theblaze--2020-04-28--South Dakotans throw a parade for Gov. Kristi Noem, who refused to shut down their state

South Dakotans throw a parade for Gov .
Kristi Noem , who refused to shut down their state Quite a @ @ @ @ @ the nation facing protests

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) has taken a lot of heat from the media and other critics for refusing to issue a state lockdown during the coronavirus crisis. But on Monday, she received some gratitude from her fellow South Dakotans.
Gov. Noem was surprised with a parade (from a safe distance), in a display that evoked a touching reaction from the governor.
What are the details?
In a video posted to the Republican's Twitter feed, Noem can be seen walking outdoors as emergency sirens blared from a caravan that included numerous vehicles interspersed with firetrucks, a pickup hauling a stock trailer, a concrete truck, and even construction equipment.
As the engines revved and horns honked, the governor leaned toward whoever was behind the camera, seeming to ask what was going on before the woman told her, "It's a parade for you. Wave to 'em!"
With that, Noem waved a number of times as she strolled and observed what was going on, before stopping to pause and to place a hand over her mouth, appearing moved by the gesture.
In her Twitter post, the governor wrote, "I am so blessed to serve the people of the great State of South Dakota. You folks made my day!"
What else?
Gov. Noem has made waves by being one of only a handful of governors in the U.S. who has refused to lock down her state in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She explained earlier this month, "Our Constitution ensures that the citizen's right is protected. I agree with the role of our government as set forth in our state and in our national Constitution. I took an oath to uphold these constitutions. My role with respect to public safety is something I take very seriously."
"The people themselves are primarily responsible for their safety," Noem added. "They are the ones that are entrusted with expansive freedoms — they are free to exercise their rights to work, worship, and play — or to stay at home, or to conduct social distancing. The calls to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to this problem in South Dakota is herd mentality, not leadership."


theblaze--2020-04-28--Howard Stern says he's 'all in' for Biden — and tells Trump supporters to drink bleach and die

Howard Stern says he 's 'all in ' for Biden — and tells Trump supporters to drink bleach and die @ @ @ @ @ drop dead '

Talk radio icon Howard Stern declared that he is "all in" for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, and then added that he wanted Trump supporters to drink bleach and die.
Stern made the comments on his SiriusXM show after criticizing President Donald Trump for pondering aloud during a coronavirus task force media briefing if disinfectant or ultraviolet light could be used to combat the pandemic. He later said he was being sarcastic.
"What's it going to take? I don't get it," Stern said about Trump's comments. "I don't think there is anyone left who will vote for him."
He made his endorsement later in the show.
"I am all in on Joe Biden," said Stern.
"You see the wall that's right next to you, I'll vote for the wall over a guy who tells me that I should pour Clorox into my mouth. Listen, I think we are in deep s**t. I think we could have been ahead of this curve," he added.
"I would love it if Donald would get on TV and take an injection of Clorox and let's see if his theory works. Hold a big rally, say f**k this coronavirus, with all of his followers, and let them hug each other and kiss each other and have a big rally," Stern continued.
"And all take disinfectant and all drop dead," he added.
Stern has said previously that he helped Trump win the presidency in 2016 by having him on his talk show. But he added that he was rooting for Hillary Clinton to win. He also claimed that Trump asked for his endorsement and Stern refused.
Here's more of Stern talking Trump:


theblaze--2020-04-28--Virginia judge rules indoor gun range can reopen, dealing a blow to Gov. Northam's shutdown order

