theblaze--2020-12-02--Steven Crowder Asks: Who is Elliot Page!?

On Wednesday 's episode of `` Good Morning Mug Club , '' Steven wonders who this Elliot Page fellow is @ @ @ @ @ from the post-election hearings , and it appears CNN just discovered China could be responsible @ @ @ @ @ code LWC to save $ 10 on one year of BlazeTV .
Want more from @ @ @ @ @ more of Steven 's uncensored late-night comedy that 's actually funny , join Mug Club @ @ @ @ @ all of Crowder uncensored and on demand .

On Wednesday's episode of "Good Morning Mug Club," Steven wonders who this Elliot Page fellow is. Plus, the latest from the post-election hearings, and it appears CNN just discovered China could be responsible for COVID-19.
BREAKING: Ellen Page is a Man!? | Good Morning #MugClub youtu.be
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theblaze--2020-12-02--Horowitz: A lost generation of children — thanks to adults acting like children

Horowitz : A lost generation of children — thanks to adults acting like children What happens when adults impose upon @ @ @ @ @ ?

My kids are absolutely convinced that there are monsters in our basement and will never go into it alone. Irrational fear is a very normal feeling for young kids, but it's part of the growing process. They grow out of it because rational adults guide them through those fears. But what happens when adults impose upon kids their own irrational fears, to the point where they demonstrate to them that breathing without a mask and being around people are categorical threats to their lives? We are only beginning to recognize this generational and civilizational killer.
Michael Myronuk Jr. was a 14-year-old freshman at Dulaney High School, just a few miles from where I live in Baltimore County. At a time when so many parents struggle with mental and emotional health concerns among their adolescent kids, Michael was a gifted and talented student who appeared to have a bright future ahead of him. Until the March shutdown of schools under the false notion that this virus poses a meaningful risk to children.
On Oct. 20, Michael took his own life, and as WBFF reports, his parents believe it was from the social isolation and closure of in-person schooling. Heathyr Sidle, the boy's mother, told WBFF that Michael had spiraled into depression in the ensuing months after the lockdown. "He didn't have any hope. He just gave up."
This is not a unique story. According to a CDC survey in late June, symptoms of anxiety and depression had already tripled since March and an unfathomable 26% of people 18 to 24 had considered suicide in the past month prior to the survey.
In November, the CDC released an analysis showing a 31% increase in mental health-related ER visits among children ages 12-17 since the lockdowns in March and even a 24% increase in ER visits for children as young as 5-11. They cited "abrupt disruptions to daily life associated with mitigation efforts, including anxiety about illness, social isolation, and interrupted connectedness to school" as a likely cause.
Why is there no dashboard counting the suicides, overdose deaths, and increase in diagnosis of mental health problems? And unlike with the virus deaths, where there is no proven policy to prevent those fatalities, every one of these deaths is absolutely preventable because they are unnatural and man-made.
The liberal Republican governor of West Virginia, Jim Justice, recently repeated the mantra of "if it only helps one person," these attempted mitigation efforts are worthwhile. But at what cost and with what evidence of efficacy after eight months of implied self-acknowledged failure of these policies? He questioned the harm of wearing masks. Well, it doesn't take a genius to realize that masks are the most dramatic and ubiquitous reminder of living in fear and anxiety. When you make children run around wearing them on the playground and in school for up to seven hours, that definitely takes a mental health toll, even while we are still discovering the potential long-term physical health concerns of covering one's breathing with contaminated, shedding cloths indefinitely.
The question none of these people will answer, though, is why we should upend the lives of children for a virus that does not pose a greater risk to them than the flu, especially after all these draconian measures have failed to stop the autumn surge, which has been the largest, most widespread transmission of cases throughout the country?
The propagation of irrational fear, universal masking, and social isolation is particularly harmful for younger children who haven't lived long under "the old normal" to experience life properly. Suicides are up 30% among the youth in the Seattle area over last year, but a large increase comes from younger adolescents. According to public disclosure data obtained by the Post Millennial, "The age groups of 11, 14 and 15 did not have any recorded suicides in the county in 2019, but in 2020 accounted for 7.69 percent, 38.46 percent and 15.38 percent respectively."
What will happen to the new generation of infants and toddlers who have never experienced normal human interaction? While I worry a lot about my three older boys, I'm particularly worried about my 7-month-old daughter, who rarely sees people, and the few people she does see look like mummies.
Even putting aside the obvious loss of life from depression, suicide, and drugs, recent research projects a loss of 5.53 million life years just from children missing out on educational attainment. Last month, researchers at University of Washington and University of California published a study at JAMA Network showing a total of 24.2 million children aged 5 to 11 years lost a median of 58 days of instruction in the spring. Based on the educational attainment lost, and its chain reaction of better health, wealth, and upward mobility that come along with a better education, they estimate a cumulative loss of 5.53 million life years from this generation of children. And those numbers increase every day schools continue to remain closed.
Also, they only studied children in primary school, not those in high school. "Nevertheless, we believe it highly probable that school closures in early 2020 will also ultimately depress high school graduation rates (and therefore may influence lifespan) for older children as well," concluded the authors.
What is so tragic is that by the time this damage is evident, these politicians and media purveyors of panic will be long gone.
"These potential associations of school closure with child health remain hidden at present, as the shortening of lifespans that today's primary school children could experience would not manifest until long after the pandemic is over," observed the authors. "The public discourse on reopening has focused on lives saved in the present and largely neglected the years of life that may be lost in the future because of decisions made today."
The 5.53 million life years lost from today's children just from the education gap alone dwarf the years of life lost to the virus itself, a tragic loss among those in their final months or years for which, absent a vaccine, there have been no proven ways to avoid.
Then there are the ancillary harms the panic policies impose upon the kids that range from increased poverty, skyrocketing divorce rates, and the weakening of the very immune system God gave them that has made them so resilient to this virus.
Do we even have as much mercy on our children as we would on rats?
Why do I bring up rats? In 2019, researchers published a fascinating study in "Nature Neuroscience" showing that when rats already hooked on methamphetamine in a lab setting were given a choice between more interaction with other rats or refills of drugs, they chose social interaction. Rats are evidently very sociable creatures.
Do you know who else craves social interaction? Our children. And do you know who else resorts to drugs when despair and depression set in from social isolation? Our youth.
The twisted irony is that all these policies have caused our government to go trillions into debt in order to fund the fallout from the lockdown and business closures and shield the governors from making more balanced and rational choices without the federal printing presses bailing them out. Who will bear the entire burden of that debt? You guessed it: the same generation that is bearing the burden of those very lockdown policies.


theblaze--2020-12-02--High school teacher allegedly naked and masturbating during video conference, police sources say

High school teacher allegedly naked and masturbating during video conference , police sources say 'Absolutely no place in our schools @

A high school teacher from Staten Island, New York, was naked and masturbating during a video conference Monday and is now under investigation, law enforcement sources told the New York Daily News.
What are the details?
The unnamed teacher works at Tottenville High School, and the incident occurred during a Google Meet call, sources added to the paper.
The New York City Police Department confirmed it was investigating a Monday complaint from the school but revealed no details, the Daily News said. "The investigation is active and ongoing at this time," a police spokeswoman told the paper Tuesday night.
It wasn't clear if the teacher intentionally exposed himself or if the video call involved students, the Daily News added.
What did education officials have to say?
"This extremely disturbing alleged behavior has absolutely no place in our schools and was immediately reported to the NYPD," city Department of Education spokeswoman Danielle Filson noted to the paper. "The teacher was immediately reassigned away from students pending the outcome of an investigation."
Anything else?
The alleged incident follows recent reports that legal commentator Jeffrey Toobin exposed himself and was seen masturbating during a Zoom call with New Yorker magazine colleagues as well as WNYC radio employees in October.
After first being suspended, Toobin was fired in November from the New Yorker, where he'd been a longtime staff writer, following an investigation into the accusations.
"I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake, believing I was off-camera," Toobin told Vice. "I apologize to my wife, family, friends and co-workers."
Toobin added to the outlet, "I believed I was not visible on Zoom. I thought no one on the Zoom call could see me. I thought I had muted the Zoom video."
Toobin remains chief legal analyst at CNN, and the network released a statement when the New Yorker scandal first broke: "Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue, which we have granted."
But when Fox News asked CNN for an update on Toobin's status on Nov. 19 — a week after he was fired from the New Yorker — the network didn't immediately respond.


theblaze--2020-12-02--Steven Crowder reminds Democrats of when they distrusted Dominion Voting Systems

Steven Crowder reminded Democrats on Tuesday of a time when the left-wing party distrusted Dominion Voting Systems.
In this clip, Crowder played clips from CNN, MSNBC, and C-SPAN that show segments featuring guests and talking heads expressing concerns over Dominion Voting Systems on and after Election Day. Watch the clip for Crowder's take.
Catch up on missed episodes here.
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theblaze--2020-12-02--Sarah Silverman admits why liberals get away with being offensive: 'We can say anything'

Sarah Silverman admits why liberals get away with being offensive : 'We can say anything' She said the quiet part @ @

