theblaze--2020-12-13--Democrat claims black Americans hardest hit by COVID due to 'comorbidities of structural racism'

Democrat claims black Americans hardest hit by COVID due to 'comorbidities of structural racism '

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) — one of the members of the so-called "Squad" — suggested last week that black people have been disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus, in part, due to the "comorbidities of structural racism."
What did Pressley say?
While speaking with MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell about the coming COVID-19 vaccine last week, Pressley suggested that marginalized communities should be the first to receive access to the vaccine because they are most vulnerable to the impacts of the virus.
"The coronavirus is the third leading cause of death for black Americans," Pressley began.
"So, the most vulnerable and marginalized communities because of the comorbidities of structural racism, because of unequal access to healthcare, because of transportation deserts and food apartheid systems have been the most vulnerable to contracting this virus," she explained.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm Pressley's overarching point: that COVID-19 impacts black people more than most others.
In fact, black Americans are 1.4 times more likely to contract COVID-19, four times more likely to be hospitalized with complications from COVID-19, and 2.8 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to white, non-Hispanic Americans.
Hispanics, on the other hand, are just as susceptible to the destruction of COVID-19.
CDC data show that Hispanics are 1.7 times more likely to contract COVID-19, 4.1 times more likely to be hospitalized with complications from COVID-19, and 2.8 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to white, non-Hispanic Americans.
What is the background?
According to the CDC, adults with "certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness" if they contract COVID-19, including "hospitalization, admission to the ICU, intubation or mechanical ventilation, or death."
Such underlying medical conditions are called "comorbidities," and CDC data show the vast majority — more than 90% — of all COVID-related deaths in America have been of people with comorbidities.
In fact, data show that "for 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned," and "on average, there were 2.9 additional conditions or causes per death."
Fortunately, the Food and Drug Administration gave Pfizer emergency authorization to begin distribution of its vaccine, which was being prepared for shipping as of Sunday morning.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Elon Musk scoffs at number of MBAs running corporate America: 'Get out there on the g**damn front li

Elon Musk scoffs at number of MBAs running corporate America: 'Get out there on the g**damn front line' and 'show employees that you care'

Elon Musk scoffs at number of MBAs running corporate America : 'Get out there on the g**damn front line ' @ @ @ @ @ care '

Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX CEO, said recently that there are too many business school grads — and not enough innovative entrepreneurs — who are running American companies.
The billionaire also said that far too many number-crunchers run American companies and are more concerned about their bottom lines rather than focusing on what really matters: their product and, as a result, the satisfaction of their customers.
What are the details?
During last week's Wall Street Journal CEO summit, Musk — who recently moved from California to Texas — said, "I think there might be too many MBAs running companies. There's the MBA-ization of America, which I think is maybe not that great. ... There should be more focus on the product itself, less time on board meetings, less time on financials."
He added, "A company has no value in itself. It only has value to the degree that it is [an] effective allocator of resources to create business services that are of a greater value than the costs of the inputs."
Musk explained that he, too, understands how stifling the board room can be and said that he feels a far greater benefit when he's connecting on the factory floor or engaging in the creative process in mulling over his designs.
"When I have spent too much time in a conference room, that's when things have gone awry, and when I go spend time on the factory floor or really using the cars, thinking about the rockets, that's where things have gone better," he reasoned.
In his stirring remarks, Musk also urged business CEOs to "get out there on the goddamn front line and show them that you care, and that you're not just in some plush office somewhere."
The 49-year-old billionaire — and one of the world's five richest men — doesn't have a graduate degree.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Michael Flynn breaks silence post-pardon with stirring remarks on 2020's 'war against the forces of

Michael Flynn breaks silence post-pardon with stirring remarks on 2020's 'war against the forces of evil': 'We must refuse to go to the funeral of our independence'

Michael Flynn breaks silence post-pardon with stirring remarks on 2020 's 'war against the forces of evil ' : 'We @ @ @ @ @ the funeral of our independence '

Gen. Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, has broken his silence following his presidential pardon and said that he believes the country is in a "war against the forces of evil."
In a remarks published in the Western Journal, Flynn insisted that the country must band together and refuse to "go to the funeral of our independence."
His remarks come as the president and his supporters challenge the 2020 presidential election results in several states.
What are the details?
In his remarks, which were delivered on Saturday, Flynn said, "The battle we are engaged in cannot be fought with only human weapons: It requires the intervention of God because in a war against the forces of evil, only the Lord can obtain the victory."
"[A]s American citizens, we must refuse to go to the funeral of our own independence," he added. "We the people are proud to proclaim that the United States of America is 'One Nation under God.'"
"In this public profession of faith in God, we recognize his Lordship over our country, and we proudly stand beneath the banner of Christ and our flag, in which millions have sacrificed their very lives for," Flynn continued.
Flynn made the remarks from the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., as thousands of demonstrators gathered and held pro-Trump signs in support of an ongoing challenge of the 2020 presidential election results.
Citing scripture, he pointed out that the Lord also said, "'Whoever is not with me is against me.'"
"We do not want a world governed by tyrants whom no one has elected and who want to have power in order to destroy us," he said. "We understand what their plan is: to eliminate dissent, subdue any criticism and outlaw those who do not submit unconditionally to the dictatorship of the 'new world order.'"
"In this crucible moment of our time, we have to pray that truth triumphs over lies, justice triumphs over abuse and fraud, honesty triumphs over corruption," the former national security adviser later added. "Our sacred honor triumphs over infamy."
He also insisted that there are "still avenues" to secure a Trump re-election.
"[W]e're fighting with faith, and we're fighting with courage," Flynn added.
Trump pardoned Flynn in November after Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with a Russian envoy.
He later added, "The courts aren't going to decide who the next president of the United States is going to be. 'We the people' decide."
"[W]e're only asking to show us a little transparency," Flynn continued. "Why not recount? Why not look at the signatures? Why not look inside these [voting] machines? Why not? What are they afraid of? What are they hiding from? They're hiding from something."
Outright stating that fraud took place during the 2020 presidential election, Flynn insisted, "Our protest, our denunciation of electoral fraud is not only motivated by the fact that we are supporting Donald J. Trump as a candidate. It is above all a battle for justice and truth, which goes far beyond membership in a party or voting for a candidate."
"Pray now that when the light shines in the coming days, it reveals the truth along with a new era of American patriotism," he concluded.
The Electoral College is set to vote Monday on the results of the 2020 presidential election.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Glenn Beck's theory on why Biden-team REALLY wants to 'exorcise' Trump from the White House

Glenn Beck 's theory on why Biden-team REALLY wants to 'exorcise ' Trump from the White House HINT : It @ @ @ @ @

Reports claim that Joe Biden has ordered staff "to exorcise any trace of Team Trump" from the White House on Inauguration Day. This would include a team in hazmat suits disinfecting the whole building, removing carpets and furniture, and even "replacing doorknobs," supposedly to remove any trace of the coronavirus.
On the radio program Monday, Glenn Beck, who was at the White House over the weekend, said he noticed something that may shed a little light on why the Biden transition team would specifically mention replacing the doorknobs. He explained why he believes the statement wasn't really about the coronavirus, but an underhanded message that the president will hear loud and clear.
Watch the video below to hear Glenn explain:
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theblaze--2020-12-15--Michigan congressman quits GOP over party supporting 'stop the steal' efforts, fears 'long-term harm

Michigan congressman quits GOP over party supporting 'stop the steal' efforts, fears 'long-term harm to our democracy'

Michigan congressman quits GOP over party supporting 'stop the steal ' efforts , fears 'long-term harm to our democracy' 'It @ @ @ @ @ to treat our election system as though we are a third-world nation '

Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell announced Monday that he will no longer be affiliated with the Republican Party, saying he fears "long-term harm to our democracy" may come from GOP leadership's endorsement of efforts to overturn the presidential election, including "Stop the Steal" rallies.
His message came the same day the Electoral College voted to confirm Democrat Joe Biden president-elect, amid President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts to fight the outcome.
What are the details?
Mitchell penned a letter to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), reminding them of his pro-Trump record before explaining his disgust at the party's refusal to defend the electoral process.
"As you well know, my voting record in Congress over the past two terms has been in line with President Trump and the administration's policies more than 95 percent of the time," the congressman wrote. "Further, I voted for President Trump in the 2020 General Election despite some reservations about four more years under his leadership."
The two-term representative voiced his agreement that "there have been some disconcerting aspects" to the Nov. 3 election and that changes must be made to the process, while acknowledging that "any candidate, including the president, is entitled to request recounts and pursue legal challenges they believe are appropriate if they possess evidence of wrongdoing."
Then, Mitchell delved into why he was leaving the party, writing in part:
It is unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third-world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote. Further, it is unacceptable for the president to attack the Supreme Court of the United States because its judges, both liberal and conservative, did not rule with his side or that "the Court failed him." It was our Founding Fathers' objective to insulate the Supreme Court from such blatant political motivations.
If Republican leaders collectively sit back and tolerate unfounded conspiracy theories and "stop the steal" rallies without speaking out for our electoral process, which the Department of Homeland Security said was "the most secure in American history," our nation will be damaged. I have spoken out clearly and forcefully in opposition to these messages. However, with the leadership of the Republican Party and our Republican Conference in the House actively participating in at least some of those efforts, I fear long-term harm to our democracy.
Rep. Mitchell informed party leaders that was quitting the GOP at the national and state level, noting that he will still "support, contribute to, and fundraise for individual candidates who reflect the principles [he] hold(s) dear."
Anything else?
Mitchell, a multimillionaire who is retiring from Congress and only has weeks left to serve, added, "I am also requesting that the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives change my party affiliation to Independent for the remainder of my term in office. While admittedly symbolic, we all know that symbols matter."
Republican Lisa McClain won the election to replace Mitchell and will be sworn in on Jan. 3.


theblaze--2020-12-15--News veteran Sharyl Attkisson on what happened to journalism, and what we can do to fix it

News veteran Sharyl Attkisson on what happened to journalism , and what we can do to fix it America desperately @ @ @ @ @ trust the media again

The state of journalism and the media in America is broken like never before. And the topic of award-winning investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson's new book, "Slanted: How the News Media Taught Us to Love Censorship and Hate Journalism", is all too crucial.
Sharyl has watched from the inside as the mainstream media replaced news with activism. As a leading correspondent at CBS News for 21 years, she argues that there's a new definition of censorship and it involves the media, Big Tech, and the government all working together to decide what "truth" is — and their suppression of the Hunter Biden story in the months leading up to the election is a prime example.
Sharyl joined Glenn Beck on this week's podcast to discuss a range of topics and offers her expert advice on how she would fix our media.
Watch a short clip from the podcast below, or watch the full interview here.
Want to listen to more Glenn Beck podcasts?
Subscribe to Glenn Beck's channel on YouTube for FREE access to more of his masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, or subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-12-15--Georgia secretary of state announces signature match audit of ballots in Cobb County after claims of

Georgia secretary of state announces signature match audit of ballots in Cobb County after claims of voter fraud He said @ @ @ @ @ no evidence of voter fraud

Georgia's secretary of state announced an audit of signature matching for ballots in Cobb County after claims of voter fraud.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a media briefing Monday that he ordered the audit in order to restore Georgians' faith in the election.
"As a conservative Constitutional Republican, I believe the best place to land is when judgements are made based on the Constitution. My goal is to make our elections accurate and secure, and believed by the voters," Raffensperger said.
He added that his office has alerted counties since January that the election processes have been open to public review, but that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans "availed themselves of this legal viewing of our election processes."
Raffensperger said that there had been no evidence of fraud in the signature matching system.
"And now that the signature matching has been attacked again and again, with no evidence, I feel we need to take steps to restore confidence in our elections," he continued.
He went on to say that he would be working on a "third party signature match statewide audit study" developed with a credited university.
He also tweeted about the decision from his official social media account.
"Our office will be partnering with [the Georgia Bureau of Investigation] to conduct a signature match audit in Cobb County following specific reports that the county failed to adequately conduct signature matching. This audit will take around two weeks but will not change the outcome of the November elections," he tweeted.
"We will also be working with an accredited university on a third-party signature match statewide audit study. Together, we will restore faith." he added in a second tweet.
In November, Raffensperger said that he had been calling out officials who were making false accusations of voter fraud, and he specifically explained how he had strengthened signature match for the election.
"On signature match, we've actually strengthened signature match. Many people don't realize that it requires you to do your signature twice, once for the application, we signature match then, and a second time when your ballot comes back in, then we'll signature match that," he said during an interview on MSNBC.
Electors of the Electoral College voted to confirm Joe Biden's presidential victory on Monday, but President Donald Trump was still challenging those results through legal action.
Here's the announcement from Raffensperger:


theblaze--2020-12-14--Actress Debra Messing doubles down on wishing violence on Trump following backlash

Actress Debra Messing doubles down on wishing violence on Trump following backlash 'She just hopes Trump gets raped in prison @

Actress Debra Messing attempted to do some damage control on Monday after facing backlash for a social media post wishing violence on President Donald Trump. But the far-left thespian simply clarified that her ill-will was not homophobic, before doubling down on praying for the commander in chief to be imprisoned and raped.
What are the details?
Last week, Messing tweeted a message directed to the president that read, "@realDonaldTrump you are a weak, scared, stupid, inept, negligent, vindictive, narcissistic, criminal. I hope you live a long life in prison where you become the most popular boyfriend to the all inmates."
The Daily Wire reported on her post, noting that the "proud and open LGBT activist" delivered what the outlet referred to as a "homophobic insult."
In reaction to the story, Messing attempted to clear up any confusion about what she meant, tweeting, "Let me be clear: I said nothing about LGBTQI/queer LOVE. Rape is an act of violence. Trump has perpetrated violence on hundreds of millions of people. My hope is (and this is the first time in my life) that the tables are turned and he is the victim of perpetrators."
The actress added the hashtag, #LGBTQIAAlly."
What happened next?
The post earned Messing more headlines and more negative feedback online.
The Washington Examiner's Jerry Dunleavy tweeted, "Debra Messing's clarification here is her saying she has nothing against gay men — she just hopes Trump gets raped in prison."
The Hill described Messing as "one of Hollywood's most vocal Trump critics," and pointed out that in 2019, "Trump said that NBC should fire her after its star said the names of the commander in chief's donors who attended a fundraiser should be publicly identified."
Messing was a star in "Will & Grace," an award-winning sitcom that debuted in 1998 and was considered groundbreaking for featuring a gay character in a leading role. The show ran for eight seasons and was reupped in 2017. Its second stretch ended earlier this year.


theblaze--2020-12-14--President Trump says Attorney General William Barr is  resigning

President Donald Trump tweeted that Attorney General William Barr told him he would be resigning during a meeting with him Monday afternoon .
`` Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House .
Our relationship has been a very good one , he has done an outstanding job !
As per letter , Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family , '' tweeted the president .
`` Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen , an outstanding person , will become Acting Attorney General .
Highly respected Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Deputy Attorney General .
Thank you to all ! ''
he added in a second tweet .
Trump also publicly posted Barr 's resignation letter that praised the president for his accomplishments .
`` I am greatly honored that you called on me to serve your Administration and the American people once again as Attorney General .
I am proud to have played a role in the many successes an unprecedented achievements you have delivered for the American people , '' Barr wrote in the letter .
He went on to list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military strength to overseeing the development of a stronger economy .
He also excoriated the president 's political enemies for attempting to `` cripple '' the administration with `` frenzied and baseless accusations of collusion with Russia . ''
Barr said his last day on the job would be Dec. 23 , the Associated Press reported .
Speculation arose that the president might fire Barr after he made a statement denying evidence of voter fraud that would overturn the election .
The president also complained when a report claimed Barr knew about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election but did not reveal it in accordance with DOJ guidelines .
Barr also said in his statement that the Department of Justice would continue investigating claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election .

President Donald Trump tweeted that Attorney General William Barr told him he would be resigning during a meeting with him Monday afternoon.
"Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House. Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job! As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family," tweeted the president.
"Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, an outstanding person, will become Acting Attorney General. Highly respected Richard Donoghue will be taking over the duties of Deputy Attorney General. Thank you to all!" he added in a second tweet.
Trump also publicly posted Barr's resignation letter that praised the president for his accomplishments.
"I am greatly honored that you called on me to serve your Administration and the American people once again as Attorney General. I am proud to have played a role in the many successes an unprecedented achievements you have delivered for the American people," Barr wrote in the letter.
He went on to list the president's accomplishments, from restoring military strength to overseeing the development of a stronger economy. He also excoriated the president's political enemies for attempting to "cripple" the administration with "frenzied and baseless accusations of collusion with Russia."
Barr said his last day on the job would be Dec. 23, the Associated Press reported.
Speculation arose that the president might fire Barr after he made a statement denying evidence of voter fraud that would overturn the election. The president also complained when a report claimed Barr knew about a federal investigation into Hunter Biden months before the election but did not reveal it in accordance with DOJ guidelines.
Barr also said in his statement that the Department of Justice would continue investigating claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Here's more about Barr's resignation:


theblaze--2020-12-14--Controversial ad shows severely sick COVID-stricken Santa Claus. Parents are outraged.

The ad was meant to encourage support for health care workers but critics say it could be upsetting for children

United Kingdom health officials have apologized for a controversial advertisement depicting Santa Claus with a severe case of COVID-19 that outraged parents say could be terrifying for children.
The short ad, titled "The Gift," shows National Health Service staff and volunteers working to save an elderly man's life after he's wheeled into a hospital by paramedics and put on oxygen, the UK Daily Mail reports. Health care workers in full PPE work diligently to nurse the man back to health.
Eventually, the man makes a full recovery and at the end of the video a Christmas gift left for his nurses reveals it was old St. Nick who frontline health workers saved.
The video ends with a slogan, "Give back to those who've given everything."
The ad was put together by NHS Charities Together, a group representing and supporting the work of NHS' official charities. It was published as part of the Gifts That Give Back Campaign encouraging people to send gifts to NHS staff for Christmas this year.
"We're delighted to share our Christmas campaign and video, which has been made possible thanks to generous brand partners," the charity group said in a social media post. "We adore the ad and dedicate it to all NHS workers who've given everything to care and keep us safe."
"Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff will be working over Christmas and New Year," said NHS Charities Together CEO Ellie Norton. "The public has responded magnificently so far to our appeal, helping us raise over £150million. But with the ongoing impact of COVID, the need is still there."
While some members of the public received the ad well, with the Daily Mail referring to it as "emotional" and "touching," others on social media slammed it as harmful to children's' mental health.
NHS Charities Together on Dec. 12 issued a statement in response to the negative feedback, clarifying that the ad was not targeted at children.
The charity said, "When we launched the ad earlier in the week, we had an overwhelmingly positive response to it. Some subsequent media coverage of it has generated criticism of the ad on social media and some people have expressed their concern about it upsetting children. The ad has been made to engage charity supporters and those who may want to buy products that generate donations to the appeal. It isn't aimed at children and hasn't been shown on TV. We are sorry to the parents of any young children who have been upset by watching the ad and to the young children themselves, they were not the intended audience for it."
The ad was subsequently pulled down from YouTube, Business Insider reported.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Homeowner shoots all four armed men who broke into his house — two of them fatally. Surviving suspec

Homeowner shoots all four armed men who broke into his house — two of them fatally. Surviving suspects face murder charges for accomplices' deaths.

Homeowner shoots all four armed men who broke into his house — two of them fatally .
Surviving suspects face @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
Homeowner 's daughter , 4 , apparently was hit by gunfire in shootout @ @ @ @ @ OK

It appears to be yet another case of crime suspects getting charged with murder when their accomplices are fatally shot by the crime victim.
What are the details?
A Louisiana homeowner had just about all he could handle last Tuesday morning when four men carrying guns invaded his residence in Lacombe, WVUE-TV reported. Lacombe is about an hour's drive north of — and directly across Lake Pontchartrain from — New Orleans.
Thing is, the homeowner also had a gun — and used it far more successfully than the quartet of intruders. The homeowner, in fact, shot all four suspects, killing two of them during the ensuing shootout.
The St. Tammany Coroner's office identified the dead suspects as 25-year-old Renard Causey Jr. and 21-year-old Justin Hill, WVUE added.
But now the two suspects who survived the shooting — Renard Causey Sr. and Jason Leblanc — both face charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and home invasion, the station reported in a follow-up story.
Both men will be booked after they are released from a hospital, WVUE reported.
The homeowner's 4-year-old daughter apparently was struck by a bullet in the crossfire, the station said, adding that family members said she received an operation and is expected to be OK.
The homeowner also is expected to be OK, and WVUE added that deputies say the homeowner won't face charges at this time. A relative told WVUE the homeowner may have been pistol-whipped before he fired at the intruders.
St. Tammany Sheriff's deputies are investigating the incident, the station said.
Anything else?
WVUE said the community on Palmer Drive is close — the kind of place where everyone either is related or has known each other for years — and many are stunned by what happened.
"It was late morning and we heard patrol cars, one after another and detective cars and then there would be ambulances," Shannon Bordelon told the station. "There were several dozen emergency vehicles involved."
Neighbors aded to WVUE that they waited 24 hours to learn about the shooting, but sheriff's officials said they didn't want to put out information sooner that might impede the investigation.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Pennsylvania sheriff ditches Democratic Party over 'socialist agenda'

He railed against 'unconstitutional ' pandemic shutdowns and 'defund the police '

A Pennsylvania sheriff said he decided to switch his political affiliation from Democratic to Republican due to his former party's embrace of a "socialist agenda."
Fayette County Sheriff James Custer told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" on Monday that "the shift in ideals of the Democratic Party at the national level," namely, their "socialist agenda," caused him to make the change.
"This is something I had been considering for several months," he continued. "It probably started back when the pandemic started and the mandates coming down by the Democratic governors — which we have one here in Pennsylvania — that I feel are unconstitutional."
Custer added that as a sheriff, he has a duty to "protect and serve, uphold, and defend the Constitution of the United States" as "unconstitutional mandates" issued by state and local officials injure the rights and freedoms of American citizens.
On Dec. 12, Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf announced new mitigation measures as the state experienced an uptick in coronavirus cases. The new measures included a temporary ban on indoor dining as well as the closure of gyms, theaters, and other entertainment venues.
The new guidelines also bar indoor gatherings of more than 10 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 50 people and have resulted in the suspension of youth and high school sports.
Custer officially made the switch to the GOP in September along with Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower, as reported by the Herald Standard. Both former Democratic leaders voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 and did so again in 2020.
Even after voting for Trump in 2016, Custer, who called himself a lifelong Democrat, remained a party member for several years. But he said the party's "slide" towards socialism during the Trump presidency finally caused him to reconsider.
When asked if the nationwide "defund the police" movement pushed by progressive Democrats had anything to do with his decision, Custer replied saying it was definitely a factor given his 30 years in law enforcement.
"Starting back from the George Floyd incident and all the civil unrest and the calls for 'abolish the police,' 'defund the police' that was part of factoring in to my decision that, 'Hey, this is not what I signed up for,'" Custer said. "And there's plenty of people out there who are backing us, and that's why I was one of 40 individual sheriffs in Pennsylvania to endorse President Trump as our law and order president."
Custer's words ring true, especially to former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden was recently caught on leaked audio admitting that Republicans "beat the living hell out of us across the country" over the defund the police movement.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Woman receives birthday card with Bible verse from her mother — 2 years after her mother's death: 'I

Woman receives birthday card with Bible verse from her mother — 2 years after her mother's death: 'It was meant for me to receive now'

Woman receives birthday card with Bible verse from her mother — 2 years after her mother 's death : 'It @ @ @ @ @ receive now' The right message at the right time

An Ohio woman received a birthday card from her mother this year — except her mother passed away two years ago.
What are the details?
According to Newsweek, Katrina Jones of Youngstown, Ohio, recently discovered a birthday card in her mailbox.
Confused, she quickly opened the card, which was dated June 20, 2015.
"To what do I owe this honor?" she asked of the card, which was not just five years late in arriving, but six months late in celebrating her birthday.
The return address, she said, was her mother's address.
"Then I looked at the handwriting, and I said, 'That's my mother's handwriting,'" she recalled.
She opened the card and found birthday regards and a note with a Bible verse scrawled on it.
The note read, "I know the thoughts I have toward you sayeth the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil."
The verse, from Jeremiah 29:11, reads, "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe!"
Jones said that she and her mother wondered about the missing card all those years ago, and never expected it to turn up on her doorstep two years after her mother's death.
"I do remember many years ago and I think I'm safe to say it must have been 2015 and I remember her asking, 'Hey, did you get a card from me?'" Jones recalled.
"Someone told me at work 'It wasn't meant for you to receive it back then,' it was meant for me to receive now," she added.
Jones, a customer service representative at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, shared the post on her LinkedIn page, writing, "It took 5 1/2 years for me to receive a birthday card and note from my mother. The message was right on time."


theblaze--2020-12-14--Anti-lockdown gym owner to 'petty tyrant' NJ governor: 'The only way you'll ever close these doors i

Anti-lockdown gym owner to 'petty tyrant' NJ governor: 'The only way you'll ever close these doors is when you close my casket'

Anti-lockdown gym owner to 'petty tyrant ' NJ governor : 'The only way you 'll ever close these doors is @ @ @ @ @ ' I am a free man .
I do not ask for permission .
I @ @ @ @ @ .
You work for us . '

Ian Smith, co-owner of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey — who's been battling far-left Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy over coronavirus shutdowns since the spring and said he's racked up over $1 million in fines — has a new message for Murphy and other state officials.
What did Smith say?
"We have been open against unconstitutional shut down orders since May," Smith wrote in a now-viral Instagram post over the weekend. "Not once have we flinched, and the petty tyrant of New Jersey governor Murphy has tried everything he could possibly think of to ruin us. Over seven months later we will open our doors every single day."
He added: "No government official will ever tell me that I am not able to provide for my family. I do not answer to public servants – no matter what threats or punishments they impose. I am a free man. I do not ask for permission. I do not ask for forgiveness. You work for us. The only way you'll ever close these doors is when you close my casket."
The post comes with video in which Smith is seen holding up pieces of paper — which he presents to the camera and then discards one by one, "Subterranean Homesick Blues"-style — that send the same overall message.
"We have had our business license stripped," the messages Smith holds aloft say. "We have had our doors locked and barricaded. We have been arrested and have over 60 citations."
Smith's silent message adds that on the day of the recording, Atilis passed 84,000 visits — but the gym won't require masks and "never will." The clip ends with four printed words: "No science. No shutdown."
Just after Smith walks out of camera frame, someone is heard hollering, "F*** you, Murphy!"
Content warning: Language:
What did Murphy have to say?
When contacted about Smith's new message, Murphy's office told TMZ it had "nothing to add."
Anything else?
Smith emphasized on numerous occasions that his gym uses safety protocols, including proper sanitation and social distancing to mitigate the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
He told Fox News that he disputes the effectiveness of lockdown policies adopted across the nation put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus and is saddened by harms inflicted on businesses.
"What's happening to the middle class and small businesses in America is nothing short of a complete tragedy, and I would go so far as to call it criminal," Smith said. "You're putting people out of business for good."


theblaze--2020-12-14--Forget the indoor dining ban — Mayor de Blasio is threatening a 'full shutdown' in New York City

Forget the indoor dining ban — Mayor de Blasio is threatening a 'full shutdown ' in New York City

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) said Monday that he is prepared to see the government go beyond the governor's recent shutdown of indoor dining in the city and threatened that there could be a full citywide lockdown in the near future.
What's happening in New York?
New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared that all of New York City's indoor dining would be shut down effective Monday.
Cuomo made the move despite the fact that, according to his own slide presentation during the shutdown announcement, restaurants and bars accounted for less than 1.5% of the share of exposure to COVID-19.
De Blasio made an appearance on CNN's "New Day" Monday to discuss COVID-19 shutdowns and vaccines. During the interview, host Alisyn Camerota confronted the mayor about closing restaurants.
"Is it possible that closing restaurants isn't going to do what you hope it will?" Camerota asked.
De Blasio, naturally, didn't shy away from the restaurant shutdown edict, though he claimed, "I feel for these restaurant owners," and lauded the new "permanent" outdoor dining. But then he went on to think it's time to be "ready" for a full shutdown — which, of course, would mean that the outdoor dining the mayor just touted would be closed, too.
Citing growing numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and the need to "protect people's lives," he declared "you've got to start shutting down the most sensitive areas." He went on to echo Cuomo's recent statements that a "larger shutdown" could be on the way in the Big Apple and that it's something the city's residents should be "ready for in the coming weeks."
Camerota didn't let the mayor's statement slide by. She pushed back on de Blasio's assertion that the "most sensitive places" should include restaurants.
"On balance, maybe it would be more important to protect people's livelihood and paychecks" than shut down places that contribute to only 1.43% of the spread, she said.
The mayor responded that "unfortunately, this is just one of a number of steps that, I think, are going to be needed."
"There's going to be more restrictions after this," he warned.
Camerota asked him what other kinds restrictions he had in mind.
"A full shutdown," de Blasio said, noting that it's time to stop the virus' momentum.
"I think, Alisyn, you're talking about the potential — and again, I'm quoting from Gov. Cuomo, and I think he's right — there's the potential of having to do a full pause, a full shutdown in the coming weeks," he said, noting how the city fought back against the virus in the spring and needed to do it again.
"We're seeing the kind of level of infection with the coronavirus we haven't seen since May, and we have got to stop that momentum — or else, our hospital system will be threatened," the mayor continued.
According to de Blasio, "That's worth putting restrictions in place for."
Hizzoner made it clear by the end of the segment that a shutdown would not be targeted — it would be "across the board."


theblaze--2020-12-14--Michigan Republican loses his committee assignments after comments construed as a refusal to condemn

Michigan Republican loses his committee assignments after comments construed as a refusal to condemn violence Rep. Gary Eisen could not @ @ @ @ @ hurt at an event to appoint alternate Electoral College electors in Michigan 's Capitol .

Republican leaders in the Michigan Legislature reprimanded one of their GOP colleagues Monday after he made comments that some construed to "open the door to violent behavior" as security concerns have been raised over groups promising to disrupt the Electoral College vote in the state Capitol this afternoon.
Rep. Gary Eisen (R-St. Clair Township) made the comments on a morning radio program after he was interviewed about the imminent Electoral College vote, the Detroit Free Press reported. Michigan's 16 electoral votes will be cast for former Vice President Joe Biden, who was certified as the winner of the state in the 2020 presidential election. President Donald Trump's campaign and other Republicans filed several unsuccessful legal challenges to stop the certification of the election.
Eisen said that he and others would go further by participating in an event at the Capitol to appoint an alternative set of electors for the Electoral College and, when asked, he seemingly did not rule out the possibility of violence at the event. The lawmaker described what he and others were trying to do as a "Hail Mary" for Republicans to overturn the results of the election.
State House and Senate office buildings in Lansing were closed Monday because of "credible threats of violence" reported by law enforcement officials. According to the Detroit Free Press, there have been unconfirmed reports of violent threats made against Michigan delegates to the Electoral College.
Eisen was asked about the security concerns on the radio.
"Can you assure me that this is going to be safe day in Lansing, nobody's going to get hurt?" radio host Paul Miller asked Eisen.
"No," he responded. "I don't know because what we're doing today is uncharted. It hasn't been done."
Following these comments, Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) announced that Eisen would be stripped of his committee assignments in a statement denouncing threats made against the Electoral College proceedings and accusing Eisen of opening the door to violence with his remarks.
"We have been consistent in our position on issues of violence and intimidation in politics — it is never appropriate and never acceptable. That is true of threats or suggestions of violence against Gov. (Gretchen) Whitmer, Secretary (of State Jocelyn) Benson, Rep. (Cynthia) Johnson and others on the Oversight committee, Republicans, Democrats, and members of the Electoral College. That applies to threats made toward public officials, and it must also apply when the public officials open the door to violent behavior and refuse to condemn it. We must do better," Chatfield said.
"We as elected officials must be clear that violence has no place in our democratic process. We must be held to a higher standard. Because of that, Rep. Eisen has been removed from his committee assignments for the rest of the term."
Eisen responded Monday afternoon, releasing a statement that clarified he supports sending an alternate slate of delegates to the Electoral College but does not condone violence. He announced that he will not attend the event at the Capitol this afternoon.
"I regret the confusion over my comments this morning, and I want to assure everyone that those of us who are supporting an alternative slate of electors intend to do so peacefully and legally. I wanted to attend today's event to help prevent violence, not promote it. I no longer plan to go to the Capitol with that group today," Eisen said.
White House aide Stephen Miller on Monday went on Fox News and promised that "an alternative" slate of electors would be appointed by Republicans in contested battleground states where the Trump campaign argues Biden won by fraud or by an illegitimate electoral process. There is no legal precedent for recognition of an "alternate" slate of electors from any state and Congress is extremely unlikely to recognize any electors but the official ones appointed by the several states.
Earlier this month, Michigan Republicans also stripped Democratic Rep. Cynthia Johnson of her committee assignments after she issued a video warning to "Trumpers" and urged "soldiers" to "make them pay." Johnson later claimed her comments were referencing "soldiers" for "Christ" against "racism" and "misogyny" and that her video was made in response to racist threats she's received. In the video she said she wants her supporters to "hit 'em in their pocketbooks," which according to Johnson meant make those threatening her pay financially by reporting them to the authorities.


theblaze--2020-12-14--NFL ratings plunge has TV networks slashing ad prices, scrambling to make advertisers happy

The TV ratings for the National Football League this year have been so bad that networks are reportedly slashing advertisement prices and giving away commercial time to keep advertisers happy .
`` TV networks are feeling the strains of disappointing NFL ratings , as they are forced to restructure deals with advertisers to make up for the smaller audience , and their opportunity to make money off remaining games during the lucrative holiday season narrows , '' the Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend , calling the changes `` unheard of . ''
`` Some networks also have considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL games and other programming than they originally pledged , '' the report added .
The Journal also noted that a large amount of the commercial time still available for this season is being given away to advertisers to make up for the league 's viewership underperformance so far this year .
These types of arrangements , called `` make-good commercials , '' are made when a network under-delivers on the audience it promised in the original agreement .
Apparently , networks have made so many of these arrangements that there is `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sold as the league enters its final quarter of the season .
NFL games are normally the most lucrative TV events for networks because they gather the largest number of live audiences , something advertisers crave .
So when viewership drops , it can leave networks scrambling .
According to Nielsen data , through the first 13 weeks of the season , TV and digital ratings were down 7 % across the board from last year , with viewership in the 18-49 and 25-54 age demographics hit the hardest .
Things were especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropped 29 % in comparison to the same time last year , and on Thanksgiving — normally a good time for the NFL — when viewership plummeted 50 % .
Deadline listed longer-than-usual presidential election coverage , postponements caused by the coronavirus pandemic , and `` backlash from some fans over the league 's social justice efforts , including its embrace of Black Lives Matter , '' as contributing factors to the viewer erosion .
`` Even as surefire as the NFL has been — and the last couple years , NFL ratings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratings — we are now in a situation where the NFL is declining , '' Gibbs Haljun , the investment lead at ad-buying firm , Mindshare , told the Journal .
But one analyst noted that while things are bad , some context is needed .
`` Even though they 're down , the NFL 's [ ratings ] are the envy of the industry more than ever , '' Dr. Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch said .
`` You 're talking about a year when the NBA Finals averaged fewer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ averaged fewer than 10 million viewers — and a Wednesday afternoon NFL game gets 10.8 million ?
And I 'm supposed to be thinking the NFL 's having a bad year ? ''

The TV ratings for the National Football League this year have been so bad that networks are reportedly slashing advertisement prices and giving away commercial time to keep advertisers happy.
"TV networks are feeling the strains of disappointing NFL ratings, as they are forced to restructure deals with advertisers to make up for the smaller audience, and their opportunity to make money off remaining games during the lucrative holiday season narrows," the Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend, calling the changes "unheard of."
"Some networks also have considered letting advertisers pay less for commercials during NFL games and other programming than they originally pledged," the report added.
The Journal also noted that a large amount of the commercial time still available for this season is being given away to advertisers to make up for the league's viewership underperformance so far this year. These types of arrangements, called "make-good commercials," are made when a network under-delivers on the audience it promised in the original agreement.
Apparently, networks have made so many of these arrangements that there is "little ad time" left to be sold as the league enters its final quarter of the season.
NFL games are normally the most lucrative TV events for networks because they gather the largest number of live audiences, something advertisers crave. So when viewership drops, it can leave networks scrambling.
According to Nielsen data, through the first 13 weeks of the season, TV and digital ratings were down 7% across the board from last year, with viewership in the 18-49 and 25-54 age demographics hit the hardest. Things were especially bad in Week 13, as viewership dropped 29% in comparison to the same time last year, and on Thanksgiving — normally a good time for the NFL — when viewership plummeted 50%.
Deadline listed longer-than-usual presidential election coverage, postponements caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and "backlash from some fans over the league's social justice efforts, including its embrace of Black Lives Matter," as contributing factors to the viewer erosion.
"Even as surefire as the NFL has been — and the last couple years, NFL ratings stood up much better than network prime-time ratings — we are now in a situation where the NFL is declining," Gibbs Haljun, the investment lead at ad-buying firm, Mindshare, told the Journal.
But one analyst noted that while things are bad, some context is needed.
"Even though they're down, the NFL's [ratings] are the envy of the industry more than ever," Dr. Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch said. "You're talking about a year when the NBA Finals averaged fewer than 8 million viewers, the World Series averaged fewer than 10 million viewers — and a Wednesday afternoon NFL game gets 10.8 million? And I'm supposed to be thinking the NFL's having a bad year?"


theblaze--2020-12-14--'Jesus Christ is coming back!' declares apparent Trump supporter after DC rally. Antifa militant pun

'Jesus Christ is coming back!' declares apparent Trump supporter after DC rally. Antifa militant punches him from behind in head soon after.

'Jesus Christ is coming back ! '
declares apparent Trump supporter after DC rally .
Antifa militant punches him from @ @ @ @ @ .
Victim did n't turn the other cheek in this case ; instead he chased @ @ @ @ @ sidewalk

With every cowardly attack, Antifa is drawing a pretty clear picture of what the leftist militants are all about:
What's the latest?
Oh, almost forgot: Antifa bros also like to attack their opponents from behind. And that stomach-turning tactic was on full display after the rally supporting President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
A couple was caught on video strolling down the sidewalk with a gang of Antifa militants following them.
Image source: Instagram video screenshot via @livesmatterofficial
Then the man — an apparent Trump supporter — declares as video rolls that "Jesus Christ is coming again!"
There's a brief cut in the clip that shows the couple having moved down the sidewalk about a building's length — and then a rather large Antifa militant comes up to the man from behind and wallops him in the side of the head:
Image source: Instagram video screenshot via @livesmatterofficial
Soon after the victim apparently was maced:
Image source: Instagram video screenshot via @livesmatterofficial
But does the leftist who hit the man stick around to finish him off? Nope. As noted above, Antifa also are very adept at running away — and that's just what this tough guy did.
Not that it deterred the victim at all, who put aside turning the other cheek for the moment and ran after his assailant:
Image source: Instagram video screenshot via @livesmatterofficial
But alas, it was to no avail; the Antifa bro was rather fleet of foot.
At some other point in the proceedings the victim — after being punched in the head from behind and maced — was tackled from behind near a bicycle by yet another Antifa militant who also punched him from behind several times:
Image source: Instagram video screenshot via @livesmatterofficial
Of course, like clockwork, the assailant scoots away. The victim appears to have some sort of baton on him. Maybe it would come in handy — if his attackers ever manage the guts to come at him face to face.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Seattle considers excusing criminals if they can prove they broke the law because of drug addiction,

Seattle considers excusing criminals if they can prove they broke the law because of drug addiction, mental illness, or poverty

Seattle considers excusing criminals if they can prove they broke the law because of drug addiction , mental illness , @ @

Seattle officials are considering changing the current criminal code to exempt criminals from prosecution if it is deemed that suspects' survival depended on committing acts of trespassing, theft, or assault.
What are the details?
According to the Daily Wire on Monday, the Seattle City Council is mulling over the changes, which were first broached in October.
In October, KOMO-TV reported on a proposed ordinance — courtesy of Councilmember Lisa Herbold and King County Director of the Department of Public Defense Anita Khandelwal — that would "excuse and dismiss ... almost all misdemeanor crimes committed in Seattle by offenders who could show either: symptoms of addiction without being required to prove a medical diagnosis; symptoms of a mental disorder; or poverty and the crime was committed to meet an 'immediate and basic need.'"
The station reported, "For example, if a defendant argued they stole merchandise to sell for cash in order to purchase food, clothes, or was trying to scrape together enough money for rent ... [t]he accused could not be convicted."
The ordinance, nicknamed the "poverty defense," according to the Daily Wire, would cover all misdemeanor crimes except domestic violence cases and DUIs.
According to KUOW-FM, Khandelwal in early December said, "In a situation where you took that sandwich because you were hungry and you were trying to meet your basic need of of satisfying your hunger; we as the community will know that we should not punish that. That conduct is excused."
Khandelwal added that the current system in place is not meeting anyone's needs.
"This is not that we don't care about the business community or about people who have experienced harm," Khandelwal explained. "It is that we know that this process — this processing of human beings through the system — is harmful to our clients and again very racially disproportionate, and also not getting business owners what they need, either."
What else?
Not all people are on board with the move, according to the outlet.
In a statement to Fox News, Seattle-area radio host Jason Rantz said, "We have this culture of lawlessness. We have a prolific offender problem where pretty much the same 100 or so individuals keep breaking the law, not seeing any punishment, and then doing the same thing over and over and over again."
"And so," he continued, "all you're doing is making it easier for those people to continue that behavior. And, the fear is, of course, you know, 'Does this only apply to Seattle residents?' And if not, does that mean someone can come from outside of the region who is destitute, who is low income, [and] break a whole bunch of laws knowing that if you do it in Seattle, you're not going to get into any trouble?"
Former Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess has also spoken out about the ordinance.
"It leans on the scales heavily in favor of certain individuals based on status, and it says to others, 'You don't matter,'" Burgess explained.
Former mayoral public safety adviser Scott Lindsay added, “It's a green light for crime. If you are engaged in 100 different misdemeanors that are in our criminal justice system code, you are not going to be held liable. You are not going to be held accountable."
Fox News reported that crime in Seattle has been on the rise since the summer's CHAZ protests, and the city saw a 525 percent spike in criminal activity as a result.
Fox said that documents from a Tuesday city council briefing "say the council would be required to specify whether the rule would apply solely to someone committing a misdemeanor to meet immediate basic needs."
The Seattle City Council will continue to work on the proposed ordinance in 2021.


theblaze--2020-12-14--WATCH: Can You Talk Politics in 2020?

WATCH: Can You Talk Politics in 2020?

WATCH : Can You Talk Politics in 2020 ?

Can you talk politics in 2020? Steven Crowder tackled this question on Monday after a viewer asked if agreeing to disagree is even possible any more.
According to Crowder, in the context of politics, in order for two people to agree to disagree, they must first have a conversation to determine where they disagree. The Hodgetwins join the show and give their take on the matter.
Can't watch? Listen to the podcast here.
Use promo code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Queens residents torch Ocasio-Cortez for Amazon abandoning HQ plans: 'Everybody fears AOC'

'Imagine if AOC did something positive with her big mouth '

Queens residents lashed out at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) over the weekend for her role in Amazon canceling its plans to build its second headquarters location in the New York City borough.
What's the background?
Two years ago, Amazon announced it would split its second headquarters between two locations: Long Island City in Queens and Crystal City, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.
But Ocasio-Cortez, who at the time was a relatively unknown far-left progressive who had just been elected to Congress, took serious issue with Amazon operating in Queens, despite Long Island City not being located in the congressional district she was elected to represent.
Amazon would have brought tens of thousands of jobs to the area and billions of dollars in annual revenue. But Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive New York politicians like state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D) opposed the development, decrying the tax incentives Amazon would have received and Amazon itself as an anti-union company.
What are residents saying?
Now, nearly two years after Amazon pulled its plans for Queens, residents are speaking out about the "squandered economic opportunity," according to the New York Post, that has been made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.
"I'm watching AOC selling 'Tax the rich' T-shirts for $58 while businesses are leaving New York. That's AOC's solution. Who is going to pay $58 for a T-shirt when you're out of a job?" local business owner Eric Benaim told the Post.
Local art gallery owner Donna Drimer told the Post, "We're in the middle of a pandemic. People say, 'If we only had Amazon.' We got nothing."
Drimer added, "AOC, Gianaris, [local Councilman Jimmy] Van Bramer — wake up! People are leaving. Businesses are closing."
Meanwhile, Gianna Cerbone, owner of a local restaurant, was more explicit with her anger, saying "delusional" far-left politicians have ruined western Queens, where Long Island City is located.
"I'm angry at the stupidity. Everybody fears AOC, who has no idea what she's doing. Opposing Amazon benefited other communities. Imagine if AOC did something positive with her big mouth," Cerbone told the Post. "I believed in Gianaris. Mike believed in the community until he went so far up AOC's ass she couldn't s**t him out."
Who else criticized AOC?
Surprisingly, fellow Democrats New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized Ocasio-Cortez, though not directly, after Amazon pulled the plug on its plans.
Cuomo, in fact, said politicians who opposed Amazon coming to Queens needed to be held accountable.
"A small group of politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community — which poll after poll showed overwhelmingly supported bringing Amazon to Long Island City — the state's economic future and the best interests of the people of this state," Cuomo said. "The New York State Senate has done tremendous damage. They should be held accountable for this lost economic opportunity."
How did AOC's office respond?
Lauren Hitt, a spokeswoman for Ocasio-Cortez, claimed the Amazon deal "would have given [residents'] hard-earned tax dollars to one of the wealthiest men in the world, in exchange for a campus that made no promises about hiring local residents or contracting with local businesses."
Meanwhile, Gianaris maintained his opposition to Amazon.
"In the last two years, Amazon has already added and announced more white-collar jobs in New York City than were called for in the HQ2 plan, all without massive public subsidy," he told the Post.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Election software company Smartmatic accuses Fox News of defamation, demands retractions, threatens

Election software company Smartmatic accuses Fox News of defamation, demands retractions, threatens lawsuits

The company said it was the victim of a 'disinformation campaign ' regarding the 2020 election .

Election software company Smartmatic on Monday demanded that Fox News and other right-of-center media outlets retract "false and defamatory" statements made about the company in the wake of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
In legal notices and retraction demands, the company accused Fox News, Newsmax, and One America News Network of making "dozens of factually inaccurate statements" as part of a "disinformation campaign" to discredit the results of the election.
Business Insider obtained a copy of a letter addressed to Fox News executive vice president and general counsel Lily Fu Claffee claiming that the network "continually and repeatedly published demonstrably false information and defamatory statements."
"Fox News told its millions of viewers and readers that Smartmatic was founded by Hugo Chávez, that its software was designed to fix elections, and that Smartmatic conspired with others to defraud the American people and fix the 2020 U.S. election by changing, inflating, and deleting votes," the letter stated.
The company, which designs and implements election security technology, was central to claims of voting fraud made by attorney Sidney Powell as part of the legal challenges to the 2020 election filed on behalf of President Donald Trump. Powell and others claimed that Smartmatic's software was created in Venezuela at the direction of socialist dictator Hugo Chavez "to make sure he never lost an election." She also claimed Smartmatic worked in partnership with Dominion Voting Systems, a voting machine manufacturer, as part of a conspiracy to illegitimately swing the election for former Vice President Joe Biden.
At the time, Smartmatic issued a statement denying Powell's claims and clarifying that no ownership nor financial relationship exists between itself and Dominion.
"Smartmatic had nothing to do with the 'controversies' that certain public and private figures have alleged regarding the 2020 U.S. election," Smartmatic said Monday. "Multiple fact-checkers have consistently debunked these false statements with stunning consistency and regularity."
"They have no evidence to support their attacks on Smartmatic because there is no evidence. This campaign was designed to defame Smartmatic and undermine legitimately conducted elections," Smartmatic CEO Antonio Mugica said. "Our efforts are more than just about Smartmatic or any other company. This campaign is an attack on election systems and election workers in an effort to depress confidence in future elections and potentially counter the will of the voters, not just here, but in democracies around the world."
Smartmatic's statement noted that contrary to claims made by Powell and others, the company's only involvement in the 2020 U.S. election was as a manufacturing partner, system integrator, and software developer for Los Angeles County's voting system.
Smartmatic has reserved "all its legal rights and remedies, including its right to pursue defamation and disparagement claims" should Fox News, Newsmax, and One America News Network refuse to retract their respective statements.


theblaze--2020-12-14--POLL: Will you remain politically engaged if/when President Trump leaves office?

Cast your vote and do n't forget to share !

POLL: Will you remain politically engaged if/when President Trump leaves office?
Cast your vote and don't forget to share!


theblaze--2020-12-14--Flashback: Experts, media orgs said it was 'impossible' to develop a vaccine by the end of the year

Flashback : Experts , media orgs said it was 'impossible ' to develop a vaccine by the end of the @

On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration officially granted Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine emergency use authorization, kicking off a massive distribution plan that promises to inoculate millions of Americans by the year's end. On Monday, the first doses of the groundbreaking vaccine were administered at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York.
This is overwhelming good news and obviously a historic achievement for the United States, and yes, many thanks are owed to the Trump administration, which pushed the development of a vaccine into overdrive with Operation Warp Speed. But don't tell that to critics of the president, who vehemently discounted that a vaccine could be produced so quickly simply because it was President Trump who promised it.
For months, public health experts and legacy media organizations cautioned Americans that Trump's claims of a vaccine by the end of the year were "impossible."
"It is preposterous," pandemic expert Dr. Irwin Redlener said in May regarding Trump's promise. "It is impossible to get that done by the end of the year."
NBC News ran a fact-check on Trump's claims, citing experts to say that a vaccine was still 12 to 18 months away unless a medical "miracle" happened.
Bloomberg News questioned if Trump's vaccine aspirations amounted to an "impossible dream."
Business Insider reported in April that a vaccine against the coronavirus might be impossible to produce regardless of the timeline.
In a September report about Trump's vaccine promises, NPR made sure to note that the president was "contradicting the [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]."
ABC News similarly reported that Trump's vaccine promise stood in contrast to what his own team of experts said.
CNBC noted that Trump's promise, which he repeated during the final presidential debate, was issued "despite contrary evidence."
When Trump announced at a campaign stop early in November that a vaccine was within weeks of being developed, Vox journalist Aaron Rupar called it the "surest indication yet" that America was not close on a vaccine.
Trump's statement turned out to be correct. On Nov. 9, Pfizer and BioNTech announced a breakthrough on the vaccine.
On the campaign trail, former Vice President Joe Biden said, "I trust vaccines. I trust scientists. But I don't trust Donald Trump."
It appears that many public health experts and media organizations adopted that same line of thinking. Instead of reporting about the optimistic progress taking place in the search for a vaccine, they leaned into any pessimism they could find around the subject. Ultimately, they were proven wrong.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Best Rebuttal: Which is your favorite?

Best Rebuttal: Which is your favorite?

Best Rebuttal : Which is your favorite ?

Let us know which rebuttal is your favorite! Watch all four videos and vote for the Best Rebuttal of 2020.
Our third category: Best Rebuttal!
Mark Levin: Pelosi’s Unhinged Meltdown Shows Just How Much She Hates America
Stu Absolutely NAILS Celebrities for 'Imagine' Virtue Signaling Hypocrisy
Exposing the Shocking Truth of #BlackLivesMatter (Preview)
SJWs Double Down on Anti-White Racism | Pseudo-Intellectual

The Best Rebuttal Is...

1. Mark Levin: Pelosi's Unhinged Meltdown Shows Just How Much She Hates America

2. Stu Absolutely NAILS Celebrities for 'Imagine' Virtue Signaling Hypocrisy

3. Exposing the Shocking Truth of #BlackLivesMatter (Preview)

4. SJWs Double Down on Anti-White Racism


theblaze--2020-12-14--US administers its first COVID-19 vaccine on a New York ICU nurse

The United States has administered the very first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, according to various reporting.
What are the details?
The U.S. rollout began on Monday as Sandra Lindsay, a critical care nurse from Northwell Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York, received the coronavirus vaccine at 9:23 ET on Monday, according to CNN.
The event was livestreamed with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).
"You didn't flinch," Cuomo quipped of Lindsay's vaccination.
Of the vaccine, Lindsay said, "I'm feeling well. I would like to thank all of the frontline workers and all my colleagues ... doing their job during this pandemic all over the world. ... I feel hopeful today, relieved. I hope this marks the beginning of a the end of a very painful time."
Cuomo added, "In New York, we prioritized health care workers at the top of the list to receive the vaccine because we know that you are out there every day putting your lives in danger for the rest of us."
"So this is the light at the end of the tunnel," he added. "But it's a long tunnel and we need people to continue to be doing the right thing. And the smart thing, all through the holiday season. And hopefully, when we get to about June, they estimate the vaccine can hit critical mass, but the health care workers will get it first because we know that you're super stressed during this holiday season."
What else?
According to reports, the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, received its first delivery of the vaccine this morning, and other areas in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, and Washington, D.C., are also expected to administer COVID-19 vaccines on Monday.
CNN reported, "The first batch of the vaccine was shipped out from a Pfizer plant in Portage, Michigan, on Sunday headed for over 600 sites across all 50 states."
Health officials first began administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines last week in the United Kingdom. Following the injections, at least two people saw allergic reactions to the vaccine, prompting experts to announce that people with histories of significant allergic reaction avoid the vaccine.
Experts say the vaccine is given as two separate shots administered 21 days apart.
At the time of this reporting, researchers at Johns Hopkins University estimate that there have been at least 16,262,304 confirmed COVID-19 infections in the United States, with at least 299,246 fatalities as a result of the deadly virus.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians takes defiant stand against NC Democratic Gov. Cooper's newest COVI

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians takes defiant stand against NC Democratic Gov. Cooper's newest COVID restrictions

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians , a federally recognized Native American tribe located in the mountains of North Carolina , is taking a stand against North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper , a Democrat .
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the Tar Heel State , Cooper announced a `` modified stay-at-home '' order last week , which went into effect Friday .
Under the order , North Carolinians are required to remain at home between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. , unless they are conducting activity that Cooper has deemed `` essential . ''
That means most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. Cooper has also prohibited the sale of alcohol after 9 p.m. and before 7 a.m. '' It means just what it says : people are to stay at home between those hours , '' Cooper said .
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department , responsible for law enforcement in North Carolina 's largest city and county , said they would enforce Cooper 's order , though not proactively , according to WCNC-TV .
`` We wo n't be setting up road blocks or check points in relation to that , in short , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public past hours you may be questioned on your whereabouts in compliance with the order , '' CMPD Deputy Chief Jeff Estes said .
The order will be in place until Jan. 5 , but could be extended .
How did the tribe respond ?
In a statement , Principal Chief Richard Sneed said his people would not be abiding by Cooper 's arbitrary order , citing the financial needs of his tribe .
`` After considerable research and consideration the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will not be adopting the measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Governor Roy Cooper .
As Principal Chief of the EBCI I have worked with EBCI public health officials to enact social distancing measures that protect our tribal citizens and guests while balancing the financial position of our community .
I will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in our community and will update our community if further measures are warranted , '' Sneed announced Friday .
States across the country are enacting new restrictions as COVID cases surge , which was not unexpected considering it is cold and flu season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services , also attributed the spike to Thanksgiving .
`` We are now seeing the impact of Thanksgiving gatherings , '' Cohen said last week , WCNC reported .
As TheBlaze reported , the economic consequences of the restrictions have been devastating on small businesses , particularly the restaurant industry .
In fact , the National Restaurant Association revealed that more than 110,000 restaurants have shuttered their doors since the pandemic began , or nearly one-in-five of every restaurant in America .

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a federally recognized Native American tribe located in the mountains of North Carolina, is taking a stand against North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat.
What's the background?
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the Tar Heel State, Cooper announced a "modified stay-at-home" order last week, which went into effect Friday.
Under the order, North Carolinians are required to remain at home between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., unless they are conducting activity that Cooper has deemed "essential." That means most businesses are mandated to close by 10 p.m. Cooper has also prohibited the sale of alcohol after 9 p.m. and before 7 a.m.
"It means just what it says: people are to stay at home between those hours," Cooper said.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, responsible for law enforcement in North Carolina's largest city and county, said they would enforce Cooper's order, though not proactively, according to WCNC-TV.
"We won't be setting up road blocks or check points in relation to that, in short, but if we come across you out in the public past hours you may be questioned on your whereabouts in compliance with the order," CMPD Deputy Chief Jeff Estes said.
The order will be in place until Jan. 5, but could be extended.
How did the tribe respond?
In a statement, Principal Chief Richard Sneed said his people would not be abiding by Cooper's arbitrary order, citing the financial needs of his tribe.
"After considerable research and consideration the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will not be adopting the measures included in the newest Executive Order issued by Governor Roy Cooper. As Principal Chief of the EBCI I have worked with EBCI public health officials to enact social distancing measures that protect our tribal citizens and guests while balancing the financial position of our community. I will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in our community and will update our community if further measures are warranted," Sneed announced Friday.
States across the country are enacting new restrictions as COVID cases surge, which was not unexpected considering it is cold and flu season. Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, also attributed the spike to Thanksgiving.
"We are now seeing the impact of Thanksgiving gatherings," Cohen said last week, WCNC reported.
As TheBlaze reported, the economic consequences of the restrictions have been devastating on small businesses, particularly the restaurant industry.
In fact, the National Restaurant Association revealed that more than 110,000 restaurants have shuttered their doors since the pandemic began, or nearly one-in-five of every restaurant in America.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Five Antifa scumbags gang up on man, beat him silly — and their 'comrades' demand reporter not recor

Five Antifa scumbags gang up on man, beat him silly — and their 'comrades' demand reporter not record attack

Five Antifa scumbags gang up on man , beat him silly — and their 'comrades ' demand reporter not record @ @ @ @ @ Do not film !
Do not film this ! '

Washington, D.C., and Washington state weren't the only flash points of Antifa thuggery over the weekend.
The black-clad leftists — who gaslight us with their self-described "anti-fascist" credo while engaging in blatantly fascist violence, bullying, and intimidation against anyone who gets in their way with few consequences — decided they would flex their muscles in Sacramento, California.
What happened?
The Proud Boys were protesting there Saturday, and Scott Rodd — the state government reporter for CapRadio News — was there to document the violence when Antifa decided to join the fray.
Rodd noted in a Twitter thread that "today was the most violent of any protest in downtown Sacramento since the election. Mace, batons, fisticuffs. A guy even pulled out a katana." A katana is a Japanese sword with a curved, single-edged blade used for slashing and stabbing — and yes, turns out an Antifa militant was brandishing the Samurai weapon, although Rodd referred to him as a "man on [the] counter-protest side."
One of the most draw-dropping of Rodd's clips showed what he said was a "man with a baton" who was "verbally antagonizing the group of counter protesters" — i.e., Antifa.
And how did the Antifa militants handle the verbal slights? "A number of them rushed him in an alley and beat him," Rodd wrote. It appears to be a five-against-one gang-up — Antifa aren't known for fighting one on one:
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @SRodd_CPR
They seem nice.
But that wasn't all. "Multiple counter-protesters blocked me and demanded I not film," Rodd added in his tweet. "I said (through a gas mask) I'm press and just doing my job."
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @SRodd_CPR
"Do not film! Do not film! Do not film this!" one leftist is heard hollering at Rodd while black umbrellas attempt to block him from recording.
When the beating ends, Rodd captures the image of the victim sprawled on the concrete and struggling to stand:
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @SRodd_CPR
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @SRodd_CPR
Here's the clip:
One might assume if our anti-fascist friends weren't up to anything violent or illegal — you know, like if they were sitting down over beers and coming together as one with conservatives in their post-election euphoria so we can build back better or something — they wouldn't be demanding that journalists refrain from documenting their actions.
This blatant prevention of First Amendment-protected reporting is an ongoing MO with Antifa and other violent leftist groups such as Black Lives Matter. We saw it in broad daylight in Portland, Oregon, last week when a gang of militant leftists bullied and physically attacked a Portland TV news reporter and videographer who dared enter their "autonomous zone" — and then kicked them out.
Still, there are plenty of folks still demanding cover for Antifa lawlessness, like one guy who warned Rodd that "there can be legal consequences for their comrades if you get too close [with a video camera]. It's a thin line. I have no respect for snitches disguised as journalists. Respect earns respect and trust earns trust."
But another Twitter user wasn't having any of it and shot back, "If your comrades aren't violating LAWS, then there wouldn't be LEGAL consequences! Freedom of the press is a fundamental right, protected by the constitution. If their actions put them in legal jeopardy, thats 100% on them!"


theblaze--2020-12-14--Horowitz: Now the federal judiciary has forfeited its right to determine ALL political questions

Horowitz : Now the federal judiciary has forfeited its right to determine ALL political questions So we 're ignoring illegal @ @ @ @ @ , right ?

"Republicans believe that states are in charge of elections. … I'm having a hard time figuring out the basis for that lawsuit." ~Sen. Lamar Alexander, Meet the Press, Dec. 13, 2020
So Republicans plan to ignore every illegal court ruling overturning state voter integrity laws in the future, right?
Ever since I published my book on the judiciary in 2016, I've been asking: Is there anything that is out of bounds for a court to do, or are courts like an all-powerful God? Well, over the weekend, we got our answer.
We finally discovered an instance in which the courts will enforce requirements for standing and refuse to adjudicate broadly political questions. Now it's time for conservatives to treat every court decision that violates rules of standing and the principle of federalism as null and void. Will all these principled "conservatives" who are cheering the court's decision in the Texas lawsuit stand with us in opposing judicial supremacism in all forms?
In recent years, the federal courts have waded into every political issue imaginable. They have prevented states from enforcing federal immigration law, while not only greenlighting states to criminalize federal law, but preventing the federal government from cutting off funding to sanctuary states. They have prevented states from defining marriage, upholding basic sexuality, or placing commonsense health regulations on abortion clinics. They have prevented states from cleaning out homeless encampments and from simply declining to fund castration "surgery" in prison or through Medicaid funding. They have also prevented states from requiring able-bodied Medicaid recipients attempt to seek employment.
For a while, it appeared there was nothing a state (and even the feds) could do without a federal court violating the rules of standing to give some straw-man third-party organization (often on behalf of illegal aliens) standing to sue to overturn the outcome of a fundamentally political issue and decide it with finality.
However, those same courts have no problem when states thumb their noses at federal immigration law or when they violate every individual right known to man in under the guise of fighting coronavirus.
In other words, these judges believe in states' rights when the outcome benefits the Left, and they believe in a strong federal government with final court adjudication when it benefits the Left as well. They believe in protecting "rights" when they are invented, but not real rights spelled out in the Constitution. Heads the Left wins; tails we lose.
Which brings us to the Friday night decision not to take up the Texas lawsuit alleging that four states violated election law in a way that tainted the outcome of a federal election. Many conservative pundits and elected Republicans are cheering this decision as a much-needed exercise in judicial restraint, respect for state powers, and properly defending the rules of Article III standing. After all, we shouldn't have federal courts determining political questions, such as the results of a presidential race (never mind that the lawsuit was not seeking a determination on who won, a decision ultimately left to the state legislatures and congressional certification).
There is one problem with this line of thought. The only reason we are in the position we are today with a broken election system full of mail-in ballots and ballot harvesting is precisely because the federal courts officiously commandeered state election laws for the past generation. Yes, the federal courts have butted in to every state decision on election law – except those interventions were OK because they benefited Democrats.
Republicans have controlled many key state governments in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Michigan from 2010 to 2018 and passed voter integrity laws or enforced existing ones during those years. Every step of the way, federal courts gave standing to straw-men plaintiffs to block every election integrity measure imaginable. In fact, to this day, Democrats hold the governorship in North Carolina solely because of ballot harvesting that is prohibited under state law but forced upon the state by the Fourth Circuit. To this day, photo ID is not required in North Carolina despite conservatives working hard to enact it into law. The same Fourth Circuit gutted it. Democrats also hold two extra House seats thanks to the Fourth Circuit destroying the election map.
Likewise, in Arizona, Republicans have controlled state government for as far as one can remember. Over the past generation, nearly every voter integrity law has been thrown out by the Ninth Circuit, often in cases where the laws at issue were approved by ballot initiative with overwhelming support. The Supreme Court has sided with the wayward lower court most of the time.
Every time Arizona has tried to stem the tide of illegal aliens, the courts have come after the state. This has created a cascading effect of illegal aliens being able to remain in large urban areas and be counted in the Census. Numerous pieces of federal legislation have been passed by a margin that is entirely garnered through counting of illegal aliens in the Census. How is that lawful?
Thus, the entire premise and precedent for the current electoral model that Democrats abused this year was created wholesale by the lower federal courts that the pathetic Supreme Court has failed to police. Specifically, in this election, the League of Women voters sued in federal court to have Pennsylvania's signature validation process on mail-in ballots countermanded (League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar, No. 2:20-cv-03850-PBT, (E.D. Pa. Aug. 7, 2020)). As a result of that federal lawsuit, the Pennsylvania secretary of state made a settlement that unilaterally gutted state law, allowing hundreds of thousands of extra ballots to be counted without proper verification, which is likely why the rejection rate this year for mail-in ballots was impossibly low.
A similar settlement resulting from a federal lawsuit took place in Georgia as well (Democratic Party of Georgia v. Raffensperger, No. 1:19-cv-5028-WMR (N.D. Ga.)). As always, the federal courts tampered with every aspect of North Carolina's election process, but Democrats came up slightly short, although suspiciously close.
Which brings us back to the Supreme Court. Notice a pattern here? There never seems to be a problem of federalism and Article III standing when lower federal courts want to shred existing state election law in order to benefit Democrats. Somehow, the Supreme Court rarely reverses these opinions before the elections. Then, when we seek redress for the fallout that was largely enabled over the years, and during this particular election, from the federal judiciary's foray into state powers in the first place, we are told that the Supreme Court wants to stay out.
As we speak, a federal judge in Georgia is considering whether to add 200,000 voters to the Georgia voter rolls prior to the runoff elections. These registrations were removed pursuant to state voter integrity laws and section 8 of the motor voter law, which requiresstates to "make a reasonable effort to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters." Watch for the same "principled" conservatives to have no problem with the Supreme Court "respecting" federalism by "staying out" of a state political fight when their own lower courts overturned state law to begin with.
This is not about Trump, and it's not even just about future elections. This is about a fundamentally rigged judiciary and political system that has one rule of engagement that is consistent: Heads the Democrats win, tails the people lose.
Republican establishment types will tell you to look forward to "the next election," when Republicans will win back a lot of power. Let's indulge this line of thought for a moment. Let's forget about the fact that Republicans can no longer win elections because of the election law fraud that is being enabled (and often perpetrated) by the courts and the political system. For argument's sake, let's say Republicans win back the trifecta control of government in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in 2022 as they did in 2010. And let's also indulge the myth that somehow these Republicans will actually pass worthy legislation on numerous issues that are important to us. Just understand that every one of them will be "struck down" by the courts.
How do I know? This is what has already happened last decade, when Republicans won these states after 2010. I'll never forget the tears in the eyes of one North Carolina activist who fought so hard to pass photo ID requirements when she saw, following the Fourth Circuit ruling, a sign outside a polling station inviting people to vote without photo verification. Despite photo ID requirements being codified in the state's constitution, the federal courts have handed Democrats one victory after another. We can't even long for a better day or to perform better next time because we can no longer win elections due to the fraud, not to mention the fact that these very same courts that are so hands-off suddenly become hands-on when we gain power.
Phony conservatives and every Democrat seem to finally be espousing my view on the judiciary – the view of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln rejected the notion that "the policy of the Government upon vital questions affecting the whole people is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court the instant they are made in ordinary litigation between parties in personal actions."
Well, just last week, a federal judge ruled that Trump must issue citizenship documents to illegal aliens granted amnesty by Obama. Where are the questions of Article III standing for illegal aliens? Where are the skeptics of redressability on how a court can wade into immigration questions or bind one president to the unilateral moves of a predecessor who said 22 times that his actions were illegal? "I am not king. I can't do these things just by myself," Obama declared in response to calls for him to grant amnesty that later became known as DACA.
In fact, Obama was right back then. Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist 69 when contrasting the power of a president to that of a king: "The one [a president] can confer no privileges whatever; the other [a king] can make denizens of aliens." Now we are to believe that a federal district judge has more power than a president or a king?
If we had a sane party of Republicans, they would use this ruling as an impetus to ignore every illegal federal court decision. They would adopt Lincoln's view as expressed in the sixth debate with Stephen Douglas in 1858: "Judge Douglas understands the Constitution according to the Dred Scott decision, and he is bound to support it as he understands it. I understand it another way, and therefore I am bound to support it in the way in which I understand it."
Then again, we don't have any party today that cares about the Constitution or is willing to fight for it on any issue. We must all look beyond the idolatry of the Republican Party and a "conservative" Supreme Court if we are to maintain some semblance of republicanism in any part of this country.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Electoral College set to officially elect Joe Biden today

Across the country , at various times in state capitals , members of the nation 's Electoral College are set to meet today and vote , making Joe Biden the president-elect of the United States .
The Trump campaign 's legal team has mounted a bevy of challenges to the electoral results in a number of swing states , but those challenges have been rejected by federal courts , and the campaign 's attempts to prevent states from certifying and choosing electors have failed , culminating in last week 's refusal by the Supreme Court to hear the state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which some states changed their absentee ballot rules .
In the absence of any surprise defectors , Biden is expected to receive 306 electoral votes today , more than the 270 needed to elect him as the nation 's 46th president .
The Trump team has promised to continue to pursue legal challenges in the state court system ; however , after electors cast their votes today , it seems highly unlikely that any court will hear further challenges or would be able to award any remedy that might undo the votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no plausible legal path to challenge Biden 's election remains .
The only remaining step in the formal process of electing the president is the congressional counting of Electoral College votes , which will occur on Jan. 6 .
The Trump team has promised that an `` alternate '' slate of electors will meet today in certain contested states , but there is no legal precedent for recognition of this `` alternate '' slate , and there is little or no chance that Congress will recognize their votes .
When sworn in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve as president of the United States at the age of 78 .
Kamala Harris will become the first female and first person of color to serve as vice president of the United States .
In the absence of a truly unexpected event , Biden and Harris will be inaugurated on Jan. 20 , 2021 .

Across the country, at various times in state capitals, members of the nation's Electoral College are set to meet today and vote, making Joe Biden the president-elect of the United States.
The Trump campaign's legal team has mounted a bevy of challenges to the electoral results in a number of swing states, but those challenges have been rejected by federal courts, and the campaign's attempts to prevent states from certifying and choosing electors have failed, culminating in last week's refusal by the Supreme Court to hear the state of Texas' last-ditch lawsuit contesting the manner in which some states changed their absentee ballot rules.
In the absence of any surprise defectors, Biden is expected to receive 306 electoral votes today, more than the 270 needed to elect him as the nation's 46th president.
The Trump team has promised to continue to pursue legal challenges in the state court system; however, after electors cast their votes today, it seems highly unlikely that any court will hear further challenges or would be able to award any remedy that might undo the votes once they are cast, meaning that no plausible legal path to challenge Biden's election remains.
The only remaining step in the formal process of electing the president is the congressional counting of Electoral College votes, which will occur on Jan. 6. The Trump team has promised that an "alternate" slate of electors will meet today in certain contested states, but there is no legal precedent for recognition of this "alternate" slate, and there is little or no chance that Congress will recognize their votes.
When sworn in, Biden will become the oldest person to serve as president of the United States at the age of 78. Kamala Harris will become the first female and first person of color to serve as vice president of the United States. In the absence of a truly unexpected event, Biden and Harris will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021.


theblaze--2020-12-14--Ohio permits high school wrestling to commence amid COVID pandemic — as long as wrestlers don't shak

Ohio permits high school wrestling to commence amid COVID pandemic — as long as wrestlers don't shake hands

Ohio permits high school wrestling to commence amid COVID pandemic — as long as wrestlers do n't shake hands

Ohio lawmakers are now permitting high school wrestlers to wrestle, but those wrestlers cannot shake hands before or after matches.
What are the details?
According to the College Fix, state lawmakers will permit the public high school wrestling season to commence — but with a big caveat: Players will not be permitted to shake hands at any point before, during, or after the match.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association states that wrestlers in the full-body contact sport will not be required to wear masks, but will also not be able to congregate or shake hands and will be required wear facial coverings while off the mat, and more:
No congregating before or after practices or games
Wear facial coverings off the mat when not actively competing or warming up
[T]hose on the team bench shall observe social distancing of 6 feet
Do not share equipment, towels, facial coverings, water bottles, other drinks or food
The Fix noted, "Coaches must not share 'clipboards, whiteboards, dry erase boards, or any other equipment used for coaching purposes.'"
All coaches are required to carry out "pre-travel symptom and temperature checks."
"Wrestling officials, who literally have to get down flat to determine pins (their head and hands touching the mat), don't have to wear masks during matches ... but are forbidden to hold up a winning wrestler's arm in victory at match's conclusion," the outlet notes.
WLWT-TV reported that the Ohio High School Athletic Association also requires that all student athletes should sanitize their hands before and after warmups, even though they're not permitted to shake hands.
"Equipment should not be shared. If equipment needs to be shared, OHSAA mandates the proper sanitation between use," WLWT reports. "Student-athletes must also sanitize their hands before and after warmups, at all timeouts and period breaks any time they leave the competition or practice mats.
You can read the full list of regulations here.