A Virginia judge has ruled that an indoor gun range shut down by Gov .
Ralph Northam 's ( D ) coronavirus executive order may immediate reopen .
saying the governor overstepped with his mandate because state statute `` specifically limits his authority in relation to the right to keep and bear arms . ''
What are the details ?
SafeSide Lynchburg , an indoor gun range in Lynchburg , was shut down along with other indoor ranges in the state as part of Northam 's COVID-19 dictates .
Outdoor ranges were still allowed to operate , while indoor ranges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amusement , '' and therefore deemed non-essential during the pandemic .
SafeSide sued Northam over the closure , joined by Gun Owners of America , Virginia Citizens Defense League , and the Association of Virginia Gun Ranges .
On Monday , Judge Patrick Yeatts issued a temporary injunction allowing the range to reopen , finding that `` indoor ranges are protected '' by a statute that states that `` the Governor can not 'in any way limit or prohibit the rights of the people to keep and bear arms . '
'' Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrated a depravation of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms , financial hardship for the business and employees , and lack of training access for its customers . ''
The Washington Free Beacon reported that `` the decision does not apply to all ranges in the state , but gun-rights groups that helped file the suit said it lays the groundwork for eventually overturning the statewide ban . ''
Philip Van Cleave , president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League , told the outlet , `` We 're weighing our options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want all indoor ranges free of this .
What the judge laid out was great reasoning why , really , none of the ranges should be falling under this . ''
In reaction to the court 's decision , Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring ( D ) told The Washington Times , `` Governor Northam 's efforts to save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19 are necessary and proving to be effective , but unfortunately , the gun lobby believes the ability to shoot a gun indoors during this pandemic is worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making Virginia communities and families less safe . ''

A Virginia judge has ruled that an indoor gun range shut down by Gov. Ralph Northam's (D) coronavirus executive order may immediate reopen, saying the governor overstepped with his mandate because state statute "specifically limits his authority in relation to the right to keep and bear arms."
What are the details?
SafeSide Lynchburg, an indoor gun range in Lynchburg, was shut down along with other indoor ranges in the state as part of Northam's COVID-19 dictates. Outdoor ranges were still allowed to operate, while indoor ranges were determined to be "places of amusement," and therefore deemed nonessential during the pandemic.
SafeSide sued Northam over the closure, joined by Gun Owners of America, Virginia Citizens Defense League, and the Association of Virginia Gun Ranges.
On Monday, Judge Patrick Yeatts issued a temporary injunction allowing the range to reopen, finding that "indoor ranges are protected" by a statute that states that "the Governor cannot 'in any way limit or prohibit the rights of the people to keep and bear arms.'"
Judge Yeatts wrote, "The plaintiffs have demonstrated a depravation of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, financial hardship for the business and employees, and lack of training access for its customers."
The Washington Free Beacon reported that "the decision does not apply to all ranges in the state, but gun-rights groups that helped file the suit said it lays the groundwork for eventually overturning the statewide ban."
Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, told the outlet, "We're weighing our options because our ultimate goal is that we want all indoor ranges free of this. What the judge laid out was great reasoning why, really, none of the ranges should be falling under this."
Anything else?
In reaction to the court's decision, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D) told The Washington Times, "Governor Northam's efforts to save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19 are necessary and proving to be effective, but unfortunately, the gun lobby believes the ability to shoot a gun indoors during this pandemic is worth risking further spread of the virus and making Virginia communities and families less safe."


theblaze--2020-04-28--A new source goes public to corroborate sexual assault claims against Biden — and she's a Democrat

A new source goes public to corroborate sexual assault claims against Biden — and she 's a Democrat 'She felt @ @ @ @ @ and she really did n't feel there was anything she could do . '

Another source has surfaced to corroborate the sexual assault claims of Tara Reade against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, and she's made them on the record to the Business Insider.
The source is a former neighbor of Reade's who says that she discussed the heinous accusations with her in the 1990s.
"This happened, and I know it did because I remember talking about it," said Lynda LaCasse.
LaCasse confirmed the graphic details of Reade's account to the Business Insider.
"I remember her saying, here was this person that she was working for and she idolized him," LaCasse said.
"And he kind of put her up against a wall. And he put his hand up her skirt," she added, repeating more details. "She felt like she was assaulted, and she really didn't feel there was anything she could do."
Reade says that Biden assaulted her in a brutal manner in 1993 during the time she worked as a congressional aide at his office. The Biden campaign has denied the allegations.
LaCasse says she told Reade to go to the police at the time.
"I don't remember all the details," LaCasse said. "I remember the skirt. I remember the fingers. I remember she was devastated."
LaCasse says that she's aware there might be repercussions for her coming out publicly about the story. She added that she is a Democrat that still supports Biden.
"I personally am a Democrat, a very strong Democrat," she said. "And I'm for Biden, regardless. But still I have to come out and say this."
Insider confirmed through public records that LaCasse lived next to Reade.
Here's more about the allegations against Biden:


theblaze--2020-04-29--Breaking: Rep. Justin Amash is running for president

The former Republican says Americans are ready 'for an honest , principled president who will defend the Constitution '