Comedian Sarah Silverman recently admitted that she was given a pass for offensive jokes during her career — jokes for which normal people would have been denounced — because she is liberal.
Silverman's comments came during an interview on the "SmartLess" podcast, which is hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.
What did Silverman say?
The liberal comedian is known for making off-color and offensive jokes throughout her career. She has joked about religions, AIDS, and rape. As Fox News noted, Silverman even once wore "blackface" on her show "The Sarah Silverman Program" in 2007.
Toward the beginning of the podcast, Hayes noted that Silverman has gotten "away with a lot of stuff," referring to offensive jokes.
He said:
So that's my thing; it's like you've always been such a — I don't know — such a f***ing stupid word, "edgy." It's always about the messenger of the joke; it's never really about — so, you can say on "The Sarah Silverman Program," you could do a joke about AIDS like that and people embrace it and laugh because it's you saying it. So, what do you think is the difference between you saying it and somebody else saying it and not getting away with it. Seems like you get away with a lot of stuff because you're so f***ing funny, but some of it's pretty dark.
In response, Silverman said she was given a pass because she is liberal.
"I think it's the intention behind it, like, this is a math term, but it's kind of like the absolute power of the joke," Silverman began. "Like, especially back then I always said the opposite of what I thought and that was the joke, kinda. Hopefully the truth transcends that I don't really feel this way, not to break it down in the least funny possible way, but it is also interesting, too, because that comedy I did, you're right, it was like, 'Oh it's OK because you know I don't mean it.'"
She continued, "But then it also is kind of like, 'We're liberal, so we can say anything. So, we can say, you know, the words that are unsayable or whatever. You know I don't mean it, so I can say it.' There is kind of a liberal, like, douchiness about it, I think, in retrospect."
Arnett responded by agreeing with Silverman. However, he essentially blamed "everyone who is not liberal" for the cancel culture that exists today.
"Everyone who is not liberal is so serious and so dark and so real about their negativity or hate or racism, or whatever it is, that it's taken all of that away," Arnett said. "I don't even want to joke about a lot of things that are rough or maybe pushing boundaries because you feel like, 'I don't want it to be taken the wrong way because there are so many people who mean it.'
Anything else?
However, Silverman has not always been given a free pass. She admitted last year that she was fired from a movie role because of her infamous blackface skit.
"I recently was going to do a movie, a sweet part, then at 11 p.m. the night before they fired me because they saw a picture of me in blackface from that episode. I didn't fight it," Silverman said on "The Bill Simmons" podcast.


theblaze--2020-12-02--Obama blasts 'Defund the Police': You lose people when you use 'snappy' slogans like that

Obama blasts 'Defund the Police ' : You lose people when you use 'snappy ' slogans like that

Former President Barack Obama says that political candidates often lose support when casually throwing around terms like "defund the police" and should, perhaps, learn to meet voters and activists in the middle when it comes to police reform.
What are the details?
In an interview released on Wednesday, the former Democratic president told journalist and Vanity Fair contributor Peter Hamby for his podcast, Snapchat-hosted "Good Luck America," that politicians saying such things will likely sabotage their efforts to effect change.
During the interview, Hamby asked, "If you're a young activist today and you believe really passionately in a slogan, like Defund the Police, what is your advice to that activist? Knowing that a lot of politicians won't go near that phrase, even if the nuts and bolts of the idea might be popular."
Obama responded, "If you believe, as I do, that we should be able to reform the criminal justice system so that it's not biased and treats everybody fairly, I guess you can use a snappy slogan, like Defund the Police, but, you know, you lost a big audience the minute you say it, which makes it a lot less likely that you're actually going to get the changes you want done."
He continued, "But if you instead say, Hey, you know what? Let's reform the police department so that everybody's being treated fairly. And not just in policing, but in sentencing, how can we divert young people from getting into crime? And if there was a homeless guy, can maybe we send a mental health worker there instead of an armed unit that could end up resulting in a tragedy?"
"You know, suddenly a whole bunch of folks who might not otherwise listen to you are listening to you," the former president mused. "So the key is deciding, do you want to actually get something done, or do you want to feel good among the people you already agree with? And if you want to get something done in a democracy, in a country as big and diverse as ours, then you've got to be able to meet people where they are."
In speaking with Hamby — a press stop for his latest book, "A Promised Land" — Obama also said that President Donald Trump definitely rose in popularity with black males in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
"I think men generally are more susceptible to public figures who act tough, try to project a stereotypical macho style," he admitted. "I don't think black men are immune to that any more than white or Hispanic men are."
You can read a full transcript of the interview here.


theblaze--2020-12-02--Owner of NYC ‘autonomous zone’ bar taken away in handcuffs for defying COVID lockdown restrictions

Owner of NYC ‘ autonomous zone ’ bar taken away in handcuffs for defying COVID lockdown restrictions

The New York City Sheriff's Department raided a Staten Island bar Tuesday night, shutting down the business and arresting one of its owners after the bar continued regular operation despite coronavirus lockdown measures.
Mac's Public House — which last week took a defiant stand and declared itself an "autonomous zone" from Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's lockdown restrictions — had refused to abide by the state and city mandates that banned indoor dining in certain COVID-19 hot spots.
The bar is located inside an "orange zone," which, under the health guidelines, means that it is limited to offering outdoor dining and takeout and delivery services only.
According to Staten Island Advance, sheriff's department officers and officers from various other agencies descended on the tavern Tuesday night to shut it down for continually flouting the health guidelines. When Danny Presti, who co-owns the establishment with Keith McAlarney, wouldn't cooperate, he was taken away in handcuffs.
The situation reportedly started out calmly but soon devolved into chaos as dozens of angry supporters were on the premises at the time authorities were carrying out their orders.
In all, four summonses were issued to Presti's lawyer, and several more summonses were issued to the bar and its employees, WABC-TV reported. The bar had already been subjected to thousands of dollars in fines and had its state liquor license revoked in the days prior.
The New York Post added that "Presti is expected to be released from the sheriff's office with a desk appearance ticket" but noted that it's still unclear what charges he faces.
Republican state Sen. Andrew Lanza was also on the premises on Tuesday night attempting to calm supporters while demanding answers from law enforcement.
"This order simply says that they need to cease and desist," Lanza announced to a crowd of supporters. "Nowhere here is there an arrest warrant and nowhere here is anything about arresting anyone on their private property."
"So I'll ask, [and] you don't have to answer ... why was he arrested?" he said to the officers nearby. "I was told you would tell me why he was arrested and now I'm asking for that answer."
Mac's had been attempting to skirt lockdown restrictions and circumvent their licenses being revoked by offering food and beverages for free while asking patrons for donations.
Last week, the owners posted a sign outside their door which read:
!ATTENTION! We hereby declare this establishment an !!!AUTONOMOUS ZONE!!! We refuse to abide by any rules and regulations put forth by the Mayor of NYC and Governor of NY State.


theblaze--2020-12-03--COVID-positive couple arrested on reckless endangerment charges after boarding flight with 4-year-ol

COVID-positive couple arrested on reckless endangerment charges after boarding flight with 4-year-old son What is even happening here ?

Hawaii authorities arrested a COVID-19-positive couple after they boarded a flight with their 4-year-old child.
What are the details?
According to a Thursday night report from NBC News, police arrested Wesley Moribe and Courtney Peterson, who, authorities said, knew they were positive for coronavirus when they boarded a United Airlines flight from San Francisco, California, to Lihue, Hawaii.
A Kauai police spokesperson told the outlet, "[The couple] knowingly boarded a flight aware of their positive COVID-19 test results, placing the passengers of the flight in danger of death."
The spokesperson said that San Francisco International Airport officials instructed the couple — who live in Wailua, Hawaii — to self-isolate and avoid traveling, but Moribe and Peterson apparently refused.
People reported that California's pre-travel testing system determined that the couple was COVID-19 positive and alerted San Francisco International Airport officials, who took the family into a quarantine station at the airport.
At the time of this reporting, it does not appear that the quarantine station is affiliated with United Airlines.
Officials inside the quarantine station reportedly told them not to board the plane. The couple apparently boarded the plane anyway. United Airlines is working to investigate the incident, according to the outlet.
When Moribe and Peterson landed in Hawaii, police were present and escorted the family to a private isolation room for investigation.
Authorities later arrested the two on second-degree reckless endangerment charges and notified Child Protective Services. The couple posted a $1,000 bail. If convicted on the reckless endangerment charges, the couple could face up to one year in jail as well as a $2,000 fine.
A spokesperson for the Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center on Wednesday said that the state's health department received notice of the positive diagnosis before the couple attempted to travel.
"Rather than quarantining and contacting their health provider, they went on a plane," the spokesperson said in a statement on the incident.
In a news release obtained by CNN, Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck said, "We continue to request visitors and residents alike to follow the Governor's Emergency Rules and take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19."
United Airlines' website states, "Following CDC guidelines, you will not be able to travel on United for at least 10 days after the date you tested positive and only after you have two successive negative COVID-19 results that were administered at least 24 hours apart."
A spokesperson for the airline told NBC News that passenger safety is the airlines "highest priority."


theblaze--2020-12-03--Obama tells Democrats to focus on policy instead of squabbling over the word 'socialism,' but wants

Obama tells Democrats to focus on policy instead of squabbling over the word 'socialism,' but wants AOC to get more airtime

Obama tells Democrats to focus on policy instead of squabbling over the word 'socialism , ' but wants AOC to @ @ @ @ @ AOC and her friends lashed out at him

