almost like a distortion of time, Rashida."
He continued, "I want to tell people, 'Don't give up. This is going to end. Science is going to help us with a vaccine and therapy, and if we pay attention to the public health measures, we can gain control of it. The thing you don't want to happen is that people said, 'I've done this so long. I'm tired of it. The heck with it. I'm just going to go out there and do what I want to do.'"


theblaze--2020-11-17--Support for stricter gun laws falls to lowest point since 2016; backing for handgun ban falls to nea

Support for stricter gun laws falls to lowest point since 2016; backing for handgun ban falls to near record low

Support for stricter gun laws falls to lowest point since 2016 ; backing for handgun ban falls to near record @ @ @ @ @ able to protect themselves

With all the civil unrest that plagued the country over the last year, support for instituting stricter gun laws has dropped, while support for making gun laws less strict has seen a bump. And support for a ban on handguns has fallen to nearly record-low levels.
As Americans watched neighborhoods burn, business suffer looting, protesters demand that we "defund the police," and fellow citizens hit with violence from rioters and other criminals, they made their way to gun stores, hoping to add another level of security for themselves and their families.
And as a result, the nation has seen a surge in gun sales the last few months, with gun sales shattering records this summer.
In early October, Rasmussen revealed that 22% of gun-owning households said they had added at least one firearm to their arsenal since the start of violent anti-police and Black Lives Matter protests.
When those factors are combined with the absence of a mass shooting in the U.S. this year, it likely comes as no surprise that Americans have grown significantly less supportive of imposing stricter gun laws.
A new Gallup survey posted Monday showed that a shrinking majority — 57% — of Americans support calls for stricter gun laws, which is down seven points from last year and down 10 points from 2018.
The share of U.S. citizens who want guns laws to be made less strict moved up from 4% in 2018 and 7% in 2019 to 9% today.
The percentage of voters who believe gun laws should be left untouched grew from 28% last year to 34% this year.
When broken down by demographics, the widest difference of opinion is found, unsurprisingly, between political parties, with the gap between gun owners and non-gun owners coming in second.
85% of Democrats want to see stricter gun laws imposed, while 22% of Republicans feel the same.
72% of non-gun owners support stricter gun laws, while just 26% of current gun support such a move.
Gallup also reported that support for a ban on handguns in the U.S. has fallen to a near record low of just 25%. The previous record low was 23% in 2016.


theblaze--2020-11-17--Nearly 100,000 people come forward to allege sexual abuse against Boy Scouts of America leaders

Nearly 100,000 people purporting to be sexual abuse victims have come forward to accuse Boy Scouts of America scout leaders of abuse, according to a report from The Telegraph.
The purported abuse took places over "decades," according to the report.
What are the details?
Paul Mones, a lawyer working on related cases for approximately 20 years, said, "It's by far the largest sexual abuse scandal in the U.S."
Mones pointed out that the organization provided a "perfect Petri dish" for pedophiles.
"Boys have taken an oath of loyalty, they are away from their parents, in the wilderness," he explained.
The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy in February, according to the outlet, "in an effort to block settlement claims from hitting the organization directly and instead funneled them to a compensation fund."
CNN reported that one of the lead attorneys for the legal team representing the claimants said that the organization "will be facing at least 92,700 claims of sexual abuse."
The figure, according to the outlet, came from bankruptcy court, according to attorney Andrew Van Arsdale.
"Based on what we are hearing from survivors, sexual abuse was a rite of passage in troops across the country, similar to other tasks where children had to ... perform certain duties to earn their coveted merit badges," Van Arsdale added.
In a February letter to those people purporting to be victims of child sex abuse, BSA National Chairman Jim Turley wrote that the organization's bankruptcy filing was intended to ensure the organization "is able to equitably compensate all the victims of abuse."
"The BSA cannot undo what happened to you, but we are committed to supporting you and to doing everything in our power to prevent it from happening to others," Turley wrote.
Mones told Axios that he is calling for a congressional inquiry into the scandal.
What else?
Gill Gayle, a 58-year-old man who purports to be victim, told CNN, "I'm not pleased that there's that many men this has happened to. I am glad this many reports is grabbing people's attention and will prevent other children from being assaulted like we were."
A spokesperson for the Boy Scouts of America told the outlet, "We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuse in scouting and moved by the bravery of those who have come forward. We are heartbroken that we cannot undo their pain."


theblaze--2020-11-17--CNN anchor backtracks from Trump-Nazi comparison after being called out by Israeli government

CNN anchor backtracks from Trump-Nazi comparison after being called out by Israeli government ' I regret any pain my statement @ @ @ @

CNN International anchor Christiane Amanpour was blasted last week after she compared President Donald Trump's presidency to the reign of terror that Nazi Germany unleashed on Jews in November 1938, infamously remembered by history as "Kristallnacht."
Now, the CNN personality is backtracking.
What did Amanpour say?
Amanpour made her shocking comparison while celebrating Joe Biden's media-declared victory over Trump in the election.
"This week 82 years ago, Kristallnacht happened," Amanpour said on her CNN show. "It was the Nazis' warning shot across the bow of our human civilization that led to genocide against a whole identity and, in that tower of burning books, it led to an attack on fact, knowledge, history and truth.
"After four years of a modern-day assault on those same values by Donald Trump, the Biden-Harris team pledges a return to normal," she added.
As TheBlaze reported, Amanpour was widely condemned by Jews, politicians, and media figures for offensive comparison.
Even the Israeli government demanded that Amanpour apologize.
Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevitch said in a letter to CNN, "Using the memory of the Holocaust for cheap headlines or a political agenda is concerning and distorts the historical and moral truth."
"Distortion and minimization of the Holocaust are deplorable lies that only encourage the evil voices of anti-Semitism. Employing the memory of the Holocaust for cheap shock value and to further a political agenda is a deeply troubling and offensive spin of historic and moral truths with dangerous implications," Yankelevitch added.
What is Amanpour saying now?
On her show Monday, Amanpour expressed regret over her comments, but did not offer an apology outright.
"And finally tonight, a comment on my program at the end of last week. I observed the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, as I often do — it is the event that began the horrors of the Holocaust. I also noted President Trump's attacks on history, facts, knowledge, and truth," Amanpour said.
"I should not have juxtaposed the two thoughts," she continued. "Hitler and his evils stand alone, of course, in history."
"I regret any pain my statement may have caused," she added. "My point was to say how democracy can potentially slip away and how we must always zealously guard our democratic values."
Anything else?
The comparison triggered anger because, as the U.S. Holocaust Museum explains, "Kristallnacht was a turning point in the history of the Third Reich, marking the shift from antisemitic rhetoric and legislation to the violent, aggressive anti-Jewish measures that would culminate with the Holocaust."
Indeed, on that fateful November night, Nazis pillaged Jewish businesses, synagogues, schools, and homes. Dozens of Jews were murdered, and about 30,000 Jewish men were rounded up and sent to concentration camps.


theblaze--2020-11-17--Martial arts coach saves the day when man tries to snatch baby from stroller right in front of screa

Martial arts coach saves the day when man tries to snatch baby from stroller right in front of screaming mother @ @ @ @ @ of stepping in ; it 's a matter of duty '

Brian Kemsley was walking with his girlfriend last week near New York City's Madison Square Park when he saw and heard something that required immediate action: A man was trying to grab a baby from a stroller, WPIX-TV reported.
What are the details?
Kemsley, a 33-year-old Muay Thai coach, immediately put his skills to use, the New York Post reported.
He told WPIX the assailant was asked to let go of the stroller but kept reaching for the baby, and the mother was already holding a toddler, both of whom were screaming — as was the growing crowd around them.
Cellphone footage shows Kemsley tackling the man to the ground, the Post said. Kemsley pinned him and waited for authorities to arrive, WPIX reported.
Image source: WPIX-TV video screenshot
"I was trying to get him away from the mother and let her get away to safety … but toward the end of it, I was also trying to keep the guy safe from the mob," he told the Post.
Kemsley added to the paper that even though his martial arts training includes a decade of jiu jitsu, he was "worried about passing out and losing my grip" as the ordeal lasted about 15 minutes until authorities arrived.
"Here's the thing, I don't enjoy jiujitsu, I don't think training is particularly fun, but I have a lot of respect for it as it is absolutely essential in a street fight and self-defense," he said regarding the incident, the paper said, citing an Instagram post that apparently has been deleted.
Image source: WPIX-TV video screenshot
He added in another post — which also apparently has been deleted — that "smashing someone should not be the priority" when it comes to "community security" and that citizens shouldn't "show up with sticks and start beating people. The priority should always be to defuse the situation safely and as non violently as possible so we do not escalate the situation," the Post added.
What happened next?
Park rangers soon arrived, WPIX said. New York City police told the paper they responded to the park around 3:35 p.m. for a report of an emotionally disturbed person who was taken into custody and to Bellevue hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
Indeed, Kemsley told the Post that as he was pinning the man in place, he realized the perpetrator — who kept trying to fight — seemed unwell mentally, at one point appearing to believe he was speaking to former President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.
No one was hurt, the station said.
"It's not a matter of stepping in; it's a matter of duty, when you see a woman and her child screaming," Kemsely told WPIX.
When it was all over "everyone started clapping, everyone was grateful," he added to the Post, noting that it "was a very nice moment."


theblaze--2020-11-17--Republican senators promise to block Susan Rice from any cabinet position: 'Sauce for the goose, sau

Republican senators promise to block Susan Rice from any cabinet position: 'Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander'

Republican senators promise to block Susan Rice from any cabinet position : 'Sauce for the goose , sauce for the @ @ @ @ @ for a long few months

Multiple Republican senators promised Tuesday that Joe Biden's potential Cabinet nominees will face harsh scrutiny from Republicans in the Senate, promising to repay Democrats for what they viewed as harsh treatment given to President Trump's Cabinet nominees four years ago.
Specifically, they also indicated that any attempt to nominate the controversial Susan Rice for any Cabinet position would be rejected by Republicans.
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) appeared on "The Hugh Hewitt Show" Tuesday and discussed with Hewitt how a Republican Senate might treat Cabinet nominees in a potential Biden administration. Specifically, both senators were asked about reports indicating that former President Barack Obama is pushing Biden to nominate former national security adviser Susan Rice to be secretary of state.
Blackburn and Cotton indicated that Republicans in the Senate would likely refuse to confirm Rice to that position, or to "any position" requiring Senate approval.
Rice has been the subject of intense controversy for years due to a number of issues, most prominently including her role in spreading the Obama administration's false claim that the attack on a U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in the deaths of four Americans was the result of a spontaneous uprising caused by local reaction to a YouTube video produced by an American.
November 17, 2020: Senator Cotton Joins Hugh Hewitt www.youtube.com
This theory of the attacks was later discredited, and the Obama administration later claimed that errors made by Rice during television interviews on the subject were the fault of the CIA, which they claimed provided Rice with bad information.
When reports surfaced that Biden was considering Rice for the position, Biden transition team members reportedly dismissed concerns that Rice would face an uphill battle in a Republican-controlled Senate, apparently in the belief that Republicans may have forgotten about the Benghazi debacle.
Cotton's and Blackburn's comments may indicate that Biden has gravely misread the Senate chamber he is likely to inherit. More ominous for Biden than the specific remarks made about Rice are the remarks made by Cotton that the Republican Senate will treat Biden's nominees by the same "rules" Trump nominees faced.
Although some of Trump's initial Cabinet nominees (like Secretary of Defense James Mattis) received relatively easy confirmation hearings, the vast majority of Trump's nominees faced almost unanimous opposition from Democrats. Overall, at least 17 of Trump's non-judicial nominees who required Senate approval got over 40 "no" votes. Six of those nominees were confirmed without a single "yes" vote from Democrats.
If Republicans are able to maintain their control of the Senate by winning at least one of the two runoff races in Georgia, that may indicate that Biden could have a difficult time getting the Cabinet he wants confirmed.


theblaze--2020-11-17--US successfully shoots down ICBM in space from warship for the first time ever in military test

The United States shot down an intercontinental ballistic missile in space from a warship at sea for the first time ever in a successful demonstration early Tuesday morning, the Missile Defense Agency announced in a news release.
What are the details?
The ICBM was launched into space at approximately 12:50 a.m. EST from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, located on the Marshall Islands. Shortly after, the missile was "intercepted and destroyed" as it traveled above the broad ocean area northeast of Hawaii.
The MDA used an advanced SM-3 Block IIA ballistic missile defense interceptor made by Raytheon Missiles & Defense to destroy the missile. The operation was part of a hypothetical defense of Hawaii scenario, the release noted.
The successful operation marked the first time that the U.S. has shot down an ICBM from a non-grounded site. It is an encouraging development for homeland defense as foreign adversaries such as North Korea continue to develop long-range missile systems capable of reaching the U.S.
"This was an incredible accomplishment and critical milestone for the Aegis BMD SM-3 Block IIA program," MDA Director Vice Admiral Jon Hill said. "We have demonstrated that an Aegis BMD-equipped vessel equipped with the SM-3 Block IIA missile can defeat an ICBM-class target, which is a step in the process of determining its feasibility as part of an architecture for layered defense of the homeland. My congratulations to the entire test team, including our military and industry partners, who helped us to achieve this milestone."
The MDA made a video of the test available in its release, which can be seen below:
What else?
In a separate news release, Raytheon also celebrated the "historic" event.
"This first-of-its-kind test shows that our nation has a viable option for a new layer of defense against long-range threats," Bryan Rosselli, vice president of Strategic Missile Defense at the company, said. Raytheon added in the release that the interceptor was co-developed with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Fox News noted that previous tests to shoot down ICBMs have been conducted using ground-based interceptors launched from military bases in Alaska and California.
The demonstration was performed to fulfill a congressional mandate to test the interceptor before the end of 2020, MDA officials said. It was originally scheduled for May but was moved back due to personnel issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.


theblaze--2020-11-17--Sen. Mike Lee: Facebook and Twitter are guilty of 'deceptive trade practice' and could face conseque

Sen. Mike Lee: Facebook and Twitter are guilty of 'deceptive trade practice' and could face consequences

Sen. Mike Lee : Facebook and Twitter are guilty of 'deceptive trade practice ' and could face consequences Lee warned @ @ @ @ @ in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act .

Ahead of Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Big Tech censorship and the 2020 election, committee member Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said "big social media platforms" are guilty of "deceptive trade practice" and need to be held to account.
Speaking on Fox News, Lee criticized Facebook and Twitter for promising their customers a platform to freely express themselves and engage with other users without political bias and delivering a service that unfairly punishes conservative viewpoints.
"The more we uncover about how they're operating their businesses, the more we can see that these big social media platforms are in fact offering one service and providing another," Lee said. "In other words, they're claiming that they're politically unbiased, that they're not putting their thumb on the scale between one side of the political spectrum and the other. And so they lure their customers in thinking that they're going to have an unbiased experience."
"In practice, this is not how it works," he continued. "In practice, what they're doing is steadily putting their thumb on the left side of the scale. That's a problem. That's a deceptive trade practice and they need to be held accountable for that."
Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey, the CEOs of Facebook and Twitter respectively, were again summoned to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday on censorship and their disinformation policy enforcement against users posting complaints of voter fraud and other information challenging the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. In recent weeks, Twitter has put a warning label on any tweet sharing claims about election results that differ from official race calls. Facebook caused outrage among conservatives after the pro-Trump group "Stop the Steal" was removed after gathering over 360,000 followers.
"You don't see the same type of action occurring on the left," Lee said. He acknowledged that social media companies are also criticized from the left but drew a distinction, saying that Republicans complain of censorship while those on the left want more of it.
"The people who are actually getting censored, with some rare and less visible exceptions, are overwhelmingly Republican, conservative, pro-life individuals and organizations. You don't see that happening on the left," Lee said.
He warned that Facebook and Twitter could face legal consequences under current law if they don't change their practices.
"I want them to offer the service that they claim they're going to be offering to their customers. When their customers get on one of these platforms they expect to get both sides, they expect that both sides will be treated fairly, and that's not what's happening," Lee explained. "That's a deceptive trade practice, and that's putting them potentially squarely in the crosshairs of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act."
"They don't want to be there and they shouldn't be there," he said.


theblaze--2020-11-17--Michigan court rejects appeal for 'independent audit' of ballots over allegations of voter fraud

Michigan court rejects appeal for 'independent audit ' of ballots over allegations of voter fraud

The Michigan Court of Appeals on Monday ruled against an effort to conduct an "independent audit" of ballots in Wayne County, the Democratic stronghold and most populous county in the Wolverine State.
The ruling means that certification of the county's votes will move forward as scheduled, unless a higher court intervenes.
What are the details?
Officially, the Michigan Court of Appeals rejected a request to overturn a ruling made by Wayne County Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Kenny last Friday.
The request, made in a lawsuit filed by attorney David Kallman on behalf of two Wayne County voters, sought to force an "independent audit" of Wayne County's ballots, separate from the audit already being conducted by the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, according to the Detroit Free Press. The lawsuit also demanded officials stop the certification of the county's results and asked the judge to completely void the election results.
The plaintiffs argued that voter fraud had occurred, but Kenny did not buy the allegations. He called their claims "incorrect and not credible."
According to the Free Press, Kallman plans to appeal the appeals court decision to the Michigan Supreme Court. But his efforts may ultimately prove futile, since ballot certification begins Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 3 p.m.
Any other lawsuits?
As TheBlaze reported, four Michigan voters filed a separate lawsuit last week seeking to invalidate approximately 1.2 million votes.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, requested that votes in three Democratic stronghold counties — Wayne, Ingham, and Washtenaw — be tossed out over allegations of voter fraud. Plaintiffs claimed there is "sufficient evidence" that voter fraud occurred, citing "issues with transparency, fraudulent changing of dates, a software glitch, clerical errors, illegal votes, and many other issues and irregularities."
Tossing the votes would have flipped the state in President Donald Trump's favor. But on Monday, plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the purpose of the lawsuit was clear.
"This case was clearly designed to spread misinformation about the security and integrity of Michigan elections," Nessel said.
Meanwhile, an additional lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan on Monday demanding an audit of ballots — again, separate from the one that county officials statewide already conduct — before the state's results are certified, according to the Free Press.
So far, no legal challenge launched by Trump's campaign or his supporters alleging voter fraud have been accepted by the court system.


theblaze--2020-11-17--Horowitz: New data show hospital levels not much worse than flu season

Horowitz : New data show hospital levels not much worse than flu season From watching the news , you 'd @ @ @ @ @ has never been such a run on hospital bed space in the history of our @

"The surgeon explained to my husband he will have to wait at least three months for his surgery ... the hospitals need to keep beds open for Covid."
Those are the words of a Maryland woman sent to author and former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson. They are the desperate pleas for sanity by voiceless citizens amid a panic by a health care system that is erring on the side of obliteration rather than caution.
From watching the news, one would come away with the impression that there has never been such a run on hospital bed space in the history of our country. The data, in fact, show that the general level of hospitalization is not that much higher than a flu season, even in hard-hit areas, and likely lower in other areas. Given that this virus has already boxed out the flu for this season and that its peak virulence is only six to eight weeks in a given area, the panic is not only unjustified, but harmful to patients with other ailments.
Justin Hart, co-founder of COVID data website RationalGround.com, posted a fascinating analysis showing that the burden on hospitals is likely not much more than a typical flu season. Using data from the American Hospital Association data hub and the HHS Protect Public Data Hub, he was able to compare the current hospitalization level (Nov. 1-Nov. 9) to the average level over the three-year period from 2016 through 2018.
The result is that nationwide there is only a 4.7% increase above the three-year average level. Thus, we have destroyed our economy, mental health, other health care, and the future of our children for a level of hospitalization that is within the historic norms. And that is assuming that these draconian restrictions have any effect on reducing hospitalizations, which they clearly don't.
Now consider the fact that the 477,000-average number of hospital beds in use is taken from a three-year average of all 365 days in the year, which includes the non-flu season. I couldn't find data on the flu season hospital levels by day, but it's safe to say that if current levels are only 4.7% higher than the normal average, they can't be too much higher (or higher at all) than the peak of a typical flu season.
It is true that in some states, there has been a double-digit increase in the percentage of beds in use over the average, but those are states that have never gotten hit badly until now. In fact, in most of the states in the Great Plains and mountain West, they experienced lower-than-average hospitalizations throughout the pandemic. So, for them to experience 15%-30% increases at the worst six- to eight-week peak as they get their first major wave (as everyone will experience, regardless of their policies) is not exactly reflective of the pandemic of a millennium. During the peak weeks of the 2018 flu season, we clearly experienced those periods in some states, yet nobody even knew about it.
Also, given the fact that hospitals have surge capacity (plus $200 billion from the feds), even the increased numbers themselves are not a good measure of strain on hospitals. One has to look at the total percentage of beds in use as compared to the percentage during average times. Justin Hart calculated the percentage increase in bed capacity in use compared to the three-year average and found the numbers even lower:
Whereas the increase in raw number of beds in use is 4.7% over the three-year average, the increase in percentage of bed capacity in use is only 3.1%. Thus, as you can see, for all the panic in Utah and New Mexico, the percentage of bed space in use is actually lower than normal! And that is lower than the average period, not just the peak of a flu season.
These numbers might increase in the worst areas, but this is nothing like what is being sold to the public. So in Maryland, where we have a woman stating that her husband is being denied timely cancer surgery to free up bed space, the state is experiencing a 2.9% increase above average utilization, which likely means it's at least on par with the levels of the flu season. I've never heard of delaying cancer surgeries during the flu season, even though hospitals aren't given billions of dollars every flu season like they are today.
Finally, it's important to remember that this analysis is all predicated on a very liberal definition of a COVID hospitalization. During the flu season, we don't test every person who walks through the hospital — whether for a heart attack or trauma — for the flu. Plus, there is no incentive in medical billing reimbursements to code a patient as a flu patient as there is with coronavirus. Thus, the COVID-19 bed numbers are inflated relative to average flu numbers. By how much? Only two states — Iowa and North Dakota — publish data distinguishing those hospitalized because of COVID-19 from those hospitalized with the virus. Iowa's dashboard shows a 27% differential between those who come in because of the virus versus those who are added as a secondary diagnosis. If other states have even a 10% differential, then we'd actually be below average levels in most states when isolating just those who are experiencing complications from the virus itself.
Perforce, if we are going to shut down our democratic republic and destroy a generation of life over hospitalization numbers, can we at least get an accurate picture of the situation on the ground – along with some evidence that these "emergency measures" actually work? Then again, while we have our life, liberty, and property destroyed under the guise of saving hospitals, somehow there is no problem bringing in Mexicans for the express purpose of occupying American hospital beds in El Paso. It's all in the science.


theblaze--2020-11-17--CNN's Chris Cuomo melts down over Trump health adviser's advice to 'rise up' against Michigan Gov. W

CNN's Chris Cuomo melts down over Trump health adviser's advice to 'rise up' against Michigan Gov. Whitmer's COVID restrictions

CNN 's Chris Cuomo melts down over Trump health adviser 's advice to 'rise up ' against Michigan Gov .
@ @ @ @

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo went off Monday night and raged against Trump health adviser Dr. Scott Atlas, who urged Michiganders to "rise up" against their governor's COVID-19 recommendations.
What are the details?
Atlas, a neuroradiologist, made the remarks about Americans rising up against Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's COVID-19 mitigation measures.
On Twitter, Atlas addressed Whitmer's newest COVID-19 restrictions — which were announced Sunday — writing, "The only way this stops is if people rise up. You get what you accept. #FreedomMatters #StepUp."
How did Cuomo react?
During Monday night's "Cuomo Prime Time," the show host railed, "Are you kidding me? Shame on you! What kind of doctor would tell people to rise up and resist the only kind of prophylaxis that can help them? What the hell is the matter with this person? Rise up? You rise up and do your job or get the hell out! How could you give this kind of advice?"
Cuomo wasn't done there: He went on to blast Atlas for what he says is a lack of experience with infectious diseases and said that it was wrong that he suggested family members continue to gather together for Thanksgiving despite the ongoing pandemic crisis.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he continued. "Yeah, it could be their last Thanksgiving if you expose them to people who aren't wearing masks, who aren't socially distancing and haven't been doing so and haven't gotten tested because they somehow think they don't want to get in on the 'con' of COVID."
In October, Dr. Anthony Fauci shared his own thoughts about Atlas.
"I have real problems with that guy," Fauci said during an interview with the Washington Post, "talking about things that I believe he doesn't have any real insight or knowledge or experience in."
Chris Cuomo slams Dr. Scott Atlas for telling people to "fight back" against COVID restrictions www.youtube.com
Anything else?
Shortly after his initial tweet, Atlas wrote, "Hey. I NEVER was talking at all about violence. People vote, people peacefully protest. NEVER would I endorse or incite violence. NEVER!!"
Atlas also told Fox News he never meant to cause any confusion with his remarks.
"If you want to change things, you have to have your voices heard," he told the network's Martha MacCallum. "What I meant was in response to the literally thousands of emails I get from people all over the country begging me to figure out how to end the lockdowns."
"I get emails, I would say, you know, every couple of weeks from someone who has had a family member commit suicide because of the lockdowns," he continued. "I have people begging me to do anything I can to end the lockdowns. And so what I meant — and I'm sorry, I'm not very articulate on Twitter — is basically if you want to change things, you have to have your voices heard. I didn't mean anything more than that. I think that's obvious in the United States. I didn't mean to threaten or incite violence."


theblaze--2020-11-17--BREAKING: A comprehensive look at voting irregularities in Georgia

BREAKING : A comprehensive look at voting irregularities in Georgia

Steven looks at the possible impeachment of Governor Whitmer and other hypocrisy from Democrats over COVID restrictions. He then he takes a comprehensive look at the voting irregularities in Georgia. He finishes by explaining the problems of Biden's proposed student loan debt forgiveness.
Use promo code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-11-17--Hate hoax accusation: N-word, KKK, swastikas spray-painted on car. But authorities say the owner did

Hate hoax accusation: N-word, KKK, swastikas spray-painted on car. But authorities say the owner did it.

Hate hoax accusation : N-word , KKK , swastikas spray-painted on car .
But authorities say the owner did it @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump 's re-election — and against Black Lives Matter — also decorated the @ @

A vehicle was discovered last month spray-painted with the N-word, KKK, and swastikas, as well as messages in support of President Donald Trump's re-election — and against Black Lives Matter — in North Buffalo, New York.
Image source: WGRZ-TV video screenshot
But now authorities say the owner of the BMW X5 carried out the vandalism, WGRZ-TV reported.
What are the details?
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn last week said 18-year-old Clifton Eutsey allegedly spray-painted his own car and is facing multiple charges, the station said:
third-degree insurance fraud, a felony;
falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor;
offering a false instrument for filing, a misdemeanor; and
falsifying business records, a misdemeanor.
The graffiti also included a homophobic slur, and the car's windshield was smashed, the Buffalo News reported. The police report also said sugar was poured into the gas tank, WGRZ added.
Image source: WGRZ-TV video screenshot
Eutsey was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled for a Jan. 11 felony hearing, the station said, adding that if convicted on all charges, Eutsey faces up to seven years in prison.
Frank LoTempio III, Eutsey's attorney, entered a plea of not guilty on his client's behalf, the News reported, adding that Flynn said there's video evidence to support the fraud allegation.
"Behave out there, Mr. Eutsey," City Court Judge Shannon Heneghan said, according to the paper.
More charges
Eutsey faces felony charges in a separate incident, WGRZ said, adding that Buffalo police officers allegedly found him in possession of two loaded, illegal firearms during an Oct. 24 traffic stop.
He was arraigned on two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon as well as traffic violations, including driving without a license, the station said.
Eutsey posted bail — set at $20,000 cash or bond, or $10,000 partially secured bond — and was released, WGRZ reported. He's scheduled for a Jan. 4 felony hearing on the latter charges, the station said.
Anything else?
TheBlaze has extensively reported on hate crime hoaxes:


theblaze--2020-11-17--Ted Cruz unloads on Democratic senator for ‘fake virtue’ signaling over masks: He is 'being a comple

Ted Cruz unloads on Democratic senator for ‘fake virtue’ signaling over masks: He is 'being a complete a**’

Ted Cruz unloads on Democratic senator for ‘ fake virtue ’ signaling over masks : He is 'being a complete @ @ @

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) blasted his colleague, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio), on Monday, accusing the lawmaker of "fake virtue" signaling by calling out another Republican lawmaker for not wearing a mask on the Senate floor.
"This is idiotic. [Sen. Brown] is being a complete ass," Cruz wrote on Twitter, reacting to a viral clip of the exchange posted on the platform Monday.
In the clip, Brown scolded Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan (Alaska) for not wearing a mask while presiding over the meeting before launching into a diatribe against President Trump and congressional Republicans as a whole for not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
"He wears a mask to speak — when nobody is remotely near him — as an ostentatious sign of fake virtue," Cruz continued. "[Sen. Sullivan] was over 50 feet away, presiding. Last I checked 50 feet is more than 6 feet."
Cruz pointed out that Brown was located approximately 50 feet away from Sullivan during the exchange and thus well beyond the 6 feet of social distancing recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, it should be noted that Brown was not asking Sullivan to wear a mask for his own safety but rather for the safety of several congressional staffers located much closer to Sullivan.
"I'd start by asking the presiding officer to please wear a mask, as he speaks and people below him are ... I can't tell you what to do but I know that," Brown said in reference to Sullivan after taking the floor from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Sullivan quickly interjected: "I don't wear a mask when I'm speaking, like most senators. I don't need your instruction."
Brown then shot back: "I know you don't need my instruction but there clearly isn't much interest in this body in public health. We have a president who hasn't shown up at the coronavirus task force meeting in months. We have a majority leader that calls us back here to vote on an unqualified nominee ... and to vote for judge after judge after judge."
Brown argued the ongoing activities in the chamber are unnecessarily "exposing" large numbers of people to the virus, "but the majority leader just doesn't seem to care."
The Democratic lawmaker then pivoted to Trump, saying, "the American people sent a clear message in this election; they voted for stability. They rejected an administration that has failed them in the middle of a public health crisis and an economic crisis."


theblaze--2020-11-18--Candace Owens sues Facebook fact-checkers for defamation: 'Time to fact-check the fact-checkers'

Candace Owens sues Facebook fact-checkers for defamation : 'Time to fact-check the fact-checkers' 'Not going to give up and sit @ @

Conservative commentator and activist Candace Owens is suing Facebook for what she says is defamation.
What are the details?
According to the Daily Wire, Owens said that Facebook fact-checkers — who are employed to flag what they deem to be misinformation — are targeting her and their fact-checking has led to a demonetization of her Facebook page.
"Quite literally a doctor gave his opinion about COVID-19, which I shared, and Facebook issued a strike on my account because they said only information that they agree with about COVID-19 ... was acceptable," she explained. "I decided I was not going to give up and sit down. The fact-checkers ... are activists for the left that shut down your speech if they don't like it."
"It is time to fact-check the fact-checkers," the conservative firebrand added. "I'm going to put these suckers through discovery and figure out what the relationship is that they have with Facebook."
According to the outlet, Owens launched an online website to help crowdfund her forthcoming legal battle against the social media giants.
"Our freedoms are being stripped away," Owens' site, titled "Fact-Check Zuck," says. "The overlords of Big Tech are determining what Americans can and cannot say, share, like, and post. Support our legal efforts today as we fight back against Facebook's fact-checkers, confronting those who are suppressing free speech, thought, and expression across our great country."
Fox News reported that Owens retained a pair of lawyers to represent her in the suit, including attorney Todd McMurtry — who was part of former Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann's legal team.
Owens shared further information in a video posted to Twitter earlier in the month.
She captioned the announcement, "Guess what?! I am OFFICIALLY suing the 'Fact-Checkers' who are really just activists."


theblaze--2020-11-18--'Young Turks' host Cenk Uygur rails against Biden for reportedly planning not to prosecute Trump: 'W

'Young Turks' host Cenk Uygur rails against Biden for reportedly planning not to prosecute Trump: 'Who are you going to unify with, QAnon?'

'Young Turks ' host Cenk Uygur rails against Biden for reportedly planning not to prosecute Trump : 'Who are you @ @ @ @ @ QAnon ? '
'Trump is not going to go away '

Cenk Uygur, founder and host of "The Young Turks," bitterly blasted former Vice President Joe Biden after Biden reportedly said that he hopes to avoid any attempt to prosecute President Donald Trump.
According to a recent NBC News report, multiple sources close to Biden's team say he's reluctant to launch an investigation into Trump, worrying that such a move will increase the growing divide between American Democrats and Republicans.
What are the details?
In a video published Tuesday, Uygur said, "The historical context all led to the conclusion that Biden was going to do this. The Obama-Biden administration, as soon as they got into office, said, 'We look forward, we don't look backwards.' Well, that's a great relief to all the criminals, because all the crimes are in the past, not in the future. ... That's why Obama didn't hold Bush and Cheney accountable for breaking several laws, including torture and warrantless wiretapping."
Uygur added, "Who are you going to unify with, QAnon? Fifty percent of the Republican Party believes that the Democratic Party is led by child molesters. Fifty percent. And who leads the Democratic Party now? Joe Biden does. So, he's like, 'I want to unite with the people who called me a child molester.' Why would you do that? That makes no sense at all."
Ana Kasparian, "Young Turks" co-host, added, "If you care about protecting our democratic processes, which Donald Trump has worked very hard to dismantle, wouldn't you want to look into that? Wouldn't you want to investigate that? They're trying to steal the election from Biden right now as we speak. But no — we've got to unify. As if that's ever going to happen."
Uygur pointed out that Biden is only shooting himself in the foot if he opts to avoid conflict with Trump, whom Uygur says has a "death lock" on the minds of Republicans:
Is it going to work? That if Biden just wants to move on from Trump, that Trump will go, 'Oh, OK, yeah, sure, let's move on,' and then all the Republicans in the country will say, 'Oh, no, we don't care about Trump any more, even though he can decide unilaterally whether we win or lose our primaries, whether we keep our power or not?' [Trump] hasn't lost that power at all. Ninety-three percent of Republicans voted for him, and he has an absolute death lock on their minds. It's not the Republican Party — it's the Trump Party. Wakey, wakey, Joe Biden. Trump is not going to go away.
Joe Biden: I Have No Intention of Investigating Trump www.youtube.com
(H/T: Mediaite)


theblaze--2020-11-18--Liberals are rushing from San Francisco to Georgia to try to help Democrats win control of the Senat

Liberals are rushing from San Francisco to Georgia to try to help Democrats win control of the Senate

Liberal Californians are moving from San Francisco to Georgia to help the Democrats win two runoff elections and gain control of the U.S. Senate.
The San Francisco Chronicle documented several efforts from San Franciscans attempting to persuade Georgians to vote according to their political preference in the key election.
Both Senate races in Georgia went to a runoff after no candidate was able to garner 50% of the vote. Republican incumbent David Purdue obtained 49.7% of the vote, and Democrat Jon Ossoff received 48% of the vote. In the other contest, Democrat Raphael Warnock received 32.9% of the vote while the Republican vote was split between incumbent Kelly Loeffler at 25.9% and Doug Collins at 19.9%.
If the Democrats flip the seats, the Senate's 100 seats will be evenly split between the GOP and Democrats with the deciding vote going to the vice president — and that would be Democrat Kamala Harris assuming Joe Biden takes the presidential oath of office
Manny Yekutiel, who runs a "civic engagement space" in San Francisco's Mission District, and volunteered in Georgia in the fall says he's being contacted by friends who want to join him for the runoff effort.
"My phone has been blowing up every 20 minutes," Yekutiel said.
"People are asking me, 'When do I move to Georgia? Where can I stay? Should I get a block of hotel rooms?'" he added.
Tech industry project manager Joseph Killian, 38, told the Chronicle that he and his friends donated $50,000 to Democratic senatorial candidates who mostly lost in their bid against Republicans.
"I can't just sit home and raise money," said Killian. "When you look at some of those races where we didn't win, this is our chance to hopefully go there and fix that. We want to be there and help."
Outside money pours in
Republicans are using the fact that the majority of the campaign funding for both Democrats comes from out of state in order to undermine their campaigns.
"I'll point to the last time that Jon Ossoff was running for office and received a lot of organizing help from California — it didn't end well for him," said Jesse Hunt, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
At least 83% of the money raised for Ossoff came from outside Georgia, and 80% of the money raised for Warnock came from outside the state.
"These progressive activists who want to come to Georgia, their values are very different from the people in Georgia who will be voting," said Hunt.
The runoff elections will be held on Jan. 5.
Here's more about the Georgia runoffs:


theblaze--2020-11-18--President Trump fires top DHS election security official for contradicting him on election claims

President Trump fires top DHS election security official for contradicting him on election claims Christopher Krebs refuted the president 's @ @ @ @ @ rigged

President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired Christopher Krebs, the head of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, for refuting the president's claims that the general election was rigged in favor of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
What are the details?
On Tuesday morning, Krebs shared a blog post from the day before signed by dozens of security experts, tweeting, "[In case you missed it]: On allegations that election systems were manipulated, 59 election security experts all agree, 'in every case of which we are aware, these claims either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent.' #Protect2020"
A message shared from blog author Matt Blaze read, "Scientists say no credible evidence of computer fraud in the 2020 election outcome, but policymakers must work with experts to improve confidence."
In the evening, President Trump tweeted, "The recent statement by Chris Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud - including dead people voting, Poll Watchers not allowed into polling locations, 'glitches' in the voting machines which changed voted from Trump to Biden, late voting, and many more."
He added, "Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency."
Soon thereafter, Krebs tweeted from his private Twitter account, "Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomrorow. #Protect2020"
The Washington Post reported, "The dismissal was not unexpected, as Krebs told associates last week he was expecting to be fired. His latest tweet about the security of the election, which followed similar earlier assessments by his agency, including on its Rumor Control Web page, angered the president, according to an official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter."
Krebs' termination comes less than a week after members of CISA's Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council Executive Committee and its Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Council issued a joint statement saying, "The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history. Right now, across the country, election officials are reviewing and double checking the entire election process prior to finalizing the result."
NPR reported:
The CISA campaign, led by Krebs, was originally intended to target foreign interference. However, as the president continued to repeat dangerously misleading information about the security of the election, the agency's focus turned to rebutting many of the rumors and baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud that Trump had promoted from the White House.
Although mainstream media has called the White House race for Biden, President Trump has refused to concede while his campaign continues to contest the election results of several states through litigation, alleging widespread voter fraud and irregularities.


theblaze--2020-11-18--(UPDATED) Republicans on Michigan county canvassers board certify election results after initially b

(UPDATED) Republicans on Michigan county canvassers board certify election results after initially blocking; Rashida Tlaib called them racist

( UPDATED ) Republicans on Michigan county canvassers board certify election results after initially blocking ; Rashida Tlaib called them @

UPDATE, 1:20 a.m.:
Republicans on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers decided to vote with Democrats to certify the results of the election after initially voting to block the certification.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who had earlier called the Republicans racist for the vote, praised the public outcry for forcing them to change their vote.
"Our people are amazing. Hundreds of Wayne County residents waited hours to give public comment," tweeted Tlaib. "One after the other demanded our democracy is upheld and the Board of Wayne County Canvassers came back and voted unanimously to certify."
President Donald Trump also praised the decision from his social media account at about the time that they decided to change course.
Original story below
The canvassing board of a Michigan county voted against certifying the results of the election because of two Republican members, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) lashed out with the expected insult.
The votes from Republicans on the Wayne County Board of Canvassers on Tuesday deadlocked the motion at 2-2.
"Based on what I saw and went through in poll books in this canvass, I believe that we do not have complete and accurate information in those poll books," said Chairwoman Monica Palmer, a Republican.
Board Vice Chairman Jonathan Kinloch, a Democrat, called the Republicans "reckless and irresponsible" over the vote.
Tlaib, a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump, blasted the Republicans and called them racist.
"The Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers put politics above their duty to our residents," she tweeted.
"Suggesting that all of Wayne County can be certified, EXCEPT for Detroit, is horrifying racist and a subversion of our democracy," she added.
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox released a statement praising the Trump administration for helping identify irregularities that led to the vote against certification.
"The people of Michigan deserve to know what happened in Wayne County on Election Day and the days following. I am proud that, due to the efforts of the Michigan Republican Party, the Republican National Committee and the Trump Campaign, enough evidence of irregularities and potential voter fraud was uncovered resulting in the Wayne County Board of Canvassers refusing to certify their election results. This action will allow more time for us to get to the bottom of these deeply troubling irregularities. The people of Michigan deserve fair, open and transparent elections, and we will continue to fight for just that."
The deadlock highlighted the Republicans' efforts to cast doubt on Michigan's election, which President Donald Trump lost by more than 146,000 votes to Democrat Joe Biden.
The county had until Tuesday to certify the election results, which will now go to the office of the secretary of state. That office has 10 days to certify the results.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said that the results would be certified over the vote of the county canvassers board at the state level.
"Should the current decision of the Board of Wayne County Canvassers hold through the adjournment of today's meeting, the Board of State Canvassers will be responsible for certifying the Wayne County election," said Benson in a statement on Twitter.
"In similar circumstances in the past, state canvassers have appointed the Bureau of Elections to carry out the processes of canvassing the vote and voter totals. The Bureau stands ready to fulfill this duty and we expect this will address clerical errors and improve the quality of the canvass overall," she added.
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also criticized the Republicans on the canvassers board.
"Today's action is a blatant attempt to undermine the will of the voters. The process, however, will move forward. Under Michigan law, the Board of State of Canvassers will now finish the job and I have every expectation they will certify the results when the job is done," she said in part.
Here's more about the vote from Michigan:


theblaze--2020-11-19--California woman contracted coronavirus after attending Black Lives Matter protest and suffered long

California woman contracted coronavirus after attending Black Lives Matter protest and suffered long-term symptoms

`` It 's not worth risking your life , youth and freedom . ''

A woman in California said that she contracted the coronavirus after attending a Black Lives Matter protest and she's been suffering long-term symptoms for months.
Nataly Najarro, 24, told Media Drum World that she was forced to live with her parents because the symptoms from the coronavirus were so debilitating.
Najarro went to a Black Lives Matter protest in June in order to demonstrate against the death of George Floyd, who was killed in police custody in Minneapolis in late May. She said she tried to take precautions, but tested positive for the virus after attending the protest.
"I ended up going to the protest and while I tried my hardest to take precautions, masks and sanitizing can only do so much with an airborne virus," said Najarro.
She began to experience panic attacks, fever, cough, and fatigue later in June.
"My boyfriend took me to the urgent care department, and they had a test that provides you with your result in just 30 minutes," she explained. "That's when I found out I was positive for COVID-19. My family and friends also were tested, but only my dad came out positive, with no symptoms."
Najarro's long-term symptoms from the coronavirus were so extensive that she has had to use a wheelchair for months.
"It's not worth risking your life, youth, and freedom, having to be bound to a wheelchair like I am," Najarro said.
Najarro later said she was upset with how the media portrayed her statement, as she was not sure if she contracted the disease at the Black Lives Matter protest.
Critics of the coronavirus lockdowns have noted that many in the media have hypocritically praised gatherings of left-wing protests while excoriating other large crowds as being irresponsible or anti-science.
In July, Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said that many of his officers had contracted the coronavirus while interacting with Black Lives Matter protesters.
"There is a certain hypocrisy that exists when we say you can't go to the beach, and you have to shut your business, but somehow it's OK to bring two three hundred people together, shoulder to shoulder, many without a mask," he said.
Here's more about coronavirus at BLM protests:


theblaze--2020-11-19--Steven Crowder says 'Conceding is for COWARDS'

Steven Crowder says 'Conceding is for COWARDS '

Some older content has been removed to comply with updated editorial standards and other content relabeled to better clarify its purpose as promotional and opinion in nature.


theblaze--2020-11-19--LIVE NOW: Battleground Georgia: The Radical Democrats Who Will TRANSFORM America

LIVE NOW : Battleground Georgia : The Radical Democrats Who Will TRANSFORM America

Everything comes down to the two Senate runoffs in Georgia. If we lose both races, we lose the country. Democrats know this and are pouring in millions to usher in a Marxist agenda.
As the Left tries to hide how radical the two candidates really are, Glenn takes us inside the Democrat war room to expose the wolf in pastor's clothing, Raphael Warnock, and America's Justin Trudeau, Jon Ossoff. Socialism, the Green New Deal, and "defund the police" are all on the table. And Glenn warns of what's to come if conservatives don't activate: Chuck Schumer will weaponize the Senate, and the radical Left will launch an all-out assault to ravage the Constitution.
Watch the full special below:
The election and its aftermath are the most important stories in America. That's why we're offering our most timely discount ever: $30 off a one-year subscription to BlazeTV with code "GLENN." With BlazeTV, you get the unvarnished truth from the most pro-America network in the country, free from Big Tech and MSM censors.


theblaze--2020-11-19--'The Michael Knowles Show' will soon be syndicated by Westwood One

'The Michael Knowles Show ' will soon be syndicated by Westwood One The Daily Wire podcaster says he 'will be @ @ @ @ @ day starting in January '

The Daily Wire's Michael Knowles will soon be "hitting the terrestrial airwaves," after radio giant Westwood One announced it will be syndicating his podcast, "The Michael Knowles Show," in a matter of weeks.
What are the details?
"It was such an honor and privilege to fill in for the great Rush Limbaugh on radio last week," Knowles tweeted Wednesday. "Now I'm excited to learn and announce that we will be hitting the terrestrial airwaves every day starting in January!"
The Yale graduate and "author" of the blank New York Times bestseller, "Reasons to Vote for Democrats: A Comprehensive Guide," will be broadcast through the radio network owned by Cumulous Media at 5 p.m. EST beginning Jan. 4, 2021. (Knowles' actual writings have also been published in outlets beyond the Daily Wire, including Fox News and the Daily Caller).
Knowles—who also co-hosts the podcast "Verdict" with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and runs The Book Club at PragerU— joins the ranks of Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro, whose show, "The Ben Shapiro Show," is also syndicated through Westwood One.
In reaction to the big news, Knowles told TheBlaze, "As Big Tech tightens its censorship of conservative voices on social media, I'm thrilled to expand our show to new media and markets around the country."


theblaze--2020-11-19--Gov. Greg Abbott says there will be no more more lockdowns in the state of Texas

Gov .
Greg Abbott says there will be no more more lockdowns in the state of Texas Abbott says the @ @ @ @ @ of the infected instead of lockdowns .

Gov. Greg Abbott said despite the increased numbers of coronavirus cases in Texas, he will not order any new lockdowns in his state.
"We are not going to have any more lockdowns in the state of Texas," Abbott said to a Dallas radio host.
"Our focal point is gonna be working to heal those who have COVID," he explained, "get them out of hospitals quickly, make sure they get back to their normal lives."
Abbott had issued a statewide mask mandate for the state on July 2 after a spike in virus cases and hospitalizations.
That order called for "all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions."
At that time, the state had recorded 8,000 new cases of the virus in a single day and was experiencing a spike. On Tuesday, the state recorded 10,826 new daily cases.
Hospitalizations due to the coronavirus have also increased since the first lockdown orders in June and July. At that time, Texas had seen 5,102 hospitalizations due to the virus, but four months later the state has more than 7,400 hospitalizations from coronavirus.
Abbott has said during recent radio interviews that the state will focus on treatments for coronavirus including Bamlanivimab, which will be sent to Texas hospitals, as well as Regeneron antibody cocktail.
"COVID-19 antibody therapy medicine will be distributed next week to hospitals across Texas," Abbott tweeted last Friday.
"It has been shown to prevent hospitalizations in some patients when used before they become very sick," he added. "There will be no cost to patients."
Epidemiology professor Rajesh Nandy told KPRC-TV that although the rise in coronavirus statistics was alarming, the public appeared to be suffering from "COVID fatigue" and that there wasn't enough public will to support another lockdown.
Here's a news report about the governor's comments:


theblaze--2020-11-19--Mark Levin warns: We CANNOT allow the Left to abolish the electoral college

Mark Levin warns : We CAN NOT allow the Left to abolish the electoral college

A recent Washington Post editorial titled "Abolish the electoral college" the Washington Post editorial board argued that "the electoral college, whatever virtues it may have had for the Founding Fathers, is no longer tenable for American democracy."
BlazeTV's Mark Levin warned that abolishing the Electoral College would mean that America's cities would control the government, which in turn means that Democrats would control the country. Alarmingly, this nightmarish scenario is just one Senate seat away from becoming a reality.
As Mark explained, if the Democrats win both of the two Senate runoffs in Georgia, the Senate's 100 seats will be evenly split between Democrats and Republicans with the deciding vote going to the vice president. If that vice president is Democrat Kamala Harris, the Democrats will almost certainly destroy the Electoral College, and with it, our future as a constitutional republic.
"I've told you many, many times that this is the objective of the Left and the media, which are one and the same, because by abolishing the Electoral College, the cities … all these heavy population centers, will control the government, meaning the Democrat Party will control the government," Levin said.
"What they [Democrats] are saying is what I've been warning you about," he continued. "They don't want to represent republicans and they don't want to represent areas that they do not control ... and the fact is, if they destroy the Electoral College and do all these other things they want, we won't live in a republic, certainly not a constitutional republic any more. That's why Georgia is so crucial. If we lose Georgia, by one vote — because the vice president of the United States is the president of the Senate and breaks all ties — you'll have a 50/50 Senate. Kamala Harris will sit in that chair, she will rule over the Senate. Biden will rule over the executive branch. Pelosi ... will rule over the House. They will pack the Supreme Court. There will be no where to go, and then they're going to enshrine, as they did in California, their permanency as a party."
Watch the video below:
Want more from Mark Levin?
To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-11-19--Hundreds arrested in Berlin during protest against Germany's 'corona dictatorship'

Hundreds arrested in Berlin during protest against Germany 's 'corona dictatorship' Riot police used water cannons to break up the @ @ @ @ @ demonstrators

More than 200 people were arrested in Germany's capital city of Berlin on Wednesday, as law enforcement used water cannons to disperse thousands of demonstrators protesting against the government's consideration of its authority to impose COVID-19 restrictions.
The protesters say their government's actions amount to a "corona dictatorship."
What are the details?
Berlin police estimated that at least 200 arrests were made out of the crowd of 5,000 to 10,000 people who descended on the streets of the city as parliament debated a bill that, according to the Associated Press, "would provide legal underpinning for the government to issue social distancing rules, require masks in public and to close stores and other venues to slow the spread of the virus."
The measure passed both chambers of parliament and was signed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel the same afternoon.
CBS News reported:
As lawmakers in the German parliament voted to amend the country's Infection Protection Act, which lays out the restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, thousands were protesting in the capital, accusing the government of using the law to curtail basic rights and establish a "corona dictatorship."
Law enforcement from several departments assisted federal police in dispersed the crowds, using water cannons and pepper spray.
The Washington Examiner reported that German officials had pre-emptively banned a dozen protests Tuesday that were planned in Berlin on Wednesday, citing security concerns. Authorities formed a perimeter around the Reichstag, Germany's parliament building, and demonstrations were not allowed in that area, but were allowed in other parts of the city.
The Washington Post reported last week that protests in Germany against the government coronavirus restrictions "are becoming increasingly radical," citing a 20,000-person-strong demonstration last month in the city of Leipzig. As evidence, the outlet pointed to a researcher who asserted that across the entire country of Germany, "there are around 77,000 unique users in QAnon-associated Telegram chat groups."
The Post also reported:
Authorities in Saxony said that most of the 20,000 people who gathered Saturday were peaceful. While 8 in 10 Germans think that strict measures are necessary to contain the coronavirus, according to a poll by ARD television, around 1 in 4 think the restrictions are disproportionate. Germany entered a new month-long lockdown at the beginning of November, as cases surged across Europe.
This post has been updated to add footage from the demonstration.


theblaze--2020-11-19--NYC closes schools citing COVID-19, despite low positivity rate

Parents were notified Wednesday that all learning would be virtual starting Thursday

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced Wednesday that public schools citywide would be closed and all learning would be conducted virtually starting Thursday, in a blow to parents.
A rise in coronavirus rates in the Big Apple was cited for the reasoning, despite officials admitting that cases in the nation's largest school system itself remain incredibly low.
What are the details?
"New York City has reached the 3% testing positivity 7-day average threshold," de Blasio tweeted Wednesday afternoon. "Unfortunately, this means public school buildings will be closed as of tomorrow, Thursday Nov. 19, out an abundance of caution. We must fight back the second wave of COVID-19."
Politico reported that in a letter to principals, "Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said schools have seen a Covid-19 positivity rate of only 0.19 percent out of more than 120,000 students and staff tested but that the city established a 3 percent threshold and was sticking to it."
According to the New York Times:
The mayor set the 3 percent threshold over the summer, when average positivity rates were hovering around 1 percent or below. He has been explicit that the number is less of a strictly scientific measure and more of a symbol intended to reassure parents, educators and the union.
While parents were given less than 24 hours' notice to find child care and make other arrangements after de Blasio's announcement, the mayor had warned them last week to "have a plan" in case such a spur-of-the-moment decision was made.
WNBC-TV reported that de Blasio "told parents Friday to have a plan in place as early as Monday in the event the citywide rolling positivity rate hits the school shutdown threshold (3 percent) over the weekend.
Anything else?
There appeared to be confusion earlier in the day Wednesday between New York City and the state over school closings, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo refused to provide clear answers during a press conference on whether New York City schools would go virtual on Thursday.
Cuomo lost his cool on two separate reporters who pressed him to answer whether classes would be in session, after they told the governor that parents were also confused over what the plan would be.
The governor called one reporter "obnoxious and offensive" after the journalist questioned whether the city or state was in charge of the decision, and asked, "for the millions of parents who want to know, are the schools going to open tomorrow in New York City?"
After dodging that question, another reporter asked Cuomo, "I guess the point blank question is, are schools going to be open tomorrow in New York City."
Cuomo accused both reporters of not paying attention, but he never answered the question.
CNBC reported that Cuomo had acknowledged Friday on a call with reporters, "The problem is not coming from the schools. It's coming from the bars, the restaurants, the gyms and the living room family spread. So if in fact you do close schools, I would urge the mayor and all involved to open them as quickly as possible."


theblaze--2020-11-18--CNN's Bill Weir issues sexist insult against GOP candidate, and gets fierce social media backlash

CNN 's Bill Weir issues sexist insult against GOP candidate , and gets fierce social media backlash

A climate correspondent for CNN made what many saw as a sexist attack against a female Republican candidate and saw a fierce backlash on social media.
Bill Weir diminished the accomplishments of Kelly Loeffler, the businesswoman running in the run-off election for one of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats, in a tweet on Wednesday.
"Good news, Georgia!" tweeted Weir. "If you live on a farm, you now qualify to marry the Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange!"
Weir was mocking Loeffler for speaking about how she was able to achieve the American dream despite getting started from humble beginnings.
"I've lived the American dream. I went from the farm to the Fortune 500. I want Georgians to have the same freedom & opportunities I had," said Loeffler in the tweet Weir mocked. "And it won't be possible if we go down the road to socialism. We must hold the line and protect the American Dream."
Loeffler had worked to achieve an impressive business career before she married the CEO of a financial services company, but Weir denigrated those achievements and earned the ire of many on social media.
"Are you seriously insinuating that a woman is only successful because of her spouse?" responded Heritage analyst Ana Rosa Quintana.
"You are a disgusting, sexist pig," responded California GOP committeewoman Harmeet Dhillon.
"If a Fox News correspondent said something like this about a Democratic candidate, it'd be a lead story on CNN and feminists would be denouncing it," said commentator Erick Erickson.
Thanks so much to @BillWeirCNN for explaining why half the country thinks the left wing media is hot garbage in a single tweet," tweeted Red State editor Kira Davis.
"Are you serious with this take? Are you actually suggesting that her success just came from marriage? Because it sounds like you should read a bit more," replied NRSC advisor Matt Whitlock.
Others pointed out that CNN had reported on "sexist rhetoric" that female politicians had experienced during elections to show the hypocrisy in Weir's mocking tweet.
Weir had previously apologized in 2014 for referring to Fox News as "willfully ignorant f**ksticks."
Here's Bill Weir talking to Trump supporters in 2018:


theblaze--2020-11-18--Ted Cruz goes after Chris Cuomo in Twitter spat over election aftermath: 'Hush child'

Ted Cruz goes after Chris Cuomo in Twitter spat over election aftermath : 'Hush child '

Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has been one of President Donald Trump's staunchest supporters in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.
Cruz has supported Trump's efforts to fight voter fraud and arguments about ensuring the election was conducted fairly since the media declared former Vice President Joe Biden the winner and next president of the United States.
In Friday's episode of his podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz," the senator reiterated his point that President Trump is within his rights to seek recounts and contest ballots and not recognize Biden as the victor until the election has been officially decided.
On Tuesday, Cruz posted a clip of his show to Twitter in which he pointed out the obvious, something that is apparently a "radical proposition" to the left: "Elections are decided when the results have been counted and the legal proceedings are over."
"That didn't use to be a controversial proposition," the senator added.
Cruz's statement of the obvious did not sit well with CNN host Chris Cuomo.
"Wrong," Cuomo declared in a response to Cruz's video.
"You have been empowering the notion that there are problems with the count that justify delaying transition in the middle of figuring out how to distribute a vaccine in a pandemic," he continued. "Own it...because the position owns you and will be remembered."
Cruz, a non-sufferer of fools, responded to Cuomo with a brief, cutting tweet: "Hush child."
This set off the man known for having a bit of a temper and a penchant for threatening people who displease him.
Cuomo responded to Cruz's admonition by bringing up Cruz's recent spat with Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown over the latter's "fake virtue" signaling over face masks.
"Says the man who called a senator an 'ass,'" Cuomo wrote. "Senator, you have people on lines for food in your state. Focus on them...on those children. Every day you delay relief the line grows. #DoYourJob"
Cruz replied by noting that he and his fellow Republican senators have, indeed, been working on COVID relief but the Democratic Party has been standing in the way.
"In the past 2 months, we've voted TWICE on $500 billion in COVID relief. Both times, Senate Dems filibustered the bill," Cruz said.
"You should call on your own party to stop blocking relief," he continued. "EVERY SINGLE Dem voted to filibuster."
The Texas senator then responded with a recommendation that perhaps Cuomo should focus on doing his own job: "I suspect you never reported on that fact to your viewers."
(H/T: New York Daily News)


theblaze--2020-11-18--South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem worries about how 'neighbors are treating neighbors' over masks

South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem worries about how 'neighbors are treating neighbors ' over masks Noem challenged the media @ @ @ @ @ spread in South Dakota .

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem challenged media narratives on the rise of positive coronavirus cases in her state Wednesday, denying that her refusal to implement a mask mandate or strict lockdown policies is the cause of surging cases.
Speaking to reporters, Noem said South Dakotans are tired and exhausted from the pandemic and that she worries about how people are treating their neighbors who have different opinions on masks, social distancing, or lockdowns.
"At this point, frankly, I'm getting more concerned about how neighbors are treating neighbors and how people are treating each other in their communities," Noem said.
"I've consistently said that people that want to wear masks should wear masks and people who don't shouldn't be shamed because they choose not to. It has been clear from the beginning that I'm not in favor of mandating mask-wearing. I don't believe that i have the authority to mandate that and that people can use their own personal responsibility to make a decision when it comes to masks.
"I don't want to approach a policy or a mandate, looking to make people feel good. I want to do good," she added when asked how she would respond to medical professionals calling for a statewide mask mandate.
According to KELO-TV, South Dakota reported 30 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday. The total number of positive coronavirus cases reported in the state since the pandemic began is 68,671. Of those positive cases, 48,757 people have recovered and 19,240 people still have active cases. There are currently 593 South Dakotans hospitalized with COVID-19.
Gov. Noem urged South Dakota residents to continue practicing personal hygiene and following guidelines from the state Department of Health on hand washing, social distancing, and mask-wearing. Though the health department recommends mask-wearing, Noem reiterated it is beyond her authority to mandate mask-wearing or implement legal penalties on South Dakota citizens who don't wear masks. She also discussed how South Dakota's per capita positive case rates compare to other states, noting that some states with mask mandates are actually doing worse than her state.
"Across the country and around the globe, cases are increasing. Over the past week, cases are on the rise in 48 states," Noem said. "Some have said that my refusal to mandate masks is a reason why our cases are rising here in the state of South Dakota, and that is not true. Others have said that my refusal to advance harsh restrictions like lockdowns is another one of the reasons why our cases are rising and that is also not true."
"There are 41 states that have some kind of mask mandate. Cases are on the rise in 39 of those 41 states," she continued. "Now, some in the media are saying that South Dakota is the worst in the world right now, and that is absolutely false."
Noem claimed several states that have implemented mask mandates are experiencing higher rates of spread for the virus than South Dakota.
"If you look at Wisconsin, they've had a mask mandate since August and they have a higher rate of spread than the state of South Dakota. You look at Montana, they've had a mask mandate in place since July. Both of those states have higher rates of spread than the state of South Dakota. When you look at Wyoming, it has the highest rate of spread in the nation."
She pointed reporters to research from Johns Hopkins University that tracks new confirmed coronavirus cases per 1,000 people as daily counts as reported by each state. The research shows that there are several states with higher new case rates than South Dakota.
Reporters challenged Noem's claim on social media. According to the New York Times, South Dakota has the second-highest amount of cases per 100,000 residents in the last seven days.
Ian Fury, a spokesman for Noem, replied to one columnist with the Argus Leader with a link to the Johns Hopkins research showing Wyoming, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Montana having higher confirmed case rates per 1,000 people.
During her press conference, Noem also mentioned that South Dakota remains below the national average mortality rate and has the "7th lowest case fatality rate in the country."
The governor emphasized that residents should still take the virus seriously and that elderly people and those with pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable to fatal complications from contracting COVID-19. These groups need extra protection from the virus, Noem said.
She urged people to be diligent with their personal hygiene and to stay home if they feel sick.
On Tuesday, the Sioux Falls City Council adopted a mask mandate but did not enact a penalty for those who refuse to wear masks. Amid demands from medical experts and commentators that Noem adopt a mask mandate, she observed that imposing a mandate without enforcement is virtually the same as issuing guidelines without a mandate, as her administration has done.
"I'm going to continue to trust South Dakotans to make wise and well-informed decisions for them and for their families," she said. "And I'm also reiterating my request that we all continue to show each other respect and understanding for everybody who makes choices that we may or may not agree with. And I ask that we all trust each other and remember that we're all human beings working to get through this challenge together.
"Our greatest enemy is the virus," Noem said.
Watch:


theblaze--2020-11-18--Report: Biden’s proposed gun control plan could hit gun owners with $34 billion in taxes

Report : Biden ’ s proposed gun control plan could hit gun owners with $ 34 billion in taxes

Gun owners in the United States could face a massive $34 billion tax burden in the coming years should Democratic nominee Joe Biden's proposed gun control plan take effect, the Washington Free Beacon reported Wednesday.
The outlet cited figures calculated by the National Shooting Sport Foundation (NSSF), showing that some 20 million modern sporting rifles and 150 million ammunition magazines presently in the country could be subject to a tax under Biden's plan.
On his campaign website, the former vice president proposes ending easy access to "assault weapons and high-capacity magazines" by banning their manufacture and sale and "regulat[ing] possession of existing assault weapons under the National Firearms Act."
That regulatory law already affects the possession of machine guns, silencers, and short-barreled rifles, which owners are required to register with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The law also includes a $200 tax.
If the existing law were to be applied to the 170 million modern sporting rifles and ammunition magazines as Biden proposes, that $200 tax on each unit would amount to $34 billion. While it should be noted that Biden has not explicitly called for a new tax on firearms, his proposed plan implicitly results in a new tax unless something in the law were to be changed.
Under the plan, Biden gives "individuals who now possess assault weapons or high-capacity magazines two options: Sell the weapons to the government, or register them under the National Firearms Act."
So, in essence, those gun owners who choose to keep their weapons would be forced to register them with the ATF and pay the $200 tax.
In a fact-check of a similar claim made earlier this month, PolitiFact acknowledged as much, though it concluded that "it's not certain that Biden's proposal would automatically trigger a $200 tax" as some of the plan's details have yet to be ironed out.
Responding to the news, NSSF spokesman Mark Oliva indicated that the sheer number of affected firearms and magazines ought to give the Biden team pause before enacting such sweeping regulation.
"I think if [Biden and his team] were smart, they would look at those numbers and get an idea of where America stands on gun ownership and gun rights," he told the Free Beacon.
It just so happens that the news comes alongside a Gallup survey showing support for stricter gun laws has fallen to its lowest levels since 2016. Perhaps public opinion would sway Biden away from his campaign position, but don't hold your breath.


theblaze--2020-11-18--Professor finds Bible in classroom — then notifies school's Bias Incident Reporting Team about it

Professor finds Bible in classroom — then notifies school 's Bias Incident Reporting Team about it The incident was deemed @ @ @ @ @ against 'religion '

Bible-carrying students and staff at George Mason University, take heed: You might not want to leave your copies of the Good Book sitting in classrooms unattended — because their very presence just might get documented by your school's Bias Incident Reporting Team.
I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record
So it's like this: In November 2019, a professor found a Bible and an accompanying CD in her classroom, the College Fix reported.
Apparently unable or unwilling to put them aside for the owner to pick up later, the professor gathered the items and then reported them to the school's Bias Incident Reporting Team, the outlet said.
And how did the Bias Incident Reporting Team respond? The Fix said the team classified the incident as "discrimination" and "harassment" against "religion."
Seemingly to shore up her case, the professor included photographs of the Bible in her report, the outlet said, adding that the Bias Incident Reporting Team collected the items in question. The outcome of the report wasn't made clear.
More from the Fix:
The incident was one of 12 filed with the school's bias reporting website between January 1, 2019 and January 1, 2020 and obtained by The College Fix through an open records law request. The documents provided by the university were redacted to protect the privacy of students involved.
The reports were obtained as The Fix continues to investigate the types of complaints that are lodged through bias response teams at college campuses across the nation. Nearly two dozen universities have been included in the investigation so far since it launched in 2019.
According to George Mason's Campus Climate website, students and professors are encouraged to report and "act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, violence or criminal offense committed against any person, group or property that appears to be motivated by prejudice or bias."
According to the school, "bias" could mean "negative feelings and beliefs with respect to others race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age social class, political affiliation, disability, veteran status, club affiliation or organizational membership."
The outlet said a George Mason spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the Bible incident.
Anything else?
The Fix noted a September 2019 incident involving a communications professor who allegedly asked a student to give up an accommodation that allowed late submissions of completed assignments. The student said the professor made him or her feel "very unsafe" because the professor implied the student was "taking advantage of disability services," the outlet said.
Then the professor allegedly asked the student about the nature of the special accommodation, after which the student said it's "not something that I feel comfortable sharing," the Fix noted.
"She also pulled my [study] partner out of the room and tried to pressure her into making me present," the student added, according to the outlet. "My partner currently has a concussion, and the professor claimed that she was faking."
According to the Fix, the student also said "this teacher has a pattern of discrimination which goes against George Mason's code of ethics" and "is not a safe person to have in the classroom."


theblaze--2020-11-18--Atheist 'Grinches' bully Kansas school to drop annual Operation Christmas Child project; school cave

Atheist 'Grinches' bully Kansas school to drop annual Operation Christmas Child project; school caves to demands

Operation Christmas Child is an annual program operated by Franklin Graham 's Samaritan 's Purse .
Every year , Americans fill millions of shoeboxes with toys , clothing , toiletries , and other necessities for children around the world .
Liberty Middle School in Pratt , Kansas , had been a part of that program before and was set to participate again this year , Christian Headlines reported .
That is until the Freedom From Religion Foundation — an atheists group known for harassing communities and schools that do not adhere to the organization 's absolutist stance on the separation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and sent a letter to the school district demanding that the school abandon its chartable efforts with Operation Christmas Child immediately .
In the letter to Superintendent Tony Helfrich , FFRF staff attorney Christopher Line claimed that a `` concerned staff member '' had contacted the organization to complain about `` many egregious constitutional violations '' at Liberty Middle School , including participation in Operation Christmas Child .
`` Our complainant also reports that Principal Ryan Creadick has directed staff members to arrange for the school to participate in 'Operation Christmas Child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sponsored by Samaritan 's Purse , which describes the program as a 'shoebox ministry , ' '' Line wrote , insisting that the school `` cease participation in Operation Christmas Child . ''
FFRF 's letter said the charitable event was bad news for the school because it is sponsored by Samaritan 's Purse , which the atheist group decried as a `` pervasively sectarian religious organization . ''
According to FFRF , by being involved with Operation Christmas Child , the school is essentially `` employ [ ing ] school staff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Upon receiving the letter , the Superintendent Helfrich caved and abandoned the annual Christmas charity .
FFRF touted its victory on its website Friday , and highlighted a statement of defeat from Helfrich .
`` Regarding our students ' participation in 'Operation Christmas Child , ' we are discontinuing that effort upon learning that its mission is more sectarian in nature than we realized , '' the superintendent wrote in a letter to the organization .
The atheist group , acting as though it had uncovered some nefarious plot by Graham and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` pleased that it was able to educate the school district about the true purpose of Samaritan 's Purse — and that the district officials were quick to see the light . ''
`` A lot of these groups rely on school authorities being ignorant about their mission , '' FFRF co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said .
`` We appreciate how swiftly the district discontinued the fundraising after our alert . ''
But should the school have sidelined Operation Christmas Child ?
HillFaith , a Christian website geared toward U.S. congressional staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute 's Jeremy Dys if Liberty Middle School 's involvement with Operation Christmas Child would have been protected by the First Amendment .
`` The reality is that Samaritan 's Purse is a social welfare organization .
They exist to care for those in need — in the greatest of need across the world .
Just because they are religious is no reason to exclude them from public , '' Dys told HillFaith .
`` Excluding an organization just because it is religious is the the very type of religious intolerance the First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` FFRF and other Grinches would rather kids be denied the opportunity to care for kids who have nothing at Christmas than put up with the religious mission of Samaritan 's Purse . ''

Operation Christmas Child is an annual program operated by Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse. Every year, Americans fill millions of shoeboxes with toys, clothing, toiletries, and other necessities for children around the world.
Liberty Middle School in Pratt, Kansas, had been a part of that program before and was set to participate again this year, Christian Headlines reported.
That is until the Freedom From Religion Foundation — an atheists group known for harassing communities and schools that do not adhere to the organization's absolutist stance on the separation of church and state — heard about it and sent a letter to the school district demanding that the school abandon its chartable efforts with Operation Christmas Child immediately.
In the letter to Superintendent Tony Helfrich, FFRF staff attorney Christopher Line claimed that a "concerned staff member" had contacted the organization to complain about "many egregious constitutional violations" at Liberty Middle School, including participation in Operation Christmas Child.
"Our complainant also reports that Principal Ryan Creadick has directed staff members to arrange for the school to participate in 'Operation Christmas Child,' which is a charity project sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, which describes the program as a 'shoebox ministry,'" Line wrote, insisting that the school "cease participation in Operation Christmas Child."
FFRF's letter said the charitable event was bad news for the school because it is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, which the atheist group decried as a "pervasively sectarian religious organization." According to FFRF, by being involved with Operation Christmas Child, the school is essentially "employ[ing] school staff and resources to convert people to Christianity."
School gives in
Upon receiving the letter, the Superintendent Helfrich caved and abandoned the annual Christmas charity.
FFRF touted its victory on its website Friday, and highlighted a statement of defeat from Helfrich.
"Regarding our students' participation in 'Operation Christmas Child,' we are discontinuing that effort upon learning that its mission is more sectarian in nature than we realized," the superintendent wrote in a letter to the organization.
The atheist group, acting as though it had uncovered some nefarious plot by Graham and his team, preened that it was "pleased that it was able to educate the school district about the true purpose of Samaritan's Purse — and that the district officials were quick to see the light."
"A lot of these groups rely on school authorities being ignorant about their mission," FFRF co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said. "We appreciate how swiftly the district discontinued the fundraising after our alert."
But should the school have sidelined Operation Christmas Child?
HillFaith, a Christian website geared toward U.S. congressional staff, said Wednesday that it asked First Liberty Institute's Jeremy Dys if Liberty Middle School's involvement with Operation Christmas Child would have been protected by the First Amendment.
"The reality is that Samaritan's Purse is a social welfare organization. They exist to care for those in need — in the greatest of need across the world. Just because they are religious is no reason to exclude them from public," Dys told HillFaith.
"Excluding an organization just because it is religious is the the very type of religious intolerance the First Amendment abhors," Dys added. "FFRF and other Grinches would rather kids be denied the opportunity to care for kids who have nothing at Christmas than put up with the religious mission of Samaritan's Purse."