Michigan Rep. Justin Amash (I) has announced he is launching a 2020 presidential bid to become the nominee for the Libertarian Party.
What are the details?
In a Twitter post on Tuesday, the former Republican shared a link to his campaign website with the message, "Let's do this," before explaining, "Today, I launched an exploratory committee to seek the @LPNational's nomination for president of the United States. Americans are ready for practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people."
He added, "We're ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I'm excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president."
In a statement on his campaign website, Amash writes:
We're ready. For something new. For a government that secures our rights. For equality before the law. For an end to cronyism. For a government that fulfills its purpose and recognizes its limits. For practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people. For an honest, principled president who will defend the Constitution and put individuals first.
Who is Justin Amash?
Rep. Amash was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican during the Tea Party tidal wave in 2010. He became a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Amash is known for his knowledge of the Constitution, and for explaining the reasoning behind his votes via social media for his constituents. He is also known for taking a principled stand, even when he might stand alone.
The congressman was the sole House Republican to call for moving forward with impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, in May of last year. Amid uproar from the party, he left the Freedom Caucus in June, so as not to be "a further distraction from the group."
The next month, Amash left the Republican Party, declaring his "Independence" in a July 4 op-ed for The Washington Post, wherein he declared that "our politics is in a partisan death spiral."


theblaze--2020-04-29--A recent study found all-cause mortality rate is lower now than in recent years

According to the Centers for Disease Control, a large number of COVID-19 hospitalizations had at least one underlying condition. Yet, many doctors are recording deaths as coronavirus-related without doing much to investigate the actual cause of death.
Consider this: When you visit your doctor you are always asked if you or a family member has been diagnosed with common health conditions. Each patient's medical history provides your doctor with important information that directly affects the path taken for treatment.
By process of elimination, doctors can rule out common diseases and narrow down likely causes for illness.
Now, imagine being under the impression your mother or father died from COVID-19 when, in reality, it was hypertension or heart disease that caused the death of your loved one.
A person could be misdiagnosed because there isn't a COVID-19 box to check on their medical history form, Because COVID-19 is more of the flu than a leading cause of deaths each year in the United States.
It is irresponsible to say a person died from one illness if the facts suggest otherwise.
After all, deaths have been ruled COVID-19 related simply because the virus was present at the time of death.
No one explains the importance of accurate reporting better than Steven Crowder. Watch the video below for more on this topic.
Use code QUARANTINE to save $30 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-04-29--Racist narrative for attacks on Asian businesses in San Jose implodes after police name a suspect

Racist narrative for attacks on Asian businesses in San Jose implodes after police name a suspect Cops do n't think @ @ @ @ @ at all

Some feared racism motivated a spree of vandalism against numerous shops owned by Asian Americans in San Jose, California, but the narrative imploded after police named a suspect.
That's because the suspect appears to also be of Asian descent.
The destructive acts caused thousands of dollars in damage to shops that either featured Asian products or were owned by Asian Americans.
"It just makes me feel extremely heartbroken that there are people out there who would do such a thing," said Vinh Pham, co-owner of Seven Leaves Cafe, to the San Jose Spotlight. "I saw that every single window was smashed and I was just in awe."
Police sought help from the public and posted still shots from surveillance video capturing a suspect vandalizing the businesses.
On Tuesday, Milpitas Police identified their suspect as 42-year-old Tai Van Trinh.
"Based on the preliminary investigation, there is no indication these incidents are hate motivated," said the police.
Pham said that replacing the windows will cost the business more than $10,000.
While the attacks on the shops in San Jose appear not to be racially motivated, law enforcement officials have noted an uptick in incidents involving bigoted attacks on Asian Americans related to anger and fear over the coronavirus epidemic.
In one harrowing incident, a man attacked an Asian American family of four at a Sam's Club in Midland, Texas. He stabbed a 2-year-old, a 6-year-old child, and an adult before a store employee disarmed him. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime because the suspect told the family he thought they were Chinese and infected with the coronavirus.
In response to these incidents, Asian Americans have been buying guns in droves in order to defend themselves.
Here's more about the shop vandalism in San Jose:


theblaze--2020-04-28--Tara Reade torches Hillary Clinton for endorsing Biden, says she's 'enabling a sexual predator'