Former President Barack Obama opined that socialist Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) should get more exposure from the Democratic Party even as he warned them to focus less on using the word "socialism."
Obama made the comments during a interview with Vanity Fair contributor Peter Hamby released on Wednesday.
He was talking about the success of the Democratic National Committee when he appeared to criticize the party for not giving the firebrand socialist more airtime.
"The Democratic National Convention I thought was really successful considering the pandemic, and really used technology wisely," Obama claimed.
"But, you know, the fact that an AOC only got, what, three minutes or five minutes? When she speaks to a broad section of young people who are interested in what she has to say, even if they don't agree with everything she says?" he added.
"You give her a platform, just like there may be some other young Democrats who come from more conservative areas who have a different point of view," Obama continued. "New blood is always good. And I say that as somebody who used to be the young, shiny cool guy. But now is the gray-haired old grizzled vet."
In another part of the interview he explained why some Democrats were shying away from using the word "socialism" in their political platforms.
"Socialism is still a loaded term for a lot of folks," Obama said. "Once again, instead of talking labels and ideology, we should focus on talking about getting certain things done."
Ironically, Ocasio-Cortez and the other progressive members of the "squad" of congressional Democrats had lashed out at Obama and other Democrats who had cautioned against using far-left rhetoric that might scare voters away.
"The thing that critics of activists don't get is that they tried playing the 'polite language' policy game and all it did was make them easier to ignore," she said in a tweet.
"It wasn't until they made folks uncomfortable that there was traction to do ANYTHING even if it wasn't their full demands," she added.
Here's more about the 'squad' ripping on Obama:


theblaze--2020-12-03--Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks plans to challenge Electoral College votes in Congress

He says 'this election was stolen by the socialists engaging in extraordinary voter fraud and election theft measures '

Republican Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks said Wednesday that he is planning to challenge the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6 when Congress meets to certify the election for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
What are the details?
Brooks told Politico, who first reported the news, "In my judgment, if only lawful votes by eligible American citizens were cast, [President] Donald Trump won the Electoral College by a significant margin, and Congress's certification should reflect that."
He asserted, "This election was stolen by the socialists engaging in extraordinary voter fraud and election theft measures."
The outlet pointed out that at least one member from both the House and Senate would need to contest the results "in order to force deliberation on the matter." But even if Brooks finds an ally in the upper chamber to join in his cause, successfully overturning the election for Trump in Congress would be a tall order — particularly with Democrats in control of the House.
The Trump campaign has attempted to challenge the results of the election through litigation in dozens of suits in states across the nation. A number of Trump allies have also launched lawsuits challenging state results separate from the campaign, including Rep. Mike Kelley (R) of Pennsylvania, who has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after the state's high court threw out the order.
From Brooks' perspective, he says, "A lot of time is being wasted in court," and he argues that "the Supreme Court does not have the lawful authority to determine whether to accept or reject a state's Electoral College submissions."
"Under the United States Constitution and U.S. law, that is the job and duty of elected officials," he told Politico. "And so it's the United States Congress that is the final judge and jury of whether to accept or reject Electoral College submissions by states, and to elect who the president and vice president of the United States might be."
According to The Hill, Brooks "said he may still object to the vote if no others decide to join him, acknowledging it would serve as a symbolic protest rather than a forceful challenge to the election result."
Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute told the media Wednesday that even if at least one senator joins Brooks in challenging the Electoral College results, as he suspects could happen, "the likelihood of having a sizable number who would vote against a slate of electors making a difference in the outcome I think is extremely unlikely."


theblaze--2020-12-03--Trump legal team unleashes new lawsuit against Wisconsin election commission and 5 mayors

Trump legal team unleashes new lawsuit against Wisconsin election commission and 5 mayors The lawsuit says the election was `` @ @ @ @ @

The legal team representing President Donald Trump filed a new lawsuit against the Wisconsin Elections Commission, five Wisconsin mayors, and other election officials on Wednesday.
The lawsuit is the latest in the president's attempts to challenge and overturn the results from the 2020 presidential election due to alleged voter fraud.
Among the allegations are claims that five mayors from the largest cities in Wisconsin violated the state's election code when they instituted new ballot gathering measures.
A Plan by the Mayors of Wisconsin's five largest cities (Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha, Green Bay and Racine) and funded by an out-of-state organization known as the Center for Tech & Civic Life to implement a new form of balloting in Wisconsin using un-manned, absentee ballot drop boxes without adequate or uniform chain of custody standards and security protocols contrary to the Wisconsin Election Code.
The lawsuit also alleges that the Wisconsin Elections Commission helped count unlawful ballots.
Directives by the Wisconsin Elections Commission to election officials to tamper with witness certifications on absentee ballot envelopes which facilitated the counting of unlawful ballots in the election in violation of the Wisconsin Election Code.
Bill Bock, the lead counsel in the lawsuit, said that the acts resulted in an "unconstitutional and unlawful election."
The lawsuit asks for the federal court to send the matter to the Wisconsin Legislature, which would decide how to choose electors given the decision of the court.
Also on Wednesday, Rudy Giuliani, the president's attorney, spoke before the Michigan House Oversight Committee to testify about claims of wrongdoing in the presidential election. He said that he had evidence of "massive cheating, particularly on the part of the Democratic Party of Detroit."
On Monday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr said that the Department of Justice had looked into claims of large-scale voter fraud that changed the results of the election.
"To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election," Barr said.
Later a spokesperson for the Department of Justice appeared to walk back the statement, saying that the investigation into voter fraud was not completed nor was there a conclusion reached.
Here's a local news report about the claims of the Trump legal team:
Rudy Giuliani appears in front of Michigan House Oversight Committee www.youtube.com
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-12-04--Ted Cruz fires back at pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood for telling Republicans to boycott Georgia Senate

Ted Cruz fires back at pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood for telling Republicans to boycott Georgia Senate runoff election Cruz called @ @ @ @ @ and implied he was secretly a Democrat

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas fired back at the exhortation from pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood to Republicans to boycott the Senate runoff election in Georgia until officials change election security policies.
Wood and Sidney Powell, the attorney who represented Gen. Mike Flynn, called for voters to boycott the runoff election that would determine control of the U.S. Senate and could keep Democrats from seizing all three branches of government.
Cruz pushed back and called Wood a "clown" in a missive sent Thursday.
"I don't know who this clown is, but anyone saying America would be better off w/ Chuck Schumer as Majority Leader—producing huge tax increases, the Green New Deal, massive amnesty & a packed Supreme Court destroying the Bill of Rights—is trying to mislead the people of Georgia," tweeted Cruz.
He added in a second tweet, "it's almost as if...he's a Democrat."
Cruz linked to a video showing Wood preaching to a crowd in a rally in Atlanta on Wednesday and telling them that the Republican candidates for the Senate runoff elections had not earned their vote.
"Don't not be fooled twice, this is Georgia, we ain't dumb!" Wood said to loud applause.
He went on to demand that the candidates publicly and repeatedly call for a special session of the Georgia Legislature to address the accusations of voter fraud in the presidential election.
"They have not earned your vote. Don't you give it to them," he continued. "Why would you go back and vote in another rigged election for God's sake! Fix it! You gotta fix it before we'll do it again!"
Wood had gained notoriety for representing Nicholas Sandmann, the teenager who had been smeared by national news outlets publicizing a misleading video of his interaction with a liberal protester in Washington, D.C. He also took up the defense of Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who shot and killed two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after they attacked him during a protest.
Wood also said that he would sue the Biden campaign for a political advertisement video that implied Rittenhouse was a white supremacist.
Here's more about the crucial Georgia runoff elections:
Trump's legacy is 'on the chopping block' in Senate runoffs: Bill McGurn www.youtube.com
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-12-04--White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah resigns

Rumors are swirling over her next move

White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah announced her resignation on Thursday, issuing a statement expressing her pride in being a part of the accomplishments made by the Trump administration.
What are the details?
Farah, 31, entered the administration as press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence in 2017, then transferred to the same role at the Pentagon before returning to the White House to serve as communications director.
In a statement regarding her departure, Farah expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve her country. While she did not mention President Donald Trump directly in her statement, she did point to a litany of his achievements and said that working for his administration was "the honor of a lifetime."
"Under this Administration, the ISIS caliphate was destroyed, American hostages were returned home, NATO is stronger than ever, we've brokered historic Middle East peace deals, and I was on the ground in Kabul for the announcement of a historic peace deal between the Afghan Government and the Taliban aimed at ending America's war," she wrote.
"We delivered historic tax cuts, putting money back into the pockets of hard working Americans," Farah continued. "We rebuilt the judiciary with Constitution abiding independent jurists and we worked to create the most inclusive economy in American history - that gives every citizen a real chance to achieve the American dream."
What's next?
Farah said she was leaving to "pursue new opportunities," and the news is buzzing over where she might end up next.
One America News Network's Alex Salvi reported that "Farah has been interviewing with agents, pursuing a television job after her White House departure."
According to The Washington Post:
Farah's last day is on Friday, and she plans to start a consulting firm focusing on the corporate, political and defense realms. She had initially planned to leave before the election, according to one person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal private discussions.
Prior to joining the Trump administration, Farah worked as an aide on Capitol Hill, first as communications director for former Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) — who is now White House chief of staff — before serving as spokesperson for the House Freedom Caucus.


theblaze--2020-12-03--Breaking: Department of Justice announces lawsuit against Facebook

The lawsuit alleges that Facebook discriminated against U.S. workers

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday against social media behemoth Facebook for allegedly discriminating against U.S. workers.
The DOJ released a statement about the lawsuit detailing the charges against the company, which they claimed had favored foreign workers in order to avoid paying higher wages to U.S. workers.
"The Department of Justice's lawsuit alleges that Facebook engaged in intentional and widespread violations of the law, by setting aside positions for temporary visa holders instead of considering interested and qualified U.S. workers," said Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division.
The DOJ said the lawsuit was the result of a two-year investigation into hiring practices at the company.
The lawsuit alleges that Facebook violated Department of Labor regulations that requires companies to seek qualified and available U.S. workers before hiring foreign workers through temporary visa applications.
"Our message to all employers — including those in the technology sector — is clear," continued Dreiband, "you cannot illegally prefer to recruit, consider, or hire temporary visa holders over U.S. workers."
The DOJ is seeking back pay for the U.S. workers what were denied employment as well as civil penalties.
Many critics on the right have accused Facebook and other social media companies of being biased in favor of liberal political causes and have called on the administration to take whatever steps they can to curb the ideological censorship.
President Donald Trump amplified the accusations from his Twitter account before the election.
"Facebook, Google and Twitter, not to mention the Corrupt Media, are sooo on the side of the Radical Left Democrats. But fear not, we will win anyway, just like we did before!" he tweeted in 2019.
Facebook released a brief email statement to ABC News about the lawsuit.
"Facebook has been cooperating with the DOJ in its review of this issue and while we dispute the allegations in the complaint, we cannot comment further on pending litigation," the statement read.
Here's more about the lawsuit against Facebook:


theblaze--2020-12-03--Supreme Court delivers blow to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's lockdown orders against churches

A loss for Newsom and a win for religion

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday sided against California Gov. Gavin Newsom's restrictions on indoor religious services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supreme Court tossed out a decision from a Central District of California court that upheld Newsom's constraints on houses of worship.
"The September 2 order of the United States District Court for the Central District of California is vacated, and the case is remanded to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit with instructions to remand to the District Court for further consideration in light of Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo," the Supreme Court stated, according to Fox News.
The justices, with no noted dissents, vacated the District Court ruling against the Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry, which has several campuses and more than 160 churches across California. The Harvest Rock Church initially filed a lawsuit against the state in July when restrictions were implemented following a surge in coronavirus cases. The restrictions banned indoor singing and chanting activities.
The Supreme Court referenced its recent 5-4 ruling against restrictions on prayer services in New York. The Nov. 25 ruling that said New York could not enforce limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in coronavirus hot spots, which upset Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The Democratic governor of New York then accused the Supreme Court justices of politicizing COVID-19.
California currently has a color-coded tier program that imposes certain restrictions in each county based on the number of COVID-19 cases. If the county has what the state considers "widespread" coronavirus cases, then "many non-essential indoor business operations are closed." In lesser tiers of the system, "some indoor business operations are open with modifications."
The church claims they are protected under the First Amendment to practice their religion, adding that the Democratic governor's order is illegal because it restrains the size of religious gatherings, but other secular activities do not face the same restrictions.
"For the governor, COVID-19 restrictions are apparently optional and penalty free," lawyers for the church argued. "But for Churches or anyone worshipping in their own home with someone who does not live there, COVID-19 restrictions are mandatory and enforced via criminal penalties."
Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver issued a statement, "The handwriting is now on the wall. The final days of Governor Gavin Newsom's 'color-coded edicts' banning worship are numbered and coming to an end. It is past time to end the unconstitutional restrictions on places of worship."


theblaze--2020-12-03--'If the Senate goes, this COUNTRY goes': Lifelong Democrat Vernon Jones issues powerful warning for

'If the Senate goes, this COUNTRY goes': Lifelong Democrat Vernon Jones issues powerful warning for Republicans

'If the Senate goes , this COUNTRY goes ' : Lifelong Democrat Vernon Jones issues powerful warning for Republicans 'We @ @ @ @ @ best for this country '

"Lifelong Democrat" and Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones says it's crucial that Republicans win Georgia's two Senate seats if we want America as we know it to continue.
"If the Senate goes, this country goes," he told Glenn Beck on the radio program Wednesday.
Jones explained why he believes Georgia is the last line in the fight for freedom and issued an urgent warning to Republicans about the importance of maintaining a balance of power in Washington, D.C.
"I believe with all my might that we understand, here in Georgia, that we have to do what's best for this country," he said. "And I'm surprised that Republicans, the Republican leadership throughout Georgia, hasn't stood up taller and stronger in an effort to make sure that we ... help Senator Perdue (R) and Senator Loeffler (R) get re-elected, so there will be a balance of power in Washington, D.C. Or else this country will be destroyed over the next four years."
Vernon also shared a powerful message about party politics. "I didn't leave my party; my party left me," he told Glenn.
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
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theblaze--2020-12-03--Report: Donald Trump Jr. could challenge Wayne LaPierre for leadership of the NRA

Report : Donald Trump Jr. could challenge Wayne LaPierre for leadership of the NRA

Donald Trump Jr. is reportedly being talked about to challenge National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre for control of the Second Amendment advocacy organization, according to Business Insider.
President Donald Trump's eldest son, who has previously been rumored as a potential Republican candidate for various offices, was name dropped by sources reported to be Trump advisers who spoke to Business Insider about the Trump family's political future. They say Trump Jr. is eyeing the executive vice president position at the NRA as other members of his family look to position themselves in media and politics to have lasting influence on the Republican Party.
"They're looking for a franchise for Trump Jr.," a GOP source reportedly said of Trumpworld's plans.
The president's son is an avid hunter and has previously appeared at high-profile events for the NRA. On several occasions, Trump Jr. has posted about gun rights on social media, accusing Democrats of wanting "to take away your Second Amendment rights."
However, another Republican source told BI that Trump Jr. was not interested in involving himself with the NRA as the organization in recent years has been plagued by infighting. Current and former NRA executives have been accused of using money donated to the non-profit group to enrich themselves and the NRA is under investigation by the New York attorney general's office.
"Don is just not getting involved in that pissing match," the source said.
Even if Trump Jr. indeed wants the job, NRA leadership is selected by the organization's board, which according to one of the Republicans who spoke to BI is currently filled with people loyal to LaPierre.
Other members of the Trump family are reportedly seeking ways to stay relevant in politics after President Trump completes his term.
The president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who is married to Donald Jr.'s younger brother Eric, is mulling a bid for Senate in her home state of North Carolina when Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) retires in 2022.
Meanwhile, the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner has reportedly pitched the creation of a Trump media outlet, BI reports.
Of course, the biggest question looming over the Trump family's political future is whether the president will attempt to run for a second term in 2024. Multiple reports have suggested that the president could announce a 2024 campaign as early as the week former Vice President Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the next president.
"He's serious about it," said one of BI's Republican sources.
However, speaking to reporters Wednesday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that for the time being, the Trump campaign remains focused on litigating the 2020 election, not planning for 2024.


theblaze--2020-12-03--Joe Biden says Dr. Fauci will stay on as head of the coronavirus task force

Joe Biden says Dr. Fauci will stay on as head of the coronavirus task force Fauci will continue to head @ @ @ @ @ policies

Former Vice President Joe Biden said that he would keep Dr. Anthony Fauci as the head of his coronavirus task force team in order to seek his advice on the government's coronavirus response.
Fauci, who has been the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 36 years, also headed the coronavirus task force for President Donald Trump.
On Thursday, Biden told Jake Tapper on his CNN show that he was going to keep Fauci in the position.
"Speaking of Fauci, have you spoken to him yet? If so, have you asked him to stay on?" asked Tapper.
"Yes and yes," responded Biden.
"Yes and yes? Tell me more about the conversation. Has he said what more needs to be done, from his point of view?" asked Tapper.
"Well look, my chief of staff has worked with him in the last crisis. He's been talking to him all the time, Ron Klain. I talked to him today, spoke to him, three o'clock," said Biden.
"My COVID team met with him. I asked him to stay on in the exact same role he has had for the past several presidents. And I asked him to be chief medical adviser for me as well, and be part of the COVID team," he added.
Biden went on to say that it was important to communicate to the American people when it's safe to reopen based on the expert opinion of Dr. Fauci.
Fauci has been one of the greater advocates for mandating face mask requirements and social distancing in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic. He has also rejected the alternative theory of "herd immunity" supported by many of his critics, saying that the policy would lead to an "enormous" death toll.
He has been chosen as one of People magazine's "2020 people of the year," and said in an interview with the magazine that he and his family have faced threats of violence of the public displeasure with the lockdowns.
Here's the video of Biden talking about Fauci:
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-12-03--Joe Biden's education lead praised communist China's 'magical' school system

Would you look at that

The education lead for Democratic nominee Joe Biden's transition team has a history of speaking fondly of the Chinese Communist Party's school system.
Linda Darling-Hammond, a Stanford University professor who currently serves as the president of the California State Board of Education, once praised the state-run education system for its "magical work" in forging a unified and strong teacher-government presence in student life, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
She made the argument in her 2017 book, titled, "Empowered Educators: How High-Performing Systems Shape Teaching Quality Around the World," in which she also commended China for greatly increasing its public funding of education.
"Teachers in China are revered as elders, role models, and those whom parents entrust to shape the future of their children," she wrote. "In the Tao traditions of ritual, the phrase 'heaven-earth-sovereign-parent-teacher' is repeated and becomes ingrained in how people see themselves holistically governed and supported."
The Post Millennial notes that "sovereign" refers to the leader of a nation, which for China is President Xi Jinping.
Despite Darling-Hammond's tranquil and joyous description of a safe learning environment, Xi and Communist Party leaders exercise ham-fisted authority over the country's educational institutions. Reuters reported that state-sponsored agents are regularly sent into classrooms to supervise and crack down on the dissemination of "western values" or any other "improper" remarks.
Xi has declared that China's systems of higher education must "serve the Communist Party in its management of the country," and "adherence to the Party's leadership is essential to the development of higher education in the country."
Anyone who does not adhere to the Communist Party's leadership is subject to swift punishment. In 2013, a Chinese economist who openly criticized the party was removed from his position at Peking University, a major research institution in Beijing.
According to Reuters, "a year later, the university, once a bastion of free speech in China, established a 24-hour system to monitor public opinion on the internet."
However, Darling-Hammond pays no mind to China's hostile educational environment or the fact that government severely discriminates against the country's less wealthy and well-connected students, leading to 60% of rural students dropping out before even reaching high school.
Darling-Hammond also helped oversee Obama's education transition team for the Department of Education that's intended to ensure a smooth handoff from President Trump's administration.
Darling-Hammond has long been considered a top prospect for Biden's Secretary of Education, but she removed herself from consideration earlier this month, vowing that she is committed to staying in California and working with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to achieve their goals in the state.
(H/T: Washington Free Beacon)


theblaze--2020-12-03--Popular Los Angeles lifestyle boutique goes viral for mercilessly mocking Democrats, leftist celebri

Popular Los Angeles lifestyle boutique goes viral for mercilessly mocking Democrats, leftist celebrities over hypocrisy and more

Popular Los Angeles lifestyle boutique goes viral for mercilessly mocking Democrats , leftist celebrities over hypocrisy and more

Los Angeles' premier "lifestyle boutique," Kitson, is going viral for blasting Democratic lawmakers and leftist celebrities with a massive display across their storefront.
What are the details?
One of the L.A.-based stores hung a variety of posters in their front windows depicting their "People of the Year," which includes Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Hunter Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, actress and activist Alyssa Milano, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and more.
Each person has their own picture plastered across the storefront with remarks on their conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Eric Garcetti
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
"I will turn off your power if you don't obey. Target, Costco, Walmart, etc. can sell nonessential items, but small businesses are forbidden."
The remark is a reference to Garcetti's threat in August to shut off utilities to homes and businesses with unauthorized gatherings.
Hunter Biden
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
"[W]here is my laptop my China deal is on it. Don't forget 10% for the big guy!"
The remark is a reference to a laptop hard drive that purportedly belongs to Hunter and allegedly contains information about purported international business dealings with his father, former Vice President Joe Biden, and Ukraine.
Dr. Anthony Fauci
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
"Masks are not needed ... they don't help! ... Wear a mask! Bill Gates is my BFF. Wear a mask, don't wear a mask, wear a mask, don't wear a mask."
The remarks are a reference to Fauci's apparent mask flip-flop, which took place between March and May.
Alyssa Milano (wearing a #DefundThePolice shirt)
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
"David call 911 there is a squirrel in our backyard."
The remark is a reference to "Defund the Police" and Black Lives Matter activist Alyssa Milano's family calling the police in September for what they believed to be an armed man in their backyard. It turned out to be a teen hunting squirrels.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
"I demand a better table at the French Laundry Restaurant and I want to be seated inside with my 22 friends!"
The remarks are referring to Newsom's tone-deaf attendance at a crowded, indoor dinner party on Nov. 6 at a posh, Napa-area restaurant.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Image source: Twitter video screenshot
"Rules for thee not for me!"
The remark is a reference to a mask-less Pelosi breaking quarantine to get a salon blowout on Aug. 31 at a San Francisco hair salon.
BlazeTV's Dave Rubin shared video of the storefront on Thursday, and captioned it, "Holy cow this is absolutely spectacular. Kitsons [sic] in Los Angeles. We The People are fighting back!"
At the time of this reporting, the video has been viewed more than 259,000 times.
You can see the rest of Kitson's "People of the Year" in the video below.
(H/T: The Daily Wire)


theblaze--2020-12-03--Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to hear Trump campaign election lawsuit — for now

Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to hear Trump campaign election lawsuit — for now The divided panel determined the matter should @ @ @ @ @ lower court

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Thursday declined to take up one of the lawsuits filed in the state by the Trump campaign earlier in the week, determining in a 4-3 decision that the petition seeking to toss out more than 220,000 absentee ballots should be heard by a lower court.
What are the details?
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and their re-election campaign sued Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) and several election officials in the state, presenting what the campaign called "clear evidence of unlawfulness" that is says "affected no less than approximately 221,000 ballots out of over the three three million ballots cast."
But the majority of the state's highest court agreed that under Wisconsin law, the case should first be seen by a circuit court.
The Washington Post reported that "one conservative member of the panel, Brian Hagedorn, joined the court's three more liberal members in declining to take the case," writing "that he had determined the court should decline to take the case so the Trump campaign could 'promptly exercise' its right to seek action in a lower court."
Courthouse News noted that "the other three members of the court's conservative majority dissented."
The outlet reported:
Grassl Bradley, an appointee of Republican former Governor Scott Walker, wrote that "the majority takes a pass on resolving the important questions presented by the petitioners in this case, thereby undermining the public's confidence in the integrity of Wisconsin's electoral processes not only during this election, but in every future election."
In reaction to the court's narrow decision, Trump campaign attorney James Troupis said in a statement, "We welcome the direction of the Supreme Court to file in Dane and Milwaukee Counties as we pursue making certain that only legal votes count in Wisconsin — and we will immediately do so."
He added, "It was clear from their writings that the court recognizes the seriousness of these issues, and we look forward to taking the next step. We fully expect to be back in front of the Supreme Court very soon."
Anything else?
The Trump/Pence campaign has filed dozens of lawsuits nationwide, alleging widespread voting fraud and irregularities in several states in challenging Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as the projected winner. The Hill noted that their litigation attempts "have largely proved unsuccessful."
On Wednesday, the campaign filed another lawsuit in Wisconsin (in district court) against the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the mayors of the state's five largest cities: Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha, Green Bay and Racine.
The official Wisconsin tally indicates Biden won the state by more than 20,000 votes.


theblaze--2020-12-03--Kyle Rittenhouse to stand trial on all 6 counts related to fatal Kenosha shooting

Kyle Rittenhouse to stand trial on all 6 counts related to fatal Kenosha shooting Rittenhouse 's attorney attempted to get @ @ @ @ @ week

A judge ruled that Kyle Rittenhouse is to stand trial in the fatal shooting of two men and wounding of a third man in August during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Rittenhouse appeared with his attorney in a Kenosha County preliminary hearing via video conference. Thursday's ruling said that Rittenhouse would stand trial on all six counts, despite his defense attorney requesting the court to dismiss two of the six counts earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Rittenhouse's attorney, Mark Richards, filed a motion to dismiss two charges. Richards claimed that a misdemeanor count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 isn't supported by the law.
Richards also attempted to get the court to dismiss the felony count of recklessly endangering the public's safety by using a dangerous weapon. Richards believed the state offered no proof to substantiate that charge. Neither of the charges were dismissed by the judge.
The 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, was released from jail last month after his $2 million bail was paid. The bail was raised by the Fight Back Foundation, which is co-founded by Rittenhouse attorney Lin Wood.
Wood posted a photo of his client standing alongside former actor Ricky Schroder. The release of Rittenhouse spurred a backlash against Schroder by liberals.
Rittenhouse is charged with homicide for fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber. The teen is also charged with felony attempted homicide charge for severely wounding Gaige Grosskreutz. Rittenhouse is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon while under the age of 18, which is a misdemeanor.
Rittenhouse's legal team argues that their client acted in self-defense.
In a statement given in August, Rittenhouse's legal team said, "Kyle did nothing wrong. He exercised his God-given, Constitutional, common law and statutory law right to self-defense."
In a Washington Post interview last month, Rittenhouse said he doesn't regret bringing a gun to the riots on the night of Aug. 25.
"No, I don't regret it. I feel I had to protect myself," Rittenhouse said from the juvenile detention center where he was being held. "I would have died that night if I didn't.
"I was going into a place where people had guns, and God forbid somebody brought a gun to me and decided to shoot me. ... I wanted to be protected, which, I ended up having to protect myself," Rittenhouse stated.
In early November, the 19-year-old man who reportedly provided Rittenhouse with a firearm was charged. Dominick Black was charged with two counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to someone under 18, resulting in death, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Black allegedly told investigators that he had purchased the Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle for Rittenhouse in April.
Rittenhouse will be arraigned on Jan. 5 in Kenosha County Circuit Court.


theblaze--2020-12-03--Comedian John Mulaney says Secret Service investigated him over a joke he told on 'SNL'

Comedian John Mulaney says Secret Service investigated him over a joke he told on 'SNL' They do n't find jokes @ @ @ @ @ be funny

Comedian John Mulaney hosted "Saturday Night Live" on Feb. 29 and made a joke alluding to the killing of the president — though without mentioning the president himself or the office of the president.
As a result of the joke, Mulaney revealed this week that the U.S. Secret Service opened a file on him and investigated his comments.
What happened?
Mulaney told Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday's episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" that a joke he told on "SNL" on Feb. 29 got him a call from the Secret Service.
The joke, he said, was not about Trump but about leap year and the murder of "powerful maniac" Julius Caesar at the hands of the Roman Senate.
What was the joke? From Mulaney's Feb. 29 appearance on "SNL" (emphasis added):
Leap year began in the year 45 B.C. under Julius Caesar — this is true. He started the leap year in order to correct the calendar, and we still do it to this day.
Another thing that happened under Julius Caesar was he was such a powerful maniac that all the senators grabbed knives, and they stabbed him to death.
That would be an interesting thing if we brought that back now.
For a joke that he now says wasn't about the president, it is worth noting he followed the punchline with, "I asked my lawyer if I could make that joke, and he said, 'Let me call another lawyer.' And that lawyer said yes."
John Mulaney Monologue - SNL youtu.be
Mulaney repeated the joke to Kimmel, but told it slightly (yet significantly) differently from how he told it on "SNL."
"In February, I did a joke that was not about Donald Trump," Mulaney said on Kimmel's show. "The joke was about how it was a leap year and leap year was started by Julius Cesar to correct the calendar. And another thing that happened with Caesar was that he was stabbed to death by a bunch of senators because he went crazy. And I said that's an interesting thing that could happen" (emphasis added).
Afterward, he said, the Secret Service "opened a file" on him over the joke.
According to Mulaney, "The person vetting me ... was very understanding that the joke had nothing to do with Donald Trump — it was an elliptical reference to him. I didn't say anything about him."
He added, "They were very nice in the interview. In terms of risk assessment, no one who's ever looked at me has thought I registered above a one."
Despite his claim that the joke was not about the president, Mulaney told Kimmel that part of his explanation to the Secret Service to defend himself was that he had been making jokes about Trump for a long time.
"I said I have been making jokes about him since 2007, so I have been making fun of him for 13 years," Mulaney said. "They said, OK, if it's a joke, then I am cleared by the Secret Service."


theblaze--2020-12-03--Steven Crowder: 'Why don't you just do an audit? ... You do it and this all goes away'

Steven Crowder : 'Why do n't you just do an audit ?
... You do it and this all goes @ @

A hearing was held by the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee on Wednesday to hear the sworn eyewitness testimony of concerned election poll workers.
In this clip, Steven Crowder reacted to footage from the hearing that featured testimony from concerned Michigan poll workers. Witnesses alleged an array of odd happenings that occurred on election night. Download the full episode here.
Crowder said the allegations should be viewed with a skeptical mind. He later added the issue of voting irregularities would be resolved with a simple audit.
"Why don't you just do an audit?" Crowder asked. "You do it and this all goes away."
Watch the clip for the full story.
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theblaze--2020-12-03--Liberal pastor: Christmas is about a woman leading a 'revolution of re-organizing the structures of

Liberal pastor: Christmas is about a woman leading a 'revolution of re-organizing the structures of societal power'

Liberal pastor : Christmas is about a woman leading a 'revolution of re-organizing the structures of societal power '

A liberal theologian was hit with backlash online after suggesting that Christmas — the time of year when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world — is actually about feminist empowerment.
What happened?
United Church of Christ Rev. Jes Kast posted on Twitter this week: "Christmas season is about God choosing a woman to lead a revolution of re-organizing the structures of societal power by her leadership, tenderness, and faith."
When one commenter asked, "Not about her son, then?"
Kast responded by saying, "Read Luke 1. It begins with the 'yes' from Mary. Without her, there would be no savior. It begins with Mary and the Holy Spirit."
Another user replied to Kast's post, saying, "Apparently gender-identity politics > Scripture."
Kast again shot back, saying, "Read Scripture. This is Luke 1. I hope people take the Bible seriously this Christmas."
It's true that Mary's obedience and faith were integral in bringing about the historical birth of Jesus, which is why Mary has been celebrated by Christians since the dawn of the church. But Kast seems to want to make God's decision to use Mary greater than his cosmic plan to redeem sinners.
One needs only to start in Luke 1 and continue reading to discover this to be the primary point of the Jesus' birth.
BlazeTV host Steve Deace summed up the situation, suggesting that lies like the one Kast is believing are why Jesus needed to come to earth.
While several other commenters poked fun at Kast and joked sarcastically, one user chimed in on a more sober note, writing, "In all seriousness, readers, this is a dangerous blasphemy on the sovereignty of God and the singularity of Christ as Savior. Even Mary called herself the servant of the Lord."
Anything else?
While Kast's theological assertion caused a stir on social media, it is not necessarily a surprise given her denominational affiliation. Kast is a pastor for the United Church of Christ, a progressive mainline denomination that has embraced a number of beliefs and practices outside of mainstream Christianity.
According to the 2011 statement from a denomination spokesman, the church has committed to "using inclusive and expansive imagery for God" and thus "no longer use exclusively male language to refer to God."
The denomination's Twitter bio reads: "United in Spirit and inspired by God's grace, we accept all, love all, and seek justice for all. We are the United Church of Christ."
In a follow-up post on Twitter, Kast rebuked those who criticized her original post, arguing the "vitriol provoked ... illustrates a pervasive lack of respect of opinions and bodies of women."


theblaze--2020-12-03--Navy SEAL rips Georgia Senate candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock for mocking churchgoers who want to car

Navy SEAL rips Georgia Senate candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock for mocking churchgoers who want to carry guns in church

Navy SEAL rips Georgia Senate candidate Rev .
Raphael Warnock for mocking churchgoers who want to carry guns in church

Eli Crane, a former Navy SEAL, blasted controversial Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock on Wednesday after Warnock mocked Christians who want to carry guns in church for self-defense purposes.
What's a brief history here?
Warnock in 2014 mocked parishioners over their desire to carry guns in church ahead of the implementation of the Safe Carry Protection Act, which allowed residents with concealed carry licenses to carry in places like churches.
In late November, the National Rifle Association resurfaced Warnock's remarks in a now-viral video condemning the reverend's sentiments.
What are the details of the video?
In the video, released on Wednesday, Crane said that even though he is retired, he will never stop fighting for the United States — which includes standing up against those who might trample on God-given rights.
"I just can't sit by and watch it any more," Crane said. "That's why when I hear these guys, these wannabe leaders and politicians like Raphael Warnock, in a sermon no less, making fun of Christians who want to carry a firearm into church, serving a party talking about defunding the police. I mean, it's like these guys could care less about 'We the people,' you and me."
"I can't stand to listen to their divisive rhetoric or their policies that destroy prosperity, our freedoms, our liberties, and our ability to protect ourselves," Crane added.
He concluded, "Here's the deal. For all of you Georgians out there, and for every American: We are losing this country every single day, one little cut at a time. And we will continue to lose it, it will continue to get worse, these lockdowns, these curfews, these quarantines, you'll see more and more of it as your freedoms and liberties are stripped away from you if you don't get involved and get engaged in this fight. Our kids deserve it, future generations deserve it, and we must demand leaders that actually have a backbone, are moral individuals, and who care about 'We the people.' We must reject these individuals that are trying to destroy the United States of America. And this guy, I'm telling you ... he is bad news."
The NRA shared video of Crane's remarks and captioned it, "Watch NRA member and Navy Seal @EliCrane_CEO OBLITERATE Democrat @ReverendWarnock for mocking churchgoers who carry firearms to protect themselves. 'We must reject these individuals who are trying to destroy the United States of America.'"


theblaze--2020-12-03--Tulsi Gabbard backs Trump veto threat on defense bill over Section 230's Big Tech protections

Trump wants Congress to reform Big Tech protections before he signs the National Defense Authorization Act

President Donald Trump on Wednesday gained unexpected support from a former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate after he criticized Section 230's protections for Big Tech companies.
Trump on Tuesday threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, a bill to authorize defense spending, demanding that Congress first reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The law protects web publishers from being sued for content posted on their platforms by third parties.
"Section 230, which is a liability shielding gift from the U.S. to 'Big Tech' (the only companies in America that have it — corporate welfare!), is a serious threat to our National Security & Election Integrity. Our Country can never be safe & secure if we allow it to stand," Trump tweeted.
"Therefore, if the very dangerous & unfair Section 230 is not completely terminated as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I will be forced to unequivocally VETO the Bill when sent to the very beautiful Resolute desk. Take back America NOW. Thank you!"
Retiring Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), a frequent critic of the president, expressed her full support for Trump's veto threat.
"Please don't back down. The freedom and future of our country is at stake," Gabbard tweeted.
The rest of Congress, for the most part, is intent on brushing aside Trump's veto threat.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said that while he agrees with the president on the need to reform Section 230, it "has nothing to do with the military" or appropriations for the armed forces.
"You can't do it in this bill. That's not a part of the bill," Inhofe said, according to Politico.
"I would hope that he would not actually follow through with that because the NDAA is critical," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said of Trump's veto threat.
"At this last minute, this sudden threat on an item that's not even part of a defense bill. … I don't think we could do it in a thoughtful, logical way at all," said Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.
He suggested the president's veto threat "seems to be more out of spite than anything else."
Politico reported that the House of Representatives will soon advance a compromise defense bill that resolves differences between the House and Senate versions of the NDAA, known as a conference report. The conference report leaves Section 230 unaltered.
President Trump does have some Republican support for vetoing the NDAA. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) will not support the bill because of legislative language about U.S. military bases named for Confederate soldiers. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he supports Trump "using all the leverage he can" to reform Section 230.
But Republican leadership remains opposed to tying Big Tech legislation to defense spending.
"I don't think the defense bill is the place to litigate that," said Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican. "There will be enormous support for getting the defense authorization bill passed and hopefully signed into law."


theblaze--2020-12-03--Former Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton say they're willing to get COVID-19 vaccine — and maybe even

Former Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton say they're willing to get COVID-19 vaccine — and maybe even on camera

Former Presidents Obama , Bush , Clinton say they 're willing to get COVID-19 vaccine — and maybe even on @ @ @ @ @ get vaccinated to prove to the public that it 's safe and effective

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton said they are willing to receive a coronavirus vaccine in order to prove to the public that it's safe and effective — and perhaps even get the injections on camera.
What are the details?
Bush's chief of staff Freddy Ford told CNN that Bush reached out to Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx — the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the White House coronavirus response coordinator, respectively — to see how he could help promote the vaccine.
"A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated," Ford told the cable network. "First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera."
Clinton's press secretary told CNN Wednesday that he also is willing to take the vaccine in public.
"President Clinton will definitely take a vaccine as soon as available to him, based on the priorities determined by public health officials," Angel Ureña said. "And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same."
Obama said in an interview with SiriusXM that if he would take a vaccine if Fauci determined it was safe and effective.
"People like Anthony Fauci — who I know and I've worked with — I trust completely," Obama said. "So, if Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe, and can ... immunize you from getting COVID, absolutely I'm gonna to take it."
Speaking of Fauci, he also said he's willing to get vaccinated on camera. Speaking Thursday on Major Garrett's CBS podcast "The Takeout," Fauci said he planned to be inoculated on camera in order to lessen public anxieties about the vaccine's safety, Forbes noted.
USA Today reported that reluctance to get vaccinated is especially high within communities of color, with Black Americans expressing the most doubts in polls regarding taking vaccines. And Obama said he's aware of that.
"And I understand ... historically -- everything dating back all the way to the Tuskegee experiments and so forth -- why the African American community would have some skepticism," he said. "But the fact of the matter is ... vaccines are why we don't have polio anymore, the reason why we don't have a whole bunch of kids dying from measles and smallpox and diseases that used to decimate entire populations and communities."
Obama added that he also may take the injection on camera.
"I promise you that when it's been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it," he said. "And I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science, and what I don't trust is getting COVID."
More from USA Today:
A November Gallup poll found 58% of Americans are willing to receive a coronavirus vaccine, an increase from early in the year when hesitancy about vaccines was widespread.
Public health experts say at least 60% to 70% of the population needs to take a vaccine to achieve "herd immunity," a public health term for when a critical mass of the public is inoculated against a given infectious disease.
Anything else?
"Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, said today that they are in full support of COVID-19 vaccine efforts and encourage everyone who is eligible to get immunized as soon as it becomes available in their communities," the Carter Center said in a Thursday statement.
CNN said the Carter Center media team has not responded to its question regarding whether the former president would get vaccinated publicly.


theblaze--2020-12-03--'It's time to cancel everything': Left-wing LA mayor talks even tougher about COVID-19 lockdown — th

'It's time to cancel everything': Left-wing LA mayor talks even tougher about COVID-19 lockdown — then gets smacked right back

'It 's time to cancel everything ' : Left-wing LA mayor talks even tougher about COVID-19 lockdown — then gets @ @ @

Left-wing Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti hit his constituents with even tougher talk about his coronavirus lockdown orders late Wednesday night, even going so far as to say "it's time to cancel everything."
But if the livid reactions to his Twitter video are any indication, it would appear Garcetti doesn't have a lot of support.
What are the details?
While the city revised its "Targeted Safer at Home Order" late Wednesday, KABC-TV reported that it matches what Los Angeles County issued last week and that there are no additional restrictions.
But L.A.'s order comes with more extreme language than before, the station said.
Thousands of city residents received a text message with a link to the city's new emergency order that contains the line "all persons living within the City of Los Angeles are hereby ordered to remain in their homes," KABC reported, adding that the text message caused a stir and sparked confusion over its meaning.
However, the order includes numerous exceptions, such as buying food, obtaining medical care, and traveling to use other essential businesses, such as car repair shops, the station said. Film production and fitness centers that operate outdoors are allowed to remain open, KABC added.
But Garcetti's video doesn't say any of that. In fact, his words in the clip of 23 seconds — if that's all anyone within the city limits saw — sound quite extreme: "My message couldn't be simpler. It's time to hunker down. It's time to cancel everything. And if it isn't essential, don't do it. Don't meet up with others outside your household. Don't host a gathering. Don't attend a gathering. And following our targeted Safer at Home order, if you're able to stay home, stay home."
L.A. County reported another 5,987 coronavirus cases Wednesday, one day after reporting a record-high 7,593 new cases, KABC said, adding that county officials said hospitalizations are putting a growing strain on the region's health care system.
"If cases continue on this pathway, if they continue to increase at the pace that we've seen, the county expects we will run out of hospital beds here in Los Angeles by Christmastime," Garcetti also said, according to the station.
He added that violating the order is a misdemeanor, subject to fines and imprisonment, KABC reported, adding that Garcetti also asked police and the city attorney's office to enforce it. Home utilities also can be shut off for violations, the station added.
What was the reaction?
Reactions on Twitter to Garcetti's "cancel everything" video were overwhelmingly hostile:
"Good idea," one commenter quipped back. "You're canceled."
"Open the city," another user wrote. "Open the city now!"
"Spoken like a true communist," another commenter said.
"You and every other Democrat should be howling at Democrats in Washington to get people money to stay the f*** home," another user declared. "The pressure for them to give a significant, sustained and continuing *all cash stimulus* direct to everyone should be coming from you and [California Gov.] Gavin [Newsom]."
Even former "American Idol" finalist Danny Gokey joined the fray: "You're an absolute fool! The recovery rate of Covid is about 99.95%; over 38 million people have recovered from this. Domestic abuse, child abuse, suicide cases all have skyrocketed to an almost 1000% increase. Children that depend on meals at school now can't get it. Foolish!!!"
Anything else?
Garcetti's coronavirus responses have made numerous headlines — and not all of them positive:


theblaze--2020-12-03--11-year-old boy shoots self in the head during live Zoom instruction. School support director notes

11-year-old boy shoots self in the head during live Zoom instruction. School support director notes noticeable uptick in depressed, anxious students.

11-year-old boy shoots self in the head during live Zoom instruction .
School support director notes noticeable uptick in depressed @ @ @ @

Authorities say a sixth-grade student shot himself in the head during a Zoom distance learning conference, according to KCRA-TV.
A spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the incident took place Wednesday in a news release shared to its Facebook page.
What are the details?
Officials reported that the victim — an 11-year-old boy — died at a nearby hospital after suffering self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head while he was attending Zoom instruction. KOVR-TV reported that the child had his microphone and camera turned off when the shooting took place.
The outlet noted that the child's sister, attending her own Zoom conference in another room in the house, discovered the horrific scene and alerted her neighbor and teacher.
Deputies arrived on the scene in Woodbridge, California, to find the child with a head injury. Neighbors said they heard the child's sister running out of the home and screaming for help after the shooting.
"The sister come here, banging on the door," one neighbor said, which prompted him to call authorities. "That little boy was one the [sic] nicest little boys you'll ever want to know. He was special. Easygoing. He was the type of person who would never hurt anybody. Soft-spoken with a beautiful smile."
What did the support director say?
According to KXTV-TV, Paul Warren — Lodi Unified School District student support director — said the school district has seen an uptick in the number of "anxious and depressed students, as the students' routines have been interrupted and they aren't able to socialize amid the pandemic."
In a statement, the Lodi Unified School District said that counseling and support services are available to affected students and staff members.
"Our thoughts are with the family affected by this terrible tragedy," a letter to parents read. "We also offer our condolences to the Woodbridge Elementary community."
David Bain, Sacramento, California's executive director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told the station that parents must remain vigilant about their child's mental health.
"Avoid saying things like, 'You will get over it,' or 'Toughen up.' Be empathetic and understanding of how they feel. Tell them whatever is going on won't change how you feel about them, that you still love them and care for them," Bain advised.
Authorities are investigating the boy's death. The gun was reportedly registered to an adult in the home.


theblaze--2020-12-03--Large protest breaks out at Staten Island bar forced to shutter for lockdown: 'People are fed up!'

Large protest breaks out at Staten Island bar forced to shutter for lockdown : 'People are fed up ! '
@ @ @ @ @ Public House protested the arrest of the bar 's owner after he refused to shut @

Protesters endured the near-freezing weather on Wednesday night to show their support of a defiant New York City bar that was shuttered by lockdown orders that banned indoor dining at bars and restaurants.
The owners of Mac's Public House in Staten Island decided two weeks ago that their establishment would become an "autonomous zone," in an attempt to skirt the coronavirus lockdown orders enacted by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).
The bar is located inside an "orange zone," which stipulates: "Restaurants, bars, cafes and other food service establishments can provide outdoor dining and takeout and delivery service only. There is a four-person maximum per table. No indoor dining is allowed."
The bar attempted to circumvent the coronavirus restrictions by offering free drinks, while asking for "donations."
Deputy sheriffs entered the bar undercover and noted that they observed 14 people drinking and eating at around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
On Tuesday night, the New York City Sheriff's Department raided Mac's Public House for defying the COVID-19 lockdown orders. Law enforcement shut down the business and arrested Danny Presti, who is the bar's co-owner along with Keith McAlarney.
Presti was charged with obstructing governmental administration, according to NYC Sheriff Joseph Fucito. Presti was issued a desk appearance ticket and set free later that evening.
Lou Gelormino, an attorney who represents Mac's Public House, told the Staten Island Advance that Presti was arrested because he refused to vacate his business "and at that point ... they considered it trespassing."
"I can assure everybody there wasn't a person in the place that was disorderly, disrespectful, or not courteous," Gelormino informed WABC-TV. "Executive orders are emergency powers that are supposed to be short lived and narrowly tailored."
Attorney Mark Fonte, who also represents the tavern, said, "We urge our friends in the restaurant industry to be as resilient as possible while we appeal this decision."
"These sheriff's officers are 'wannabe' cops," Fonte proclaimed. "This is what happens when little people get a little power. Each one of them will have to answer to a federal judge. The issuing of summonses to an attorney for representing his client will not be dealt with lightly. I would advise the issuing sheriff to lawyer up immediately."
On Wednesday, state Sen. Andrew Lanza was restrained outside Mac's Public House. Police stopped him from entering the restaurant and said only legal counsel could enter. Lanza declared that he is a "free-of-charge attorney," and police asked for a retainer.
"I got a piece of cardboard and I drew up a retainer," Lanza told the Staten Island Advance. "I signed it. The owner came out and signed it, which is legally binding."
Authorities said his retainer was not valid, and he was prohibited from entering the building.
"I took a step toward the door so they started to grab me and I said 'OK, I won't go in,'" Lanza said. Police officers restrained Lanza and then released him.
"Somebody's got to stand up for the little guy and that's what I am trying to do here," the Republican from Staten Island explained. "People are frustrated, they are angry and they are a little defiant. And it's understandable."
"We respect law enforcement on Staten Island like no other place," Lanza told the sheriffs. "We also have questions as American citizens. You just took out one of our constituents, one of our neighbors, a business owner, in handcuffs. I asked why."
By Wednesday night, approximately 2,000 supporters of Mac's Public House showed up for a rally outside the bar that was shut down. Police guarded the pub and prevented anyone from entering.
Meanwhile, the frustrated yet spirited protesters waved American flags while chanting: "U-S-A! U-S-A!" and "TRAITOR!" The protesters were energized and sang Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" in unison.
At times, the protest turned into a rally for President Donald Trump, complete with people singing the Village People's 1978 hit "YMCA," which POTUS danced to at rallies in October.
Artist Scott LoBaido delivered an impassioned rant: "Patriotism is not just hanging your flags out on the Fourth of July. You know what's patriotism? This is f***ing patriotism."
Joe Caldarera, an attorney, was at the event and said, "People are fed up! Loved the energy tonight at the Mac's Public House Rally." He shared video of the crowd chanting: "Open up!"
Nicole Malliotakis was named the winner of New York's 11th Congressional District election by the Associated Press on Monday, which includes all of Staten Island and some of Brooklyn. Malliotakis, a Republican, endorsed the protest on Wednesday night.
"Hundreds of Staten Islanders turned out tonight in support of Mac's Public House and by doing so sent a loud and clear message to @NYCMayor & @NYGovCuomo; New Yorkers are sick & tired of their double standards, arbitrary restrictions, heavy-handed attacks on businesses and restraints they've placed on the freedom of individuals," Malliotakis wrote on Twitter.
"It's outrageous that @senatorlanza was almost arrested for attempting to enter Mac's to consult with it owners," she continued. "Gov & Mayor are killing small businesses, destroying dreams & unfairly punishing constituents for simply trying to lead a normal life."


theblaze--2020-12-03--Facebook and Twitter take new actions to censor 'hate speech'

Facebook and Twitter take new actions to censor 'hate speech' Both social media giants are taking steps to expand enforcement @ @ @ @ @ speech

Big Tech companies Facebook and Twitter are developing plans to further automate identification of posts that violate rules against what they deem is "hate speech."
Twitter on Wednesday announced an expansion of its hateful conduct policy to ban language that "dehumanizes people on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin." The company will also "continue to surface potentially violative content through proactive detection and automation."
Tweets that violate the rules will be removed by Twitter if reported and users who repeatedly have their tweets reported may have their accounts temporarily locked or permanently suspended.
Examples of tweets that could be banned provided by Twitter include, "All [national origin] are cockroaches who live off of welfare benefits and need to be taken away," or, "[Religious Group] should be punished. We are not doing enough to rid us of those filthy animals."
Twitter also announced efforts taken to ensure that its rules are enforced consistently.
"Many people raised concerns about our ability to enforce our rules fairly and consistently, so we developed a longer, more in-depth training process with our teams to make sure they were better prepared when reviewing report," the company said.
At the same time, Facebook is reportedly about to conduct a "major overhaul of its algorithms that detect hate speech," according to internal documents reviewed by the Washington Post. The Post reported that Facebook will reverse its "race-blind" enforcement of rules against hate speech, policing hate speech against blacks, Muslims, multi-racial people, LGBT-identifying people, and Jews more aggressively than anti-white hate speech.
This effort, called the WoW project, will reportedly rework Facebook's algorithms to improve detection and deletion of "the worst of the worst" hate speech rules violations. According to the Post, Facebook would assign numerical scores to certain kinds of posts, weighing them by perceived harm. The algorithm will prioritize posts with heavier weighted scores.
For example, a post that says "gay people are disgusting" will have higher priority for Facebook's algorithms than a post that says "men are pigs."
The Post reported that Facebook has already changed its algorithms to de-prioritize policing comments that refer to "whites," "men," and "Americans." While posts attacking these groups are still considered "hate speech," Facebook's technology treats such posts as "low-sensitivity," or less likely to be perceived as harmful or abusive. Facebook's algorithms no longer automatically delete such posts.
"We know that hate speech targeted towards underrepresented groups can be the most harmful, which is why we have focused our technology on finding the hate speech that users and experts tell us is the most serious," Facebook spokeswoman Sally Aldous told the Post. "Over the past year, we've also updated our policies to catch more implicit hate speech, such as content depicting Blackface, stereotypes about Jewish people controlling the world, and banned Holocaust denial."
Social media companies of late have been heavily criticized by both the left and the right over the enforcement of their rules against hate speech. Conservatives and right-leaning media organizations have accused Big Tech companies of exercising censorship of posts they disagree with while left-leaning groups say social media platforms are not doing enough to police hate speech and stop the spread of fake news or misinformation.
Civil rights activists who gave statements to The Hill praised Facebook and Twitter for "progress" in removing hate speech but expressed skepticism that the changes will meet their demands.
"This is progress, but Twitter demonstrated a consequential lack of urgency in implementing the updated policy before the most fraught election cycle in modern history, despite repeated warnings by civil rights advocates and human rights organizations," said Arisha Hatch, the vice president of Color of Change.
Hatch accused Twitter of having a "non-committal and cavalier attitude toward transparency" by failing to explain how content moderators are trained or how Twitter's artificial intelligence identify offending posts.
"The jury is still out for a company with a spotty track record of policy implementation and enforcing its rules with far-right extremist users. Void of hard evidence the company will follow through, this announcement will fall into a growing category of too little, too late PR stunt offerings," Hatch said of Twitter.
Hatch called Facebook's reported plans to change its algorithms "confirmation of what we've been demanding for years, an enforcement regime that takes power and historical dynamics into account."
Sum of Us, an anti-corporate advocacy group, told the Hill that Facebook's proposed changes do not go far enough to police hate speech.
"Facebook is well aware of the harm it causes by allowing some of the most vile content to be promoted through its algorithms. Their latest move to more aggressively police anti-Black hate speech and false claims about COVID-19 vaccines shows that they have the ability to clean up their act — if they want to," Sum of Us executive director Emma Ruby-Sachs said.


theblaze--2020-12-03--Georgia Sec. State Raffensperger investigating Stacey Abrams' group for GOTV fraud after it attempte

Georgia Sec. State Raffensperger investigating Stacey Abrams' group for GOTV fraud after it attempted to register his deceased son

Georgia Sec .
State Raffensperger investigating Stacey Abrams ' group for GOTV fraud after it attempted to register his deceased @ @ @ @ @ two years ago but still received three voter registration notices

Georgia officials have launched investigations into several third-party registration groups, including one founded by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, for "repeatedly and aggressively" seeking to register "ineligible, out-of-state, or deceased voters" ahead of the state's Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections.
What are the details?
In a news release Wednesday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said that the New Georgia Project, founded by Abrams in 2014, as well as two other organizations — America Votes and Vote Forward — are subjects in the investigations.
Raffensperger stated that his office had "issued clear warnings several times" to such groups against encouraging illegal action, but nonetheless has "received specific evidence that these groups have solicited voter registrations from ineligible individuals who have passed away or live out of state."
Evidently, some of that evidence arrived directly on Raffensperger's doorstep. The secretary of state announced in a news conference Wednesday that his family had received mailers directed to his deceased son, urging him to register to vote.
"Here's something that came to my house yesterday, we got three of them, all from the same organization and it's to my son Brenton J. Raffensperger who passed away two years ago," he said holding up the mailers.
But that wasn't the only evidence of get-out-the-vote groups encouraging illegal behavior in the state, according to Raffensperger.
"We've had additional information coming in regarding the tactics from these groups including the New Georgia Project sending five voter registrations to the same dead person, and sending applications to ineligible voters," he added.
Raffensperger investigates Stacey Abrams' non-profit, other voter groups youtu.be
What else?
Raffensperger said that over the past several weeks complaints have been flooding into his office about the New Georgia Project sending voter registration information to out-of-state residents, including a "package of postcards" to an individual living in New York City.
According to the news release, another group, Operation New Voter Registration GA, urged Emory University students to illegally register to vote in the runoffs.
"Your current residence can be another state. You are simply changing your state of residence now; and it can be switched back for future elections (your option)," said a flier sent by the group to students.
In Georgia, false registration is considered a felony and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
In a statement, Raffensperger vowed, "I will investigate these claims thoroughly and take action against anyone attempting to undermine our elections."
The Senate runoff elections on Jan. 5 will feature face-offs between Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, respectively. The elections have attracted a great deal of national attention as the Senate majority hangs in the balance.