theblaze--2020-12-14--Transgender activist says all children should be put on puberty blockers until they can decide their

Transgender activist says all children should be put on puberty blockers until they can decide their gender

A popular transgender activist recently called for all children to be put on puberty blockers until they are able to decide which gender they want to be.
What are the details?
Lauren McNamara, known by followers as "Zinnia Jones," argued earlier this month that children should be legally able to consent to the administration of puberty blockers since they already de facto consent to the "permanent and irreversible changes" that come naturally through puberty.
"If children can't consent to puberty blockers which pause any permanent changes even with the relevant professional evaluation, how can they consent to the permanent and irreversible changes that come with their own puberty with no professional evaluation whatsoever?" she wrote on Twitter.
The YouTuber went on to argue that "an inability to offer informed consent or understand the long-term consequences is actually an argument for putting every single cis and trans person on puberty blockers until they acquire that ability."
Her comments followed a court case in the U.K. involving Keira Bell, a 23-year-old biological female who sued the British National Health Service's gender-identity youth clinic for prescribing her puberty blockers when she was 16 years old. Bell, who since regrets becoming a male, argued that the clinic did not do enough to "challenge" her decision to transition.
Judges ruled in the lawsuit that "it is highly unlikely that a child aged 13 or under would be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers" and "it is doubtful that a child aged 14 or 15 could understand and weigh the long-term risks and consequences of the administration of puberty blockers."
But, "in respect of young persons aged 16 and over, the legal position is that there is a presumption that they have the ability to consent to medical treatment," read the ruling.
McNamara argued in her tweet thread that puberty became "optional" when technology was developed to "enable deliberate choice between natal puberty and puberty induced by cross-sex hormones.
What else?
According to her YouTube fan page, McNamara is an atheist American commentator who has "posted numerous videos critical of religion, especially in regards to its attitudes towards LGBT people. Zinnia is openly transgender and has been on hormone replacement therapy since September 2012."
"Zinnia was assigned male at birth and given name Zachary Antolak in 1989 in Chicago," but she "became aware of her sexuality as a gay male at an early age," her profile states.
"After years identifying as a gay male, Zinnia finally came to the conclusion that she was actually a trans woman in 2011 and started a romantic relationship with her close friend and lesbian Heather McNamara, becoming an adoptive mother towards Heather's two children. Zinnia is currently in a polyamorous relationship with Heather and another trans woman named Penny," it continues.
(H/T: The Post Millennial)


theblaze--2020-12-14--Report: Cleveland Indians will change their name over concerns team name is racist

Report : Cleveland Indians will change their name over concerns team name is racist 'This is the culmination of decades @ @ @

The Cleveland Indians, the Major League Baseball franchise that has held the "Indians" name for more than a century, will reportedly change their team name.
The development comes as several major league franchises across different sports have dropped their Native American names over leftist claims that such monikers are racist. The Washington Redskins were the latest team to drop their Native America name — and the team still has not announced a replacement — despite the vast majority of Native Americans saying they did not consider the name to be racist.
Progressive Field in Cleveland, where the Indians are located. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
According to the New York Times, the Cleveland Indians' announcement about their name change could happen as soon as this week.
ESPN confirmed the franchise has chosen to change its name.
However, it's not yet clear what the baseball team will be rebranded as, nor is it clear when the rebranding process will begin. The logistical hurdle for rebranding an organization as large as a major sports team is significant, because the team will have to coordinate with manufacturers that produce everything from team uniforms to team-branded merchandise and even the manufacturer responsible for massive "Indians" signs that adorns the team's field.
Team sources told the Times the rebranding may not officially happen until the conclusion of the 2021 season, with hopes of debuting the new team name prior to the 2022 season.
The team's decision to change its name is not exactly surprising.
Prior to the 2018 season, the team announced it would remove its controversial mascot, "Chief Wahoo," which critics said was a racist depiction of Native Americans.
"[T]he logo is no longer appropriate for on-field use in Major League Baseball," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said at the time, the Associated Press reported.
Then, just days before the Washington Redskins announced in July they would change their name following long-standing pressure from team sponsors, the Cleveland Indians said they were also reviewing their team name.
What was the reaction?
Oneida Nation of New York, which led a movement to change Native American team mascots it deemed racist, praised the move.
"This is the culmination of decades of work," the group told ESPN.
"Groups like the National Congress of American Indians passed resolutions for decades on this, social science has made clear these names are harmful and Cleveland got out in front of it and they're leading, and rather than having this hanging over their heads, they're charting a new path," they added.
Are other teams following suit?
Other major league sports teams with Native American names — including the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Blackhawks — have said recently they do not plan to change their names, the Times reported.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Watch: Geraldo Rivera and Charlie Kirk spar over whether Trump's election fight should continue

Watch : Geraldo Rivera and Charlie Kirk spar over whether Trump 's election fight should continue Rivera says 'it is @ @ @ @ @ disagrees

Fox News senior correspondent Geraldo Rivera and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk argued Monday over whether President Donald Trump should continue his challenges to the presidential election, after the Electoral College officially voted for Democrat Joe Biden as president-elect.
What are the details?
Following the Electoral College vote, Biden called for unity in an address to the nation. Fox News host Martha MacCallum hosted Rivera and Kirk for their reactions, and the two commentators expressed their opposing views on how things look for Trump's prospect at overturning the results.
Rivera delivered what he called a "superficial" criticism of Biden's delivery before saying, "However, he's absolutely right: It is over. I want my friend, the current president, the 45th president to understand it is over. The Electoral College has voted. The longer we drag this out, the more we damage the fabric of our democracy ... and it also damages the legacy of Donald Trump, who should be taking a victory lap right now celebrating the vaccine that he almost single-handedly forced the scientific community to get ready to save millions of lives."
In response, Kirk argued, "If we actually want what's best for the country, you're gonna have to answer some of these questions that 55 to 60 million Americans have, and they're very good questions, such as, why were signature processes changed in Georgia? What exactly happened with people being shut out from voting tabulation process?"
Kirk went on to say that "Joe Biden mentioned in his speech that some of this was discussed in court. Some of these, by the way, are still being played out. There are still plenty of pending legal challenges, there are hundreds..."
"That is so dishonest," Rivera said, stepping in, repeating again, "That is so dishonest," as Kirk asked to finish making his point.
Kirk went on to raise further voting regularity concerns that have been flagged by the Trump campaign, before Rivera pushed back: "For six weeks. We have litigated this for six weeks. Twice the Supreme Court of the United States have rejected it."
He told Kirk, "You have to stop this."
What happened next?
MacCallum then played a montage showing the passion Trump supporters feel in fighting for their voices to be heard.
In reaction, Rivera noted that in the 2000 election, Al Gore conceded with only 500 votes separating him and George Bush during a contested election. He argued that Trump supporters are following Trump's lead in contesting the election against Biden, due to his defiance, saying the president is "instilling in these people the false sense that they have been gypped."
Kirk continued to argue, "I believe, for the future of our country and for the goodness of our republic, these questions must be answered or else you're going to have tens of millions of people that will never trust another election again."
The full exchange can be seen in footage shared by The Daily Beast.


theblaze--2020-12-15--2-year-old boy abandoned at a Mississippi Goodwill drop-off with a note about his mother

2-year-old boy abandoned at a Mississippi Goodwill drop-off with a note about his mother Police later made an arrest in @ @

A 2-year-old boy was abandoned at a Mississippi Goodwill drop-off with a note about his mother on Monday.
The heartbreaking incident happened in Southaven, a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee.
The Southaven Police Department said the boy was healthy and in good spirits when a man left him at about 10 a.m. with employees at the drop-off. They said the child played with toys even though he was not dressed for the cold temperature when he arrived.
The man was seen with a woman accompanying him.
The note was written on a paper towel and read, "child abandoned…no phone number for mom."
Police said in a Facebook post that the child was too young to give his name or the name of his relatives. When they asked him his age, he held up two of his fingers.
The child was left with a plastic bag that contained a change of clothing and some food. Police interviewed a worker at the Goodwill who told them that the man who dropped him off said simply, "The child's mother couldn't care for him."
The police said that they later made an arrest in the case across the state border line in Memphis.
"Southaven Police received numerous tips, and with the assistance of FBI offices in both Mississippi, and Tennessee, along with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department a suspect related to this case was taken into custody in Memphis," police said.
Police said the boy had been identified and was in the custody of Mississippi Child Protective Services, but would be reunited with his relatives. They are investigating the circumstances of the strange occurrence.
Here's more about the 2-year-old abandoned at Goodwill store:


theblaze--2020-12-15--Kamala Harris calls for honoring Sandy Hook victims with gun control on 8th anniversary of school ma

Kamala Harris calls for honoring Sandy Hook victims with gun control on 8th anniversary of school massacre Harris and Biden @ @ @ @ @ back ' program

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Monday recognized the horrific 2012 mass murder of 26 innocent people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, by marking the eighth anniversary of the tragedy with calls for implementing new gun control measures.
But Harris' message sparked concern among some gun owners weary of what it might mean under a Joe Biden administration, given that he and Harris have vowed to clamp down on gun rights, including the implementation of a "buy back" program.
What are the details?
"Today marks 8 years since 20 first-graders and 6 educators were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School," Harris tweeted. "To honor the lives lost in this terrible tragedy, it's past time we implement common-sense gun safety reforms to keep our children safe."
Harris received both praise and criticism for the post, but specifics were missing from both the commenters and Harris on what might serve as prevention in the future.
One person replied, "So exactly what are your 'common-sense' gun safety reforms that are going to keep children safe? Make sure you show real-world statistics to back up the ideas/positions . . . as I've seen a lot of statistical 'cherry picking' related to this subject."
As a candidate for president last year, Harris promised an executive order for "a renewal of the assault weapon ban," per The New York Times, who reported that "she would introduce the executive actions if Congress did not pass gun control legislation in the first 100 days of her presidency."
This is an area where Biden and Harris are in lock-step. On their campaign website, Biden promises to "buy back the assault weapons and high-capacity magazines already in our communities," explaining:
Biden will also institute a program to buy back weapons of war currently on our streets. This will give 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.
While the definition or targeted models of so-called "assault weapons" are not mentioned on Biden's website, he has spoken out against the ownership of the popular AR-15 rifle, which has fallen under immense scrutiny from Democrats and was the type used by the deranged murderer in the Sandy Hook massacre.
Anything else?
Earlier in March, Biden told former Democratic presidential rival Beto O'Rourke that he would "take care of the gun problem with [him]," which raised alarms from Second Amendment advocates given O'Rourke's campaign vow to confiscate firearms from Americans.
"Hell yes, we're gonna take your AR-15, your AK-47," O'Rourke declared from the debate stage in 2019. "We're not gonna allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore."


theblaze--2020-12-15--Electoral College officially confirms Joe Biden's victory despite GOP picking 'alternate' electors

Electoral College officially confirms Joe Biden's victory despite GOP picking 'alternate' electors to challenge the results

Electoral College officially confirms Joe Biden 's victory despite GOP picking 'alternate ' electors to challenge the results Biden harangued @ @ @ @ @ after the results were confirmed

The Electoral College convened to officially confirm the victory of former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, but the Republican Party sent its own electors in several states to challenge the results.
With 270 votes needed to win the presidential contest, Biden received 306 electoral votes while Trump received 232 electoral votes.
The official count of the electoral ballots will be conducted on Jan. 6 in a joint session in Congress.
While the official count of the Electoral College will likely end any legal challenge by the Trump campaign, Republicans are attempting to keep their chances alive by picking "alternate" electors from contested state and sending their ballots to Congress.
Joe Biden speaks
In a speech Monday evening, Biden made his case against those who questioned the outcome of the election or claimed that it was illegitimate because of voter fraud.
"This legal maneuver was an effort by elected officials in one group of states to get the Supreme Court to wipe out the vote of more than 20 million Americans in other states, and to hand the presidency to a candidate that lost the Electoral College, lost the popular vote, and lost each and every one of the states whose votes they were trying to reverse," said Biden of the lawsuit from Texas.
"It's a position so extreme, we've never seen it before," he continued. "A position that refused to respect the will of the people, refused to respect the rule of law, and refuse to honor our Constitution."
Biden and Kamala Harris will be inaugurated as president and vice president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2021.
Here's more about the GOP challenge to the election:


theblaze--2020-12-16--Virginia GOP candidate for governor says 'Trump should declare martial law' in election fight

Virginia GOP candidate for governor says 'Trump should declare martial law ' in election fight State Sen. Amanda Chase wants @ @ @ @ @ involved

Virginia gubernatorial candidate and Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase says President Donald Trump "should declare martial law" as his challenge continues in the wake of the Electoral College officially voting to affirm Joe Biden as president-elect.
What are the details?
In a Facebook post reacting to the news of Biden's electoral victory, Chase wrote, in part:
"Not my President and never will be. The American people aren't fools. We know you cheated to win and we'll never accept these results. Fair elections we can accept but cheating to win; never. It's not over yet. So thankful President Trump has a backbone and refuses to concede. President Trump should declare martial law as recommended by General Flynn."
On Dec. 1, former national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn — who was recently pardoned by Trump — tweeted an apparent endorsement of a news release from the We The People Convention, which began:
"Tom Zawistowski, President of the TEA Party affiliated We the People Convention (WTPC) and Executive Director of the Portage County TEA Party, published a full page ad in the Washington Times newspaper demanding that President Trump Invoke limited Martial law in order to allow the U.S. Military to oversee a new free and fair federal election if Legislators, Courts and the Congress do not follow the Constitution."
The Washington Post reported:
In an interview Tuesday, Chase said she was holding out hope that Trump somehow would be declared the winner when the electoral college ballots are formally counted during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 — an all-but-impossible outcome, especially as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday publicly acknowledged Biden's victory for the first time since the election. Barring that extremely unlikely turn of events, Chase thinks martial law is in order.
Under martial law, she said, troops would "go and seize these [voting] machines and voting equipment to find the voter fraud. There needs to be a national audit."
What else?
Del. Kirk Cox, Chase's GOP primary rival in the governor's race, condemned her message, saying in a written statement, "Senator Chase's suggestion that martial law be imposed is absurd and dangerous."
The retired teacher continued, "I taught government for 30 years and have great respect for our constitutional republic. Per that system and the Electoral College vote yesterday, Joe Biden will be the next President."


theblaze--2020-12-16--Former Houston police captain runs a man off the road and points a gun at his head while seeking to

Former Houston police captain runs a man off the road and points a gun at his head while seeking to prove massive voter fraud scheme in Texas

Former Houston police captain runs a man off the road and points a gun at his head while seeking to @ @ @ @ @ in Texas 'His alleged investigation was backward from the start — first alleging a crime @ @ @ @ @ to prove it happened . '

A former Houston Police Department captain, trying to prove evidence of a massive voter fraud scheme in Texas, ran a man off the road and pointed a gun at his head after surveilling him for several days.
Details of the incident were released Tuesday in a news release.
Mark Anthony Aguirre allegedly told police that he was a part of a group of private citizens running their own civilian investigation into accusations of voter fraud.
The 63-year-old allegedly said that his group had been running 24-hour surveillance on a man he believed to be the mastermind of the massive voter fraud scheme, and he confronted him on the road.
Police say Aguirre rammed his SUV into the back of the man's truck in October to force him to stop and get out of his vehicle.
Court documents say Aguirre pointed his handgun at the man and held him at gunpoint with his knee to his back until the police arrived.
Aguirre's associates allegedly searched the man's truck and drove it to another location. Police later found the truck abandoned.
Court documents say that Aguirre told the police that he believed the man had received $9.37 million to run the scheme, and that the man had used Hispanic children to sign the fraudulent ballots. He accused him of having 750,000 fraudulent ballots in his truck.
When police searched the man's truck, they found only air conditioning parts and tools related to his job as an air conditioning repairman.
Police arrested Aguirre on Tuesday and charged him with second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
"He crossed the line from dirty politics to commission of a violent crime, and we are lucky no one was killed," said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg in a statement. "His alleged investigation was backward from the start — first alleging a crime had occurred and then trying to prove it happened."
KPRC-TV reported that Aguirre had contacted them about widespread voter fraud before the election but that he couldn't provide them with any evidence when they asked for it.
Court documents also said that Aguirre received $266,400 from a pro-Trump organization called the "Liberty Center for God and Country." A spokesperson for the group told KPRC that they had hired Aguirre's investigation firm, which had about 20 members, but that they did not believe Aguirre would do what police are alleging.
Aguirre could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. His claims of a massive voter fraud scheme were found to be "baseless," according to the Houston Police and the Harris County Election Security Task Force.
Here's a local news report about the incident:


theblaze--2020-12-16--Did Texas GOP chair Allen West REALLY call for secession after SCOTUS decision?

Did Texas GOP chair Allen West REALLY call for secession after SCOTUS decision ?
Law-abiding states must now find a @ @

After the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss Texas' lawsuit against Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, Texas GOP chairman Allen West proposed an idea for law-abiding states with nowhere else to turn: Band together to "form a Union of states that will abide by the Constitution."
On the "Glenn Beck Radio Program" Monday, West said the four states sued by Texas must face consequences for their unconstitutional handling of the presidential election, and with the high court refusing to hear the case, those law-abiding states must now find a new solution.
So, does West believe seceding is the only option left? In this clip, he makes it clear he is not advocating secession, but does believe certain states should respond to the Supreme Court decision that left many Americans feeling hopeless.
Watch the video below:
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theblaze--2020-12-16--Biden to nominate Pete Buttigieg for transportation secretary

Critics are questioning the former mayor 's experience for the job

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Peter Buttigieg to serve as his secretary of transportation.
But critics have already voiced concern over whether Buttigieg has the background required for the job, and another rival Democrat appeared to throw shade in her "congratulations" to the 38-year-old.
What are the details?
The Biden transition team announced Tuesday that Buttigieg, his former rival for the White House during the Democratic primaries, was the president-elect's pick to serve as the nation's head of the Department of Transportation.
The declaration touted Buttigieg's experience as mayor, where "he secured $200 million in private investments in downtown South Bend," launched an initiative "revitalizing the city, redesigning the streets," and "would make history as the first openly gay person confirmed to lead a Cabinet department in our nation's history."
The Washington Post reported:
Whether Buttigieg, a former Rhodes scholar and McKinsey and Co. consultant with a wonkish eye for policy but no real Washington experience, finds success in that and other challenges could play a significant role in the new president's early successes or disappointments.
Before the Biden camp's announcement, another former Democratic candidate for president, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), delivered a public congratulations to Buttigieg that some observers speculated was a covert slight because she highlighted his lack of federal experience.
"Congratulations @PeteButtigieg!" Klobuchar tweeted. "From roads to rail, there is so much to be done and I'm looking forward to working with you! I know you will bring both your big ideas & your local government experience to the job. John & I look forward to welcoming you & Chasten to Washington."
Klobuchar and Buttigieg had a number of sparring matches during the primary debates, and both bowed out of the race to back Biden, which several pundits interpreted as moves vying for possible positions in a Biden administration.
Politico transportation reporter Sam Mintz tweeted Tuesday, "Here's some of who Buttigieg beat out for DOT: -David Kim (8 years at DOT, LA Transit, head of Calif's state transportation agency) -Sarah Feinberg (4 years at DOT, led FRA, head of NYC Transit) -John Porcari (led Maryland DOT, USDOT deputy secretary)."
According to Fox News, during Buttigieg's tenure as South Bend mayor from 2012 to earlier this year, he "had a pothole problem" in the city of roughly 100,000 residents.
Anything else?
If confirmed by the Senate, Buttigieg would be the first openly gay person approved as a cabinet secretary by the upper chamber.
President Donald Trump's former acting director of national intelligence, Richard Grenell, was the first openly gay cabinet member to serve for a U.S. president. Grenell did not undergo Senate confirmation for the interim position.


theblaze--2020-12-16--PC police come for singer Lizzo for betraying the body positivity movement by trying to lose weight

PC police come for singer Lizzo for betraying the body positivity movement by trying to lose weight '' That 's @ @ @ @ @ won . ''

Grammy award-winning singer Lizzo is being criticized for betraying the body positivity movement by trying to lose weight, and some are accusing her of "succumbing to fatphobia."
Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, sparked the outrage among some of her fans when she posted on Instagram about a 10-day smoothie cleanse program she tried.
"I think I just wanted to stress eat and do things that were like, kind of self-harming. I think that it's just great to reset your stomach and reset things, especially when you deal with gastrointestinal issues like I do. But I think I look f***ing great, too," she explained.
The backlash
Lizzo had been previously praised by many in the fat positivity movement for being very proud of her body size. Some accused her of giving in to "diet culture" and fatphobia.
"Lizzo....girl. Why?" tweeted Stephanie Yeboah, the author of "Fattily Ever After."
"It was inevitable. The industry is so violent towards fat women. Of course she was going to submit to toxic diet culture. It was only a matter of time," Yeboah added in further tweets. "I think the disappointment lies in a lot of us (especially fat, black women) seeing ourselves in a woman who was so proud and confident in her body. It made us want to do the same to ours."
She went on to accuse Lizzo of giving in to "fatphobia."
"I have empathy for those who succumb to the pressures of fatphobia - especially when you are in the public eye. Especially when you exist within several intersections that carry little privilege," she said.
Others registered their anger and disappointment with Lizzo on social media.
"Fatphobia intersects with other oppressions. If you're a feminist, or an LGBTQ+ ally, or stand with BLM, etc... you have to stand with fat folk, too," complained another user, who later deleted her tweet when others objected.
"To see Lizzo finally fall into the trap of 'detox' scams is so disheartening. She was the beacon for fat girls like me. A goal that showed we could learn to love ourselves and damn everyone else. And now she's not. I feel so hurt," tweeted another user.
"YES I am angry, YES I am triggered, yes I am mourning a big b**ch *MIGHT* wanna get skinny, bc that's 1 more battle Fatphobia has won. Another loss to a system that wants me dead," tweeted Atlanta poet Aurielle Marie.
'Why are we celebrating her body?'
In January, reality show physical trainer Jillian Michaels was thoroughly excoriated by the body positivity movement after she declined to celebrate Lizzo's body size.
"We should always be inclusive, but, you cannot glorify obesity. It's dangerous. It kills people," Michaels said at the time.
"Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren't we celebrating her music? 'Cause it isn't going to be awesome if she gets diabetes," Michaels added. "I'm just being honest. I love her music, like my kid loves her music, but there's never a moment when I'm like, 'I'm so glad she's overweight.'"
Here's more about Lizzo and her body image:


theblaze--2020-12-15--Mitch McConnell congratulates 'President-elect' Joe Biden, says 'the Electoral College has spoken'

Mitch McConnell congratulates 'President-elect ' Joe Biden , says 'the Electoral College has spoken' The Senate majority leader also reportedly @ @ @ @ @ to contest the election

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on winning the presidential election, saying that "the Electoral College has spoken."
According to reports, McConnell has also privately urged Senate Republicans not to contest the results of the election in Congress, despite President Donald Trump's ongoing challenges to the outcome.
What are the details?
During a speech from the Senate floor, McConnell spent several minutes heaping praise on Trump and listing the president's many accomplishments during his term before saying, "Many millions of us had hoped that the presidential election would yield a different result, but our system of government has processes to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20."
He added, "The Electoral College has spoken. So today, I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden."
Sen. Mitch McConnell: "I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden." www.youtube.com
The New York Times reported:
A short time later, on a private call with Senate Republicans, Mr. McConnell and his top deputies pleaded with their colleagues not to join members of the House in objecting to the election results on Jan. 6, when Congress meets to ratify the Electoral College's decision, according to three people familiar with the remarks.
Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks (R) has vowed to challenge the Electoral College votes in the House. The GOP congressman made his decision nearly two weeks ago, explaining, "In my judgment, if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast, Donald Trump won the Electoral College by a significant margin, and Congress's certification should reflect that."
According to Politico, "If a Republican senator joins the effort, however, it will force both chambers to take a vote on the election. But they have yet to get official buy-in from any GOP senators."
Meanwhile, President Trump continues to insist the election was rigged against him and that Biden won due to widespread voter fraud. He tweeted Tuesday, "Tremendous evidence pouring in on voter fraud. There has never been anything like this in our Country!"
The president also retweeted a post from pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood, who stated that Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger "will soon be going to jail" over their handling of the election in their state.
Wood tweeted photos doctored to show Kemp and Raffensperger wearing masks with the Chinese flag, writing "President Trump @realDonaldTrump is a genuinely good man. He does not really like to fire people. I bet he dislikes putting people in jail, especially 'Republicans.' He gave @BrianKempGA & @GaSecofState every chance to get it right. They refused. They will soon be going to jail."


theblaze--2020-12-15--Abraham Lincoln HS in San Francisco may get renamed — iconic president who abolished slavery wasn't

Abraham Lincoln HS in San Francisco may get renamed — iconic president who abolished slavery wasn't woke enough, renaming committee head says

Abraham Lincoln HS in San Francisco may get renamed — iconic president who abolished slavery was n't woke enough , @ @ @ @ @ the problematic names and symbols that currently clutter buildings , streets , throughout the city @ @ @ @ @ ' Jeremiah Jeffries also said

As TheBlaze previously reported, Abraham Lincoln's name — along with the names of dozens of other historical figures with connections to slavery, genocide, or oppression — may soon may be coming off buildings in the San Francisco school district.
Friday is the deadline to have all the names submitted for consideration — and the San Francisco Chronicle shared insights from the man in charge of the renaming committee as to why Lincoln and other figures are on the chopping block — and why others aren't.
What are the details?
"Uprooting the problematic names and symbols that currently clutter buildings, streets, throughout the city is a worthy endeavor," Jeremiah Jeffries, chairman of the renaming committee and a first-grade teacher in San Francisco, told the paper. "Only good can come from the public being reflective and intentional about the power of our words, names, and rhetoric within our public institutions."
More from the Chronicle:
To many, Lincoln was one of the country's greatest presidents, the Great Emancipator, a beloved historic figure as well as political mentor to his successors, including Barack Obama, who used the Lincoln Bible for his inauguration.
Yet the renaming of Lincoln High School was a slam dunk for the committee, which didn't even discuss it, according to video of the meetings. The members of the committee, appointed by the school board, deemed whether a person's actions or beliefs met the criteria for renaming, and moved on. The committee's spreadsheet with notes on their research listed the federal treatment of Native Americans during his administration as the reason.
"The discussion for Lincoln centered around his treatment of First Nation peoples, because that was offered first," Jeffries told the paper. "Once he met criteria in that way, we did not belabor the point."
He added to the Chronicle that Lincoln's overall historical legacy is overblown — and even that the Civil War was not fought over slavery or the liberation of black people.
"The history of Lincoln and Native Americans is complicated, not nearly as well known as that of the Civil War and slavery," Jeffries told the paper. "Lincoln, like the presidents before him and most after, did not show through policy or rhetoric that Black lives ever mattered to them outside of human capital and as casualties of wealth building."
Pushback
"He saved the country from dividing and ruin," Harold Holzer, a Lincoln scholar and director of the Hunter College's Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute, told the Chronicle. "He should be honored for it."
Holzer added to the paper that Lincoln "was more progressive than most people. There was pretty rampant hostility [toward Native Americans], and I think Lincoln rose above it. Nobody is going to pass 21st century mores if you're looking at the 18th and 19th centuries."
More from the Chronicle:
Lincoln's administration supported the Homestead Act of 1862 and transcontinental railroad, which led to the loss of Indigenous peoples' land. Lincoln himself largely delegated the sometimes bloody response to Native American conflicts while focusing on the Civil War, according to historians.
But Lincoln, whose grandfather was killed by a Native American, oversaw the hanging of 38 indigenous warriors after a Santee Sioux uprising in Minnesota, but only after he personally reviewed the legal cases against the 303 men sentenced to death. He saved the lives of 265 Indigenous men.
Lincoln, historians say, was focused on the Civil War and therefore did little to change policies related to Native Americans, but had planned to.
"If we get through the war and I live, this Indian system will be reformed," he said. He never got the chance.
But for the renaming committee, Lincoln's treatment of Native Americans was more bad than good — and that's why he made the renaming list, the paper said.
"We asked ourselves, 'Did the name under consideration meet one or more of our criteria?' If that name met criteria, they were put on the list," Jeffries told the Chronicle.
The paper said that's exactly the same reason Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's name landed on the renaming list.
After all, Jeffries told the Chronicle, she "chose to fly a flag that is the iconography of domestic terrorism, racism, white avarice, and inhumanity towards black and indigenous people at the City Hall. She is one of the few living examples on our list, so she still has time to dedicate the rest of her life to the upliftment of Black, First Nations and other people of color. She hasn't thus far, so her apology simply wasn't convincing."
More from the paper:
At the same time, labor leader Cesar Chavez didn't make the list, despite his feelings toward undocumented immigrants, who he called "wetbacks" and other derogatory names. He encouraged his supporters to report them to the authorities for deportation.
United Farm Worker members would form "wet lines" at the border and beat those crossing, believing they would be strike breakers, according to his biographer Miriam Pawel.
Jeffries said no one on the committee offered evidence that Chavez met the criteria. He did not say whether anyone on the committee looked for any.
"We did not discuss the life of Cesar Chavez except to say that he did not meet criteria," he added to the Chronicle.
The school board is expected to vote on the name-change recommendations early next year, the paper said.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Dominion Voting Systems denies using SolarWinds Orion software, which was compromised by foreign hac

Dominion Voting Systems denies using SolarWinds Orion software, which was compromised by foreign hackers

Dominion Voting Systems denies using SolarWinds Orion software , which was compromised by foreign hackers U.S. officials believe Russian hackers @ @ @ @ @ at two federal agencies .

On Sunday, IT company SolarWinds reported that one of its network managing products was compromised in a "highly-sophisticated, targeted and manual supply chain attack by a nation state." Further reporting from Reuters revealed that hackers believed to be working for Russia have been monitoring communications at the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments, two government agencies that use SolarWinds' Orion suite of network managing software.
Also, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) issued an emergency directive calling on all federal civilian agencies to review their networks for indicators of compromise and shut down all SolarWinds Orion products immediately.
As this story developed, rumors began spreading that Dominion Voting Systems, the voting machine manufacturer assailed by allegations of election tampering made by President Donald Trump and his allies, uses SolarWinds software and may have been compromised in the same cyberattack that targeted federal agencies.
Those rumors are unproven and Dominion Voting Systems has made a public statement claiming it has never used the compromised SolarWinds Orion Platform.
What happened?
SolarWinds is a software developer that helps businesses manage their networks, systems, and technology infrastructure. The company also serves government agencies in the executive branch, the military, and intelligence services, according to Reuters.
On Sunday, the company issued a security advisory announcing that March and June 2020 updates to its Orion Platform software had been compromised by a targeted attack from a foreign government.
"We are aware of a potential vulnerability which if present is currently believed to be related to updates which were released between March and June 2020 to our Orion monitoring products," SolarWinds President and CEO Kevin Thompson said in an email statement. "We believe that this vulnerability is the result of a highly-sophisticated, targeted and manual supply chain attack by a nation state."
U.S. government officials reportedly believe Russia is behind the hacking attack, which according to Reuters was so serious that the National Security Council met at the White House to discuss the matter. Publicly, the government has only confirmed that the Treasury and Commerce Departments were breached and has not yet officially blamed Russia.
Sources that spoke to Reuters said Russian hackers infiltrated SolarWinds' Orion platform and through it were able to monitor internal email traffic at the compromised federal agencies.
The Russian foreign ministry on social media accused the U.S. media of making unfounded allegations blaming Russia for cyberattacks on U.S. agencies.
Following reports of the compromised systems, CISA issued an emergency directive ordering federal agencies that use SolarWinds Orion products to immediately disconnect or power down computers with that software installed.
"Treat all hosts monitored by the SolarWinds Orion monitoring software as compromised by threat actors and assume that further persistence mechanisms have been deployed," CISA advised.
CISA Acting Director Brandon Wales also encouraged businesses in the private sector that use the Orion platform to asses their network security.
"The compromise of SolarWinds' Orion Network Management Products poses unacceptable risks to the security of federal networks," explained Wales. "Tonight's directive is intended to mitigate potential compromises within federal civilian networks, and we urge all our partners — in the public and private sectors — to assess their exposure to this compromise and to secure their networks against any exploitation."
SolarWinds' website proudly proclaims that the company services most of America's Fortune 500 companies, the top 10 U.S. telecommunications providers, all five branches of the U.S. military, the State Department, the National Security Agency, and the Office of President of the United States, Reuters reports.
The discovery of the attack on SolarWinds' Orion products came just days after the cybersecurity firm FireEye announced it had been the target of a cyberattack. In fact, FireEye stumbled across the compromised SolarWinds while investigating the attack on its own firm.
"There will unfortunately be more victims that have to come forward in the coming weeks and months," said Charles Carmakal, senior vice president and chief technical officer at Mandiant, FireEye's incident response arm.
U.S. officials speaking to Reuters anonymously also indicated that cyberattack may be much bigger than currently known.
"This is a much bigger story than one single agency," said one of Reuters' sources. "This is a huge cyber espionage campaign targeting the U.S. government and its interests."
The Dominion Voting Systems rumors
Shortly after the news of the hacking attack on SolarWinds' Orion Platform broke, claims that Dominion Voting Systems used SolarWinds products and had not yet powered down those products began circulating on social media.
Ron Watkins, a former administrator on the message board website 8chan, shared a screenshot of a mobile login portal purportedly belonging to Dominion Voting Systems that appears to run on SolarWinds software.
While the screenshot, which shows a still active page, indicates that Dominion did use some SolarWinds product, it was not clear whether Dominion used the Orion product, which was the specific SolarWinds software that was compromised.
Journalist Kim Zetter highlighted a threat on Twitter that explains Dominion does in fact use a SolarWinds product, but it's a different product from the compromised Orion software.
In a statement made to the Daily Dot, Dominion said that it has never used the Orion software that hackers maliciously tampered with to gain access to federal agencies.
"Dominion Voting Systems does not now — nor has it ever — used the SolarWinds Orion Platform, which was subject of the DHS emergency directive dated December 12, 2020," a spokesperson for Dominion said.
TheBlaze reached out to Dominion Voting Systems for additional comment but the company did not respond.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Black pastors call out Rev. Raphael Warnock for supporting 'systemic racism of abortion'

Black pastors call out Rev .
Raphael Warnock for supporting 'systemic racism of abortion' 'As a Christian pastor and as @ @ @ @ @ have a duty to denounce the evil of abortion '

A coalition of more than 25 black pastors — mainly from Georgia — recently called out Democratic Senate candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock over his support for abortion ahead of the Peach State's Jan. 5 runoff elections.
In a letter obtained by Fox News and sent last Friday, the pastors said they felt "compelled to confront" the reverend after he recently made public comments supporting abortion, which they said represented "grave errors of judgment and a lapse in pastoral responsibility."
In November, Warnock tweeted, "I will always fight for reproductive justice." Then in another tweet, he said, "I'm a pro-choice pastor, and I believe that a hospital room is way too small for a woman, her doctor, and the United States government."
The tweets followed an earlier public statement the reverend made during a podcast interview in which he argued that abortion is an exercise of "human agency and freedom" and is "consistent with" his beliefs as a minister.
Warnock, who serves as senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, an Atlanta church where both Martin Luther King Jr. and his father once pastored, is challenging Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler (Ga.) for one of the two Senate seats up for grabs in Georgia.
In the letter, the pastors charged Warnock to reconsider his position based on biblical grounds and instead turn to denounce the evil practice:
As a Christian pastor and as a Black leader, you have a duty to denounce the evil of abortion, which kills a disproportionate number of Black children. Your open advocacy of abortion is a scandal to the faith and to the Black community.
Abortion is fundamentally in conflict with the plain reading of the Bible. The Bible clearly teaches that human life is created by God beginning at conception. As Psalm 139 proclaims:"You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am wonderfully and fearfully made." What human being could possibly have the right to blot out an innocent life that God has wonderfully and fearfully made?
Abortion prematurely thwarts God's providential and loving plan for a promising human life.And by terminating an innocent unborn life in the womb, abortion directly violates the seventh commandment: "Thou shalt not kill." God demands that every faithful Christian protect and uphold the sanctity of innocent human life, at every stage of life. Supporting abortion represents a serious abdication of and a transgression against that responsibility, just like the disrespect of the poor, the disabled, or the elderly.
Later in the letter, the pastors also entreated Warnock to change course over the devastation that abortion has wreaked on the black community. They pointed out that the abortion movement was begun with the premise of racism and white supremacy and today continues to disproportionately harm black Americans.
"Can you in good conscience defend abortion, knowing that abortion kills 474 Black babies forevery 1000 live births?" the pastors asked.
"For all of the above reasons, we entreat you to reconsider your public advocacy for abortion," they concluded. "We implore you to uphold the Biblical defense of life and to fight against the systemic racism of abortion."
It's not the first time that Warnock has been confronted over his support for abortion. Last week, former NFL coach Tony Dungy questioned Warnock's faith over the issue.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Paralympic swimmer denied entry into Canadian bookstore for not wearing mask — which she can't put o

Paralympic swimmer denied entry into Canadian bookstore for not wearing mask — which she can't put on herself since she was born without hands

Paralympic swimmer denied entry into Canadian bookstore for not wearing mask — which she ca n't put on herself since @ @ @ @ @ Believe it or not , Elisabeth Walker-Young went to bookstore after learning that a boy @ @ @ @ @ for not wearing a mask

A Canadian Paralympic swimmer — who was born without hands and cannot put on COVID-19 masks without assistance — said she was denied entry into a bookstore because she wasn't wearing a mask.
What are the details?
Elisabeth Walker-Young — a four-time Paralympic swimmer who lives in North Vancouver — told Global News she had spoken to the mother of a boy with autism who cannot wear a mask and was denied entry into Indigo's Metrotown location in Burnaby late last month.
With that, Walker-Young told the outlet she decided to visit the bookstore's Broadway and Granville location in Vancouver.
While Walker-Young has some fingers at the end of her arms, she told Global News that putting on a mask herself is out of the question: "When I am out with my daughter or my husband, they will help me put on a mask. But when I am out in the world independently, I just can't do it."
She told the outlet she also was denied entry to the bookstore.
"It's just not fair," Walker-Young told Global News. "I am not an anti-masker. I actually don't go out often because I am trying not to make people feel uncomfortable, which is an awful way to navigate the world."
What about the boy with autism denied entry into bookstore?
The outlet said Tina Chiao of Vancouver filed a human rights complaint after she and her son, who has autism, were denied entry at an Indigo store because he cannot wear a mask.
Andrew, 12, also has a sensory processing disorder, Global News said, adding that wearing personal protective equipment of any kind — including non-medical masks or face shields — results in significant behavioral issues.
Chiao told the outlet she issued the staff a note from her son's pediatrician but was told they would need to shop online or arrange for curbside pickup.
"He doesn't read or write. He doesn't have the ability to use a computer. He doesn't understand the concept of online shopping," she told Global News in regard to Andrew. "It was really unfortunate and made us very angry about the situation."
More from the outlet:
As of Nov. 19, British Columbians are required to wear a mask in all indoor, public spaces to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, with exemptions for people who can't wear one because of physical, psychological, behavioral or health conditions.
Masks are encouraged for children aged 2 to 11, but are required for those aged 12 and up.
"We have been in other public settings, grocery stores, transit — and everyone has been really accommodating of Andrew's extra needs," Chiao noted to Global News. "I think people with disabilities are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and you have a group of people who are already excluded, and now they are being further excluded."
What did the bookstore have to say?
Indigo told the outlet via email that it's sticking by its policy of stopping people without masks from entering stores even if they are exempt.
"In making the decision to update our mask policy, we've been mindful of our legal obligations, especially those relating to customer human rights. At Indigo, we deeply respect the rights and distinct needs of each of our customers," the email said, according to Global News. "While we understand that access to our store may be more limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are dedicated to serving our customers and are confident that the reasonable accommodations we offer can ensure your continued access to Indigo's services and products."
Anything else?
Indigo announced in October that it was changing its policy to allow for mask exemptions in Quebec stores after a mother and her 8-year-old son — who has autism and is unable to wear a mask — were denied entry, the outlet said.
Quebec's provincial regulations state that children under the age of 10 don't have to wear masks, Global News said — and neither do those with special needs, including autism.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Major news networks go silent on sexual harassment allegations against liberal darling Gov. Andrew C

Major news networks go silent on sexual harassment allegations against liberal darling Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Major news networks go silent on sexual harassment allegations against liberal darling Gov .
Andrew Cuomo

The newscasts for CBS, NBC, and ABC were silent Sunday night following news of the sexual harassment allegations against Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
What's a brief history here?
Lindsey Boylan, a former Cuomo aide, said that her ex-boss was guilty of sexually harassing her.
Boylan served as deputy secretary for economic development and special adviser in Cuomo's administration from 2015 until October 2018.
Cuomo has since denied all of Boylan's allegations against him.
What are the details?
According to a Tuesday report from the New York Post, those networks by Monday morning hadn't even reported on the allegations.
Newsbusters reported that three major networks' morning shows — NBC's "Today," CBS' "This Morning," and ABC's "Good Morning America" — "all avoided the accusations against the governor, despite a combined six hours of available air time."
Fox News on Monday also reported that "transcripts revealed that CNN and MSNC didn't mention Boylan's claims during the 24-hour period following her shocking tweet."
On Sunday, Boylan — who is running as a Democratic candidate for Manhattan Borough president — tweeted, "Yes, @NYGovCuomo sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched. I could never anticipate what to expect: would I be grilled on my work (which was very good) or harassed about my looks. Or would it be both in the same conversation? This was the way for years."
She added, "Not knowing what to expect what's the most upsetting part aside from knowing that no one would do a damn thing even when they saw it. No one. And I *know* I am not the only woman. I'm angry to be put in this situation at all. That because I am a woman, I can work hard my whole life to better myself and help others and yet still fall victim as countless women over generations have. Mostly silently. I hate that some men, like @NYGovCuomo abuse their power."
What else?
This isn't the first time that Boylan has spoken out about what it was like to work for Cuomo.
Earlier in December, she blasted Cuomo's office as being a "toxic" work environment, and proclaimed that many people were "deathly afraid of him."
"Most toxic team environment? Working for [Cuomo]," Boylan said. "I've had many jobs. Waitressing at Friendly's as a teenager was an infinitely more respectful environment. Even when I had bad customers who tipped poorly. ... If people weren't deathly afraid of him, they'd be saying the same thing and you'd already know the stories."
She later added, "Seriously, the messages and texts I receive when I speak the truth about this ... it's a whole book of people who have been harmed. I tried to quit three times before it stuck. I've worked hard my whole life. Hustled — fake it till you make it style. That environment is beyond toxic. I'm still unwrapping it years later in therapy!"
The former aide concluded, "Don't be surprised that it's the same small group of white people sitting alongside him at every presser. The same group that he has had by him the whole time, doing his dirty work. If you're not one of those handful, your life working for him is endlessly dispiriting."


theblaze--2020-12-15--Louis Farrakhan goes on rant about coronavirus vaccine, white 'devils': Vaccine is 'toxic waste' tha

Louis Farrakhan goes on rant about coronavirus vaccine, white 'devils': Vaccine is 'toxic waste' that will harm black community

Louis Farrakhan goes on rant about coronavirus vaccine , white 'devils ' : Vaccine is 'toxic waste ' that will @ @ @

Louis Farrakhan has suggested to his Nation of Islam followers that they should not receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
He also referred to white people as "devils" and "crackers."
What are the details?
In an hour-plus-long speech, the 87-year-old told his followers that any coronavirus vaccines would be a "toxic waste" that would ultimately damage the black community.
The speech, delivered at a virtual event for the National Afrikan/Black Leadership Summit, saw Farrakhan complain about the agenda set by health care experts in administering mass vaccinations.
"We are so frightened over this COVID, now they're getting us ready for this vaccine," he said. "How could you allow him to stick a needle into you, saying he's helping you?"
Farrakhan also said that he doesn't believe that the vaccines will be helpful, and in fact, will only serve to hurt blacks.
"Those of you who are health professionals, they want you to take it first," he said.
"You notice they're offering you money now?" Farrakhan continued, appearing to refer to Democratic presidential candidate John Delany, who once proposed paying people $1,500 to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. "This devil ... offers you $1,000 or $1,500 to take a shot. They give you free shots of toxic waste."
According to the Daily Caller, Farrakhan also referred to white people as "devils" and "crackers" and said that black families should not send their children to school if they are required to vaccinate.
"Tell the cracker: I ain't coming to your school," he added.
According to a recent Pew Research poll, just 42% of black Americans plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine when compared to 61% of white Americans and 83% of Asian Americans.
Minister Louis Farrakhan Message To The Black Community 12/12/2020 www.youtube.com
What else?
This isn't the first time Farrakhan has blasted COVID-19 vaccines.
In July, he accused Dr. Anthony Fauci and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates of planning to "depopulate the earth" with a coronavirus vaccine.
Speaking from the Nation of Islam headquarters in Chicago, Farrakhan urged African leaders and Nation of Islam followers to turn down an offer to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
“I say to my brothers and sisters in Africa, if they come up with a vaccine, be careful," he said. "Don't let them vaccinate you with their history of treachery through vaccines, through medication. ... Do not take their medication.
"They're making money now, plotting to give 7 billion, 500 million people a vaccination," Farrakhan continued. "Dr. Fauci, Bill Gates and Melinda — you want to depopulate the Earth. What the hell gave you that right? Who are you to sit down with your billion to talk about who can live, and who should die?
"That's why your world is coming to an end quickly, because you have sentenced billions to death, but God is now sentencing you to the death that you are sentencing to others," he added.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Biden's inauguration committee urges people to stay home, says ceremony to be 'extremely limited'

Biden 's inauguration committee urges people to stay home , says ceremony to be 'extremely limited' Do people need to @ @ @

President-elect Joe Biden's basement campaign was characterized by lackluster energy and small crowds and now it appears his swearing-in ceremony will be more of the same.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced in a news release Tuesday that on Jan. 20, Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take their oaths of office at a downsized ceremony at the U.S. Capitol featuring "vigorous health and safety protocols."
"The ceremony's footprint will be extremely limited, and the parade that follows will be reimagined," the release added.
"Our goal is to create an inauguration that keeps people safe, honors the grand traditions of the Presidency, and showcases the Biden-Harris Administration's renewed American vision for an inclusive, equitable, and unified citizenry," the committee's chief executive, Tony Allen, said.
Based on the description provided in the news release, it sounds like the inaugural event will be carried out much the way the virtual Democratic National Convention was earlier this year. The event featured mainly pre-recorded speeches and no crowds.
In order to keep crowd sizes small for the inauguration, the committee said that it is "urging the public to refrain from any travel and participate in the inaugural activities from home."
However, given the fact that Biden routinely struggledto draw crowds while on the campaign trail, it's fair to ask if urging people not to come is even necessary.
"President-elect Biden's unwavering commitment to the safety of the American people is our North Star as we plan an inauguration that protects public health while honoring inaugural traditions and engaging Americans across the country," event director Maju Varghese added. "We are excited to share more information soon about the new and innovative ways all Americans can watch and participate in a historic inauguration that will unify our country."
According to CNN, attendees at the event are expected to be required to wear masks and maintain social distance within "ticketed parameters." The news outlet also noted that there is "ongoing discussion about requiring COVID-19 tests for anyone who will stand on the main platform near the President-elect, who is 78."


theblaze--2020-12-15--'Get him, Santa!': Undercover cop dressed as Santa tackles suspected car thief as 'elf' partner deta

'Get him, Santa!': Undercover cop dressed as Santa tackles suspected car thief as 'elf' partner detains alleged accomplice at gunpoint

'Get him , Santa ! '
: Undercover cop dressed as Santa tackles suspected car thief as 'elf ' partner @ @ @ @ @ The bad guys did n't see it coming

Cities across America see serious upticks in retail theft every year during the holiday season, and Riverside, California, is no exception. So the Riverside Police Department set up a special "holiday enforcement program" to target shoplifters and other crooks at one of the city's major shopping centers.
The department's program, dubbed "Santa's Intervention," featured a detective dressed as Santa Claus and an officer dressed as the Big Guy's helper elf.
Riverside Police Department Facebook page
Last week, the operation nabbed more than just the usual shoplifters: Santa and his pal took down a pair of suspected car thieves. The arrests featured Saint Nick tackling a suspect while his helper elf held a reported accomplice at gunpoint.
What happened now?
Riverside cops set up Santa's Intervention outside the Target store at the Canyon Springs shopping center on Thursday, the RPD said in a post on Facebook.
During their operation, officers made three retail theft-related arrests. Then, toward the end of their efforts that day, things got interesting.
According to the RPD's post, detectives got information about three men who appeared to be casing cars in the parking lots at the shopping center. Authorities said they then saw the three suspects in the act of stealing a Honda CR-V. One of the three suspects drove away, but the other two were apprehended after attempting to flee on foot when they saw law enforcement.
Part of the theft was caught on video, as was the apprehension of the two suspects who did not get away.
One of the two suspects was ordered to get on his knees and detained at gunpoint by the helper elf.
Image source: New York Post video screenshot
As the elf kept his gun trained on one suspect, Santa took off and tackled the second suspect who was resisting arrest.
As Santa chugged down the hill to where other police officers were attempting to arrest the second suspect, another officer who was filming the arrests shouted, "Get him, Santa!"
The jolly old elf then performed a two-point takedown on the suspect.
Image source: New York Post video screenshot
Image source: New York Post video screenshot
Image source: New York Post video screenshot
Image source: New York Post video screenshot
Image source: New York Post video screenshot
His efforts allowed the other officers to cuff and stuff the alleged would-be car thief.
According to the RPD, one of the two detained suspects was later identified and released. The other was arrested for possession of illegal drugs and resisting arrest.
Police said they are still looking for the third suspect, the man who actually drove away in the car. A still shot from the video shows the suspect police are currently searching for sitting in the driver's seat of the stolen Honda.
Riverside Police Department Facebook page
KNBC-TV reported that though the driver got away, detectives said they know who he is.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Biden transition team 'quietly' taps Silicon Valley employees, who will concurrently work for Facebo

Biden transition team 'quietly' taps Silicon Valley employees, who will concurrently work for Facebook, Google

Biden transition team 'quietly ' taps Silicon Valley employees , who will concurrently work for Facebook , Google Just two @ @ @ @ @ worked to suppress the Hunter Biden story

President-elect Joe Biden has tapped several top employees from technology and social media companies to assist with his transition, a potential sign that Silicon Valley and the White House will have a cozy relationship during Biden's presidential tenure.
What are the details?
Politico reported Saturday that Biden's transition team has "quietly" recruited employees from Google and Facebook, who will, shockingly, concurrently work for the transition team and their respective companies.
"When the Biden transition team released the names of hundreds of personnel on Nov. 10, there were zero current Facebook or Google employees among them. That's changed — the transition website quietly added four Facebook and Google employees to its agency review teams on or close to Thanksgiving," Politico reported.
The officials are, according to Politico:
Zaid Zaid, a public policy official for Facebook, who has joined the State Department and International Development teams;
Christopher Upperman, a Facebook manager, who has joined the Small Business Administration team;
Rachel Lieber, a Facebook director and associate general counsel, who has joined the Intelligence Community team; and
Deon Scott, a Google program manager, who has joined the Department of Homeland Security team.
According to Politico reporter Steven Overly, all four Big Tech employees are Obama administration alumni.
Politico added, "Silicon Valley critics have pressured the incoming administration not to hire people with ties to the tech industry to senior posts, particularly individuals associated with Facebook and Google, which are fending off massive antitrust lawsuits. There are a number of former Facebook leaders already in top positions on the transition."
The move is sure to raise eyebrows given criticism that Big Tech received during the election, especially over allegations that right-leaning content was suppressed.
Such criticism reached its climax in October, just weeks before Election Day, when the New York Post broke news about a laptop that allegedly belonged to Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. Among other bombshells contained on the laptop was the allegation that Biden knew more about Hunter Biden's overseas business dealings, which have been the subject of multiple federal investigations, than he previously admitted.
Facebook suppressed the story, and Twitter outright censored it, despite the fact that Biden's campaign never challenged material facts contained within the story.
Anything else?
Biden's transition team has already announced selections for more than half of Biden's Cabinet.
Among top posts, nominations include Antony Blinken for secretary of state, Janet Yellen for treasury secretary, and Lloyd Austin for defense secretary.
Biden has not yet announced his nominee for attorney general. However, TheBlaze reported over the weekend that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is in the running, along with outgoing Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, and federal appellate Judge Merrick Garland.


theblaze--2020-12-15--'Are you gonna pay my rent?': California restaurant owner explodes at health dept. workers citing hi

'Are you gonna pay my rent?': California restaurant owner explodes at health dept. workers citing him for defying closure order

'Are you gon na pay my rent ? '
: California restaurant owner explodes at health dept .
workers citing @ @ @ @ @ 'My calling is to all the other restaurant owners to open your restaurants .
If @ @ @ @ @ they ca n't do anything . '

The owner of a restaurant in Ventura, California, exploded in anger at a couple of health department workers who issued him a citation Monday over his refusal to close and thus "breaking" the "law."
A news outlet's video camera was already at Nick the Greek for an interview with owner Anton Van Happen — and it picked up the highlights of him reading the riot act to the officials enforcing far-left Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's new COVID-19 order requiring restaurants to serve only takeout and delivery.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
"Are you gonna pay my rent?" Van Happen hollered at the officials.
One health department worker accused the restaurant owner of "not following the rules" — stemming from Van Happen's protest last week inviting patrons to sit at tables outside the restaurant after receiving their takeout orders.
"I followed the rules! I continue to follow the rules and you guys still, time after time, are giving me citations, telling me I have to close my business! What about my employees?" Van Happen asked the visiting health department workers.
One worker noted that "there is a law that you're breaking right now by operating without a permit."
"Because you guys put this closure on my restaurant!" Van Happen shot back. "So you guys yourselves are creating your own rule. And you're giving out citations for your own rule that's created. It's not by law that you cannot sit outside and eat; that's not law."
The other worker told Van Happen that his restaurant "is already closed. The permit has been suspended."
Some bright spots
It was looking pretty bleak Monday, but amid the fiery confrontation there were at least two bright spots.
First, a customer standing just outside the restaurant's doorway boiled over in frustration at the health department workers and told them to leave.
"Why aren't you guys at Costco right now? There's 500 people inside Costco!" the customer yelled. "There are 100 people inside Walmart! What are you doing? Just get out! No one wants you here! Go away! Nobody wants you here!"
The customer's gesture earned him a round of applause from those within earshot:
And then there was this cool moment:
Anything else?
KEYT-TV spoke to Van Happen last week after he staged his outdoor seating protest.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
"I am trying to start something where all restaurant owners are going to wake up," he told the station, adding that "my calling is to all the other restaurant owners to open your restaurants. If we all open up, they can't do anything."


theblaze--2020-12-15--Twitter confirms Trump could be banned for rule-violating tweets after Joe Biden is sworn in as pres

Twitter confirms Trump could be banned for rule-violating tweets after Joe Biden is sworn in as president President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ by Twitter 's 'World Leaders policy '

Twitter has previously flagged President Donald Trump's tweets with warning labels and disclaimers accusing the president of spreading misinformation, but so far has refrained from outright banning Trump's account.
Come Jan. 20, 2021, that may change.
A spokesperson for Twitter confirmed to Forbes earlier this month that Trump's account will no longer be protected under Twitter's "World Leaders policy" after President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated.
Trump tweets that violate Twitter's rules on election misinformation or hate speech, for example, could see enforcement action taken against the president's account. Trump will have to follow the same guidelines as regular citizens, the spokesman said.
In the weeks following the U.S. presidential election, Trump has repeatedly claimed on Twitter that widespread voter fraud cost him the election. He has raised concerns about voting machines, claimed Trump votes were "routed to Biden," and asserted that battleground states "CANNOT LEGALLY CERTIFY" the results of their elections even as states legally certified their election results. For each of these claims, Twitter has added a notification to Trump's tweets that says, "This claim about election fraud is disputed."
President Trump is the second most-followed politician on Twitter, with 88.6 million followers — only behind former President Barack Obama's 125 million. After he leaves office, any enforcement action taken against his account will be noticed.
Twitter has come under fire from Republican politicians who have accused the platform of engaging in censorship and bias against right-leaning points of view. The social media platform enjoys certain protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal law that protects internet companies from being liable for content posted on their platforms by third parties.
President Trump and other Republicans have called for Section 230 to be reformed, with the president threatening to veto major defense legislation should Congress fail to address the issue.
Reform of Section 230 does have bipartisan support. Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) recently introduced a bill with Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) to strip big tech companies of their Section 230 protections.
Once Trump is no longer president, he will be subject to the same rules as other Twitter users. Typically, the first violation of one of Twitter's rules will result in Twitter either limiting the visibility of the violating tweet or requiring a user to remove the tweet before he can tweet again from that account. But repeated violations can result in an account becoming permanently suspended, which Twitter describes as its "most severe enforcement action."
"Permanently suspending an account will remove it from global view, and the violator will not be allowed to create new accounts. When we permanently suspend an account, we notify people that they have been suspended for abuse violations, and explain which policy or policies they have violated and which content was in violation," the Twitter rules state. A user may appeal a permanent suspension by filing a report with Twitter.


theblaze--2020-12-15--New COVID variant found in UK that may be linked to faster spread of disease, officials say

New COVID variant found in UK that may be linked to faster spread of disease , officials say

A new strain of the novel coronavirus potentially linked to a faster spread of the disease has been discovered in south Wales, U.K. officials announced Monday.
What are the details?
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the new variant "may be associated" with a faster spread in southeast England, but there is "nothing to suggest" that it causes worse disease or resistance to vaccines, BBC News reported.
"Initial analysis suggests that this variant is growing faster than the existing variants," Hancock said in the House of Commons Monday.
Hancock told British lawmakers that while most of the cases have been reported in the south of England, the strain had spread to at least 60 council areas. He added that the World Health Organization has been notified.
"We've currently identified over 1,000 cases with this variant predominantly in the south of England, although cases have been identified in nearly 60 different local authority areas," he told British lawmakers while rolling out harsher restrictions in London and parts of Essex and Hertforfdshire.
"We do not know the extent to which this is because of the new variant, but no matter its cause we have to take swift and decisive action which unfortunately is absolutely essential to control this deadly disease while the vaccine is rolled out."
What else?
While news of a coronavirus variant may sound alarming, the mutation of a virus is actually a normal occurrence.
"It is natural for a virus to mutate over time and we have seen a range of mutations in Wales," the Welsh government said in a statement. "Viruses are living beings that change and adapt, and we know that since the original Wuhan virus there [have] actually been 25 mutations."
The news in this case is that the strain has been potentially linked to a faster spread of the disease, though that has not been confirmed yet by any further testing beyond the U.K.'s "initial analyses."
On Monday, Hancock said that similar variants have been discovered across the U.K. and in other countries in recent months and confirmed that further analysis of the new strain is being conducted by health experts.
Anything else?
The U.K. government began distribution of Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine last week, reportedly aiming to vaccinate all people over age 50 in the country by spring. However, the process has slowed following some initial complications, including allergic reactions to the vaccine by some.


theblaze--2020-12-15--VOTE: Best Quarantine Hot Take Video of the Year

VOTE : Best Quarantine Hot Take Video of the Year

Cast your vote now for your favorite Quarantine Hot Take video of 2020. Here are the four nominees ...
H1N1 vs. COVID-19: Free Pass for Obama, Crisis for Trump
Mark Levin: This Is the Dems TYRANNICAL Coronavirus Double Standard
New Coronavirus Study is a GAME CHANGER | Steve Deace Show
BREAKING! CNN... Admits China Lied About Covid

The Best Quarantine Hot Take Is...

1. H1N1 vs. COVID-19: Free Pass for Obama, Crisis for Trump

2. Mark Levin: This Is the Dems TYRANNICAL Coronavirus Double Standard

3. New Coronavirus Study is a GAME CHANGER

4. BREAKING! CNN... Admits China Lied About Covid

You can still vote in the following categories:
Best Parody
Best Impression
Best Rebuttal
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theblaze--2020-12-15--NYC mayor: Restaurants need to close, but everyone should ride the subway

NYC mayor : Restaurants need to close , but everyone should ride the subway

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that subways are safe and encouraged New Yorkers to use mass transit on the same day he said the city should be ready for a full shutdown after restaurants were ordered to halt indoor dining amid a surge of coronavirus cases.
Speaking at his daily briefing Monday, de Blasio said, "it is important to let people know the subways are safe." Prompted by a reporter, he floated the idea of setting an example by riding the subway himself to show there's nothing to fear, similar to how he plans to publicly take the COVID-19 vaccine, the New York Post reports.
"I like the idea of having a period of time to really emphasize to people that they're safe, by being out there," he said.
Subway ridership dramatically decreased in the first few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic amid fears that being around other people in an indoor cramped space might increase spread of the coronavirus. But studies have shown that public transportation does not pose a significant risk of viral transmission.
"We have found out that the use of mass transit is not a singularly important factor in the transmission of influenza," Mitchell Moss, director of the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation, told Gothamist earlier this month. Moss is one of the authors of a New York University study that examined data from 121 U.S. cities over 10 years and found the number of people who died of influenza did not increase in cities with higher participation in public transit.
The findings were hailed by New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
"This is the latest in a cascade of scientific reporting that shows transit is not a vector for the spread of respiratory diseases, and there has been no serious evidence worldwide connecting transit routes and spread of this virus," said MTA spokesperson Meredith Daniels in a statement.
Though Mayor de Blasio endorsed the city subway system, he also warned Monday that his city should be prepared for another "full shutdown" to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Speaking with CNN's Alisyn Camerota, de Blasio cited growing numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as cause for concern and the rationale for new coronavirus restrictions.
"We're seeing the kind of level of infection with the coronavirus we haven't seen since May, and we have got to stop that momentum — or else, our hospital system will be threatened," the mayor said.
The mayor's comments raise the question: If the whole city needs to shut down, who will ride the subway?


theblaze--2020-12-15--Migrant caravan heads for US, where immigrants hope to exploit Biden's reversal of Trump policies

Migrant caravan heads for US , where immigrants hope to exploit Biden 's reversal of Trump policies 'What they see @ @ @ @ @ said he was going to build a wall and hated Latinos is on his way @ @

More than 1,000 Honduran migrants departed their homeland last week in hopes of reaching the United States in the near future and that, when they do, President-elect Joe Biden's administration will approach their plight with more compassion than the outgoing Trump administration.
The caravan — which is significantly smaller than the swarms of migrants that made headlines during the heart of President Donald Trump's administration — is seeking refuge after two powerful hurricanes brought incredible devastation to Honduras, a Central American country that is already economically struggling.
Bertha Méndez, a 25-year-old who told the Wall Street Journal that she "lost everything" in the hurricanes, said she expects the caravan to reach the U.S. before Inauguration Day.
"We have asked God to help us and we believe that the new U.S. government will let us in," she told the newspaper. "I travel with eight people and we all think that this is a good opportunity, because it is the only thing we have left after having lost everything in the floods."
Bernarda López, a 48-year-old mother of eight, told the Journal, "We lost what little we had. There is nothing more to do. We are going to walk, or whatever, until we get there."
Overall, border crossing have declined in 2020, due in part to the coronavirus pandemic and Trump's immigration policies. However, that has begun to change in recent months, the New York Times reported.
After a steep decline in border crossings through much of this year, interceptions of unauthorized migrants along the Arizona-Mexico border are climbing again: Detentions in October were up 30 percent over September, and the figure in coming months is expected be even higher, despite the biting cold in the Sonoran desert.
The rising numbers suggest that the Trump administration's expulsion policy, an emergency measure to halt spread of the coronavirus, is encouraging migrants to make repeated tries, in ever-more-remote locations, until they succeed in crossing the frontier undetected.
Fortunately for the migrants, there is hope. Biden, of course, has pledged to reverse Trump's deterrent policies, though the policy reversals likely won't be advertised
Still, Jose Luis Gonzalez, coordinator of the Guatemala Red Jesuita con Migrantes, told Bloomberg News that Biden's pledge has emboldened immigrants who are desperate for a better life.
"When there is a change in government in the U.S. or Mexico, caravans start to move because they are testing the waters to see how authorities respond," Gonzales explained. "What they see is that the one who said he was going to build a wall and hated Latinos is on his way out."
"There are going to be caravans, and in the coming weeks it will increase," he added. "People are no longer scared of the coronavirus. They're going hungry, they've lost everything and some towns are still flooded."


theblaze--2020-12-15--Horowitz: A conservative blueprint for creating an American sanctuary through localism

Horowitz : A conservative blueprint for creating an American sanctuary through localism Local government matters more than ever

President Donald Trump won a majority of the vote in 83% of America's 3,000+ counties. Why don't business owners and ordinary Americans have a sanctuary to live free in even a fraction of those jurisdictions, especially those within red states? Why don't the elected officials reflect the values of the voters in those states?
We can complain about the appalling governance in deep blue cities until we are blue in the face, but the inconvenient reality is that most red states and counties are governed by Republicans who are nearly as passionate about the COVID cult as Democrats are. Even in deep red counties, children as young as 4 are needlessly going to school with diaper cloths on their faces for seven hours a day, and life as we know it has been ground to a halt.
It's time for patriots to gather in these counties and create teams to fight for liberty in areas where the values already reflect our worldview. Yes, Joe Biden will have a lot of latitude to make dangerous foreign policy decisions. But at the local level, which is what ultimately affects our lives most directly, we should easily be able to create sanctuaries for ordered liberty. Trump won 83% of the counties, and Republicans officially control 31 state legislatures and 24 trifectas. So where is our California?
In Wyoming? Republicans control every statewide office in Wyoming, along with a 28-2 majority in the state Senate and a 51-7 majority in the state House. Yet the state has a ridiculous mask mandate along with other draconian, unconstitutional, and anti-scientific rules. RINO Gov. Mark Gordon called his own people knuckleheads and blamed them for a spread that has now clearly become an immutably natural and global phenomenon based on seasonality. We can blame Joe Biden all we want, but if we have governors in Wyoming and West Virginia who send like Andrew Cuomo, then we are clearly doing something wrong.
What we've learned this past year is that local government matters more than ever. The reason churches and schools are cowed into draconian mask mandates and businesses are forced to severely limit their activities is not because they fear the federal government. They fear the county health department shutting them down, a decision that is ultimately backed by the potential enforcement of the local police or sheriff's department.
However, in a functioning republic where the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, at least in the counties where the people respect it, this scenario should be off the table. The police should stand shoulder to shoulder with the citizenry in opposing unconstitutional and often inhumane violations of basic human rights. The sheriff, county commissioners, county executive, prosecutor, and school board members should all reflect those values. If they don't, there is clearly something wrong with what we are doing, given that we hold the majority of the electorate in these parts of the country.
How is it that a woman can be tased and arrested for not wearing a mask at an outdoor middle school football game in Logan, Ohio? Trump won Hocking County, Ohio, by a 52-point margin, yet this is something straight out of China … or San Francisco. Trump won 81 out of 88 counties in Ohio, and Republicans hold 2-1 majorities in both chambers of the legislature. Yet Gov. DeWine is getting away with a statewide curfew and implementing severe unconstitutional mask mandates and curtailments of business, church, schools, and life. Shouldn't these edicts be non-starters in the overwhelming number of counties in the state? Well, they would be … if we were doing our job.
Our job headed forward is to organize community liberty teams in each county Trump won, at least those where he won comfortably. It doesn't take an army, just a dozen or two people to organize, pressure local officials, publish data and counternarratives in local media, and promote local candidates. Every one of these county Sons of Liberty chapters should clearly identify every local official based on his position regarding coronavirus fascism. If they are good, they should be promoted; if they are wobbly, they should be pressured; if they are tyrannical, they should be thrown out.
Members of these modern-day Sons of Liberty would either run for these offices themselves or recruit candidates. They include sheriffs who will not enforce unconstitutional edicts, county prosecutors who will not take those cases to court, school board officials who will have our kids return to normal life, and county commissioners/executives who will serve as bulwarks against state and federal officials by codifying these policies into local law.
These community liberty teams must also organize the old-fashioned way – by phone and group meetings – to circumvent the authoritarian censorship online. They should pledge support for local businesses that refuse to be shut down by tyrants in the form of patronage and providing physical, logistical, and legal help to stand together as a community.
Concurrently, these groups can work on state legislative elections and legislative strategy to ensure that their representatives, at least in red states, are promoting freedom at the state level and using every available tool to check the power of the governors and a potential President Joe Biden.
As these beacons of liberty and American sanctuaries make headlines, the brush fire for liberty will spread rapidly through hundreds and even thousands of counties and townships that begin to realize that lockdowns are all pain without any gain against the virus. Eventually, swing areas and even some lean-blue county governments will feel the pressure from their constituents. But it needs to begin in the rural areas where the spirit of liberty is relatively stronger.
The time has come to place a mask on tyrannical government. That filter between the people and the bigger governments is the local governments, community NGOs, and local businesses. Given that "all politics is local," shouldn't we control 83% of those units of government?


theblaze--2020-12-15--'If you voted for Trump, there is a racist bone in your body': Sitcom actress Wanda Sykes hit with t

'If you voted for Trump, there is a racist bone in your body': Sitcom actress Wanda Sykes hit with the facts after defaming Trump voters

'If you voted for Trump , there is a racist bone in your body ' : Sitcom actress Wanda Sykes @ @ @ @ @ defaming Trump voters 'So the 19 % of black males who voted for Trump , @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , are racist ?
That 's shocking ! '

Sitcom actress and stand-up comic Wanda Sykes hopped on Twitter over the weekend and accused those who voted for President Donald Trump last month of being racists.
Well, maybe Trump voters aren't total racists, she said — but at the very least, teeny, tiny parts of them probably would give standing ovations to the Ku Klux Klan:
"Here's the tweet. If you voted for Trump, there is a racist bone in your body," Sykes tweeted. "It might be in your pinky toe…but it's there. Praying for you."
She followed that up with a tweet saying "or maybe you're just a greedy bastard."
What was the reaction?
The "Black-ish" cast member — who boasts over half a million Twitter followers — certainly has her fans, and a number of them jumped at the chance to give Sykes virtual fist-bumps.
But others were less than pleased, and some even offered her some facts to chew on — like the user who shot back with, "So the 19% of black males who voted for Trump, up from 13% in 2016, are racist? That's shocking!"
Indeed, support for Trump at the polls increased among minority voters since he was first elected. He garnered 8% of the black vote in 2016 and 12% in 2020; Trump got 28% of the Latino vote in 2016 and 32% in 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported.
So it may not be the best look for Sykes to essentially call a large number of black and Latino voters "racist" because they marked their boxes for Trump. Or maybe she just forgot to do her homework.
Others had the following to say to Sykes:


theblaze--2020-12-15--Arizona GOP lawmaker to subpoena Dominion machines for forensic audit

'There is evidence of tampering , there is evidence of fraud '

Republican Arizona state Sen. Eddie Farnsworth said on Monday that he would issue subpoenas to forensically audit the Dominion Voting Systems machines used in Maricopa County during the 2020 election.
What are the details?
According to KJZZ-TV, Farnsworth argued that enough questions have been raised about the accuracy and security of the machines to justify the action, especially since Democratic candidate Joe Biden only narrowly defeated President Donald Trump by roughly 11,000 votes in the state.
The lawmaker's announcement followed more than six hours of testimony on Monday in the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Farnsworth is the chairman. During the hearing, Republican state senators grilled Maricopa County elections director Scott Jarrett over the reliability of the results.
The move came even as electors across the country, including those from Arizona, cast their votes for Biden, making him the president-elect.
"There is evidence of tampering, there is evidence of fraud," Farnsworth said in announcing the action, according to the Arizona Mirror, adding that a forensic audit could help restore confidence that the election was fair and legal.
He argued the audit is a necessary action to address concerns "and try and see if we can reinsert some confidence in our election process."
"We hold an audit and we see what the outcome is," he said. "And then we can put this to rest."
Farnsworth also said he got the impression from county officials that the very notion of fraud was something they were not interested in considering.
"I do have a concern that the county is taking the position that it just can't happen," he said. "There is a litany of white-collar crimes, digital crimes in the history of this country and this world of some very sophisticated people and the victims didn't recognize it until some future time. I think it's really, really dangerous for us to say, 'It can't happen.'"
Anything else?
A similar forensic audit of Dominion machines was conducted last week by Trump allies in Antrim County, Michigan — where 6,000 votes had been incorrectly flipped from Trump to Biden before the error was caught and corrected.
On Monday, a judge ordered that the results of the audit be released. In the report, Russell Ramsland of Allied Security Operations Group, the cyber firm that conducted the audit under supervision by county officials, claimed the equipment "is intentionally and purposefully designed with inherent errors to create systemic fraud and influence election results."
That conclusion has been disputed by state and company officials.