Biden 's accuser says Clinton has a 'history ' of providing cover for 'powerful men '

Tara Reade slammed Hillary Clinton for endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden's bid for the White House on Tuesday, and accused the 2016 Democratic nominee of "enabling a sexual predator."
Reade — who says Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 while she worked in his Senate office — also blasted Clinton as having "a history of enabling powerful men to cover up" such behavior.
What are the details?
Clinton joined Biden for a virtual town hall about "the impact of COVID-19 on women," and during the livestream, the former secretary of state offered her endorsement of Biden.
In reaction to the news, Reade told Fox News, "I voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. I voted for her in the primary. I'm a lifelong Democrat. But yet, what I see now is someone enabling a sexual predator and it was my former boss, Joe Biden, who raped me."
"Hillary Clinton has a history of enabling powerful men to cover up their sexual predatory behaviors and their inappropriate sexual misconduct," Reade continued. "We don't need that for this country. We don't need that for our new generation coming up that wants institutional rape culture to change."
She added, "I will not be smeared, dismissed or ignored. I stand in truth and I will keep speaking out."
Reade's accusations against Biden were not brought up during the women's town hall, and Biden has not yet been asked in any press interviews to address the sexual assault claim.
Biden has not personally responded to Reade's accusations against him at all, but his campaign has insisted her claims are false and supplied a statement from Biden's longtime Senate office manager who insists that there were never reports of inappropriate behavior against Biden from Reade or anyone else during her tenure.
Reade maintains that she did file a complaint against Biden during her time working in the Senate, and believes the documentation exists to back her up. But the records are currently stored by the University of Delaware Library.
What else?
Also on Tuesday, Reade called on Biden to have those documents released. In a statement to the Daily Caller, she said, "Joe Biden, I want you to release all the personnel records from 1973 to 2009 and be transparent about your office practices. I would like to hold you accountable for what happened to me, to how your staff protected you and enabled you, bullied me multiple times into silence."
Reade explained to Fox News, "I'm calling for the release of the documents being held by the University of Delaware that contain Biden's staff personnel records because I believe it will have my complaint form, as well as my separation letter and other documents."
She added, "Maybe if other staffers that have tried to file complaints would come to light — why are they under seal? And why won't they be released to the public?"


theblaze--2020-04-28--Hannity demanded a retraction of a coronavirus article and the New York Times just responded

Hannity demanded a retraction of a coronavirus article and the New York Times just responded The ball is in Hannity @ @ @

The New York Times responded Tuesday to a demand from Fox News host Sean Hannity to retract claims made against him in their article about the coronavirus and apologize.
"The columns are accurate, do not reasonably imply what you and Mr. Hannity allege they do, and constitute protected opinion," wrote David E. McCraw, the attorney representing the New York Times.
"In response to your request for an apology and retraction, our answer is 'no,' " he concluded.
Hannity's lawyers threatened to sue the Times over an article published on April 18 that documented the death of Joe Joyce from the coronavirus.
The family of Joyce say that he was warned not to go on a cruise during the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, but that he ignored the warnings because of the news broadcasts on Fox News downplaying the threat.
One of those cited was a segment by Hannity.
On Monday, Hannity sent a demand from his lawyers that they apologize and retract the story because his report was chronologically a week after Joyce decided to go on the cruise.
"We demand that you promptly remove the foregoing false and defamatory statements from the Stories and any subsequent republications in print or any other medium, and publish a full, fair and conspicuous retraction, correction and apology as to each of the false and defamatory statements identified above," read the letter from Hannity.
In 2017, Hannity threatened to sue former President Barack Obama with the "biggest lawsuit" possible over reports that he had been incidentally surveilled as part of the investigation into Russian election interference.
Here's Hannity on the New York Times feud:


theblaze--2020-04-28--'You haven't won anything': Stacey Abrams slammed by fellow Dem for pushing to be Biden's VP pick

'You have n't won anything ' : Stacey Abrams slammed by fellow Dem for pushing to be Biden 's VP @ @ @ @ @ is actively campaigning for the spot

Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D) was hit with a scathing rebuke from a longtime Democratic congressman on Tuesday, over her active campaign to become Joe Biden's pick for vice president in his bid for the White House.
Missouri Rep. Lacy Clay (D) called Abrams' push to be on the ticket "inappropriate" while reminding her, "You haven't won anything."
What are the details?
Abrams has been seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party since her narrow loss to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) in 2018, and has made it clear she wants to occupy the Oval Office at some point.
After Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) suspended his presidential campaign, leaving Biden as the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, Abrams launched a media blitz publicly campaigning for Biden to add her to the ticket.
According to Politico, Abrams has also "been privately calling Democratic power brokers, asking them to tell Biden campaign officials that she should be vice president."
But Clay, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001, told the Tangazo podcast Abrams's push to be Biden's VP is "inappropriate," given that she gained national name recognition because of her loss in Georgia.
According to the Daily Caller, Clay said:
Here's what I do know. And it's like all of the other presidential candidates, Democratic presidential primary candidates and their supporters, OK, we went through a process, Bernie Sanders has conceded, and this applies to Stacey [Abrams] too.
You know, at the race track, you cannot show up at the winner's window with loser's tickets. You haven't won anything. You can't show up at the winner's window with loser's tickets and demand anything.
I'll tell you what is somewhat offensive to me, is when you are marketing yourself as a VP candidate...for you to be out there marketing and putting on a PR campaign that way, I think it's inappropriate.


theblaze--2020-04-28--'This medicine ... will surely kill them': Doctor on frontline issues warning for COVID-19 treatment

'This medicine ... will surely kill them ' : Doctor on frontline issues warning for COVID-19 treatment There is n't @ @ @ @ @

Dr. Tom Yadegar, a specialist in critical care medicine who has been treating some of the most extreme cases of the coronavirus, joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Tuesday to share some important information with the public and doctors around the world about treating COVID-19.
As the intensive care unit director at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in California, Yadegar and has been treating patients with COVID-19 for about seven weeks and has not lost a single patient. He was recently asked to command four more regional hospitals because he and his team are performing well above other hospitals in the Los Angeles area.
Yadegar created a protocol to determine which patients with COVID-19 also have what's called "cytokine storm syndrome" -- a process by which the body's immune system rapidly releases too many cytokines into the blood.
"The immune system kind of goes awry. It doesn't act normally. The immune system gets super ramped up, and instead of attacking the virus, it attacks the patient's own vital organs," Yadegar explained. "It's actually [the patient's] own immune system that's causing the problem, not necessarily the virus.
"Don't get me wrong. This is a deadly virus. Just like the influenza virus, it can definitely cause pneumonia. It can definitely cause respiratory failure. If the patient has emphysema or heart failure, it can definitely exacerbate those," he added. "But this [coronavirus] was doing something unique. This was doing something that I really hadn't seen much in my 20 years, where it was activating the immune system. And then the immune system was causing all the destruction in the lungs."
Yadegar noted that, while a virus triggering an autoimmune disease is not necessarily an "unknown thing," the COVID-19 virus "does it at an extraordinary pace" and to a significant number of patients. He stressed the importance of recognizing that not every patient with COVID-19 will develop an autoimmune disease and that every case must be treated individually.
"One thing that I can't stress any harder to you and your listeners. There isn't necessarily one test, and there isn't one particular treatment plan. Every patient has their own kind of individual disease," he said. "You can't treat everyone with the same treatments. There isn't a one-size-fits-all for this disease. You have to do your due diligence. You have to look at the patient in front of you and then, you know, come up with a treatment for the disease that that patient is manifesting. You can't just go through the ICU, and start handing out these medicines. If you give this medicine to someone who doesn't need it, you will surely kill them."
Watch the video below for more details:
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, BlazeTV is offering our BIGGEST discount ever! Get $30 off your subscription when you use promo code GLENN. Claim your special offer at https://get.blazetv.com/glenn/.
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-04-28--Policeman lauded as hero after he rescues 2 teens caught in a raging river

A Georgia police officer is a hero after saving two teenagers from a raging river last week.
What are the details?
Canton Police Officer Luis Salas received a call about two teens in need of rescue at Etowah River Park.
Salas, who is also a U.S. Marine Corps vet, saw the two teens submerged in the raging river while clinging for life to a nearby tree branch.
"I took off my gear, took my belt off quickly, and my vest off," he said. "So I immediately get in the water and swim my way down that way until I finally catch up to them."
Salas said that he calmly told the two teens who he was and what he aimed to do: Save their lives.
"I need y'all to trust me with your lives," he recalled telling the teens. "Please just trust me and calm down, for we can get out of this, all three of us alive, and go home."
Salas said that one of the teens did not know how to swim.
"The female, the juvenile female, told me she cannot swim to save her life, that she's scared," Salas said. "So I told her to calm down, hold on to me, and I'll get us all to safety."
What happened next?
Backup arrived shortly after Salas began his valiant rescue and helped tow Salas and the teens from the swollen river. The teens were sent to a hospital for observation, but were later released to their homes in good condition.
"I've been in the Marine Corps so I have taken swimming qualifications many times, and it's always been in cold water," he said. "Always. It's never been warm."
On Monday, the department requested its Facebook followers to issue a great, big "thank you" to Salas for his heroic deeds.


theblaze--2020-04-28--Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl surprises ER nurse from coronavirus front lines with stirring performance o

Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl surprises ER nurse from coronavirus front lines with stirring performance of 'Everlong' over video

Foo Fighters ' Dave Grohl surprises ER nurse from coronavirus front lines with stirring performance of 'Everlong ' over video @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 survivor

Late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel welcomed on his show Monday an emergency room nurse from the front lines of the coronavirus in New York City and had some big surprises for him.
What are the details?
Kimmel told TJ Riley — who works at the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx and also survived COVID-19, Rolling Stone reported — that he did some research and discovered Riley is a big music fan.
So, what could be better than adding Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl to the get-together?
And when the musician's smiling mug hit the video screen, Riley was understandably starstruck and told Grohl what a "huge" fan he is.
Oh, but it gets better.
Kimmel told Riley that Life Is Good, an apparel company, is sending him $10,000 "to spend however you like" as well as gift packages to all the nurses in Riley's department "to thank and honor them, too."
Surprise song
Then Kimmel turned things over to Grohl, asking if he had anything to offer Riley — and Grohl sure did.
Pulling out an acoustic guitar, Grohl started strumming the chords to Foo Fighters' "Everlong," a hard-rocking hit from the late '90s that Grohl later reinvented as an intimate acoustic number.
After finishing his rendition and getting applause from Riley, Grohl turned it around and praise the ER nurse: "TJ, thank you so much for everything you've done for so many people; it's much appreciated."
Check it out:


theblaze--2020-04-28--With food supply chain at risk, President Trump will order meat processing plants to stay open

With food supply chain at risk , President Trump will order meat processing plants to stay open 'We see it @ @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump plans to order meat processing plants to remain open amid the coronavirus outbreak as a wave of recent plant closures have put America's food supply chain at great risk.
The president will issue the order under the Defense Production Act, a White House official told Axios Tuesday. The forthcoming order will label processing plants as "critical infrastructure."
The move comes as dozens of large processing plants in several states have closed recently over COVID-19 concerns. The trend of closures spanning the beef, pork, poultry, and fish industries is pushing America toward a dangerous food supply shortage.
Earlier this month, Kenneth Sullivan, the president and CEO of Smithfield Foods, warned that snowballing closures were moving the country "perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply."
"The food supply chain is breaking," Tyson Foods Chairman John Tyson added in letters published by the New York Times, Washington Post, and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Sunday. Tyson Foods, which is the world's second largest meat producer, warned that "millions of pounds of meat" would soon disappear from the market.
Tyson Foods, along with other major processing companies, were reportedly planning to keep as little as 20% of their facilities operational, according to the White House official who spoke with Axios.
"The vast majority of processing plants could have shut down, reducing processing capacity in the country by as much as 80%," the official said. "We see it as an urgent need and there should not be a panic on food supply at a moment when our country is embarking on the path of recovery from the fallout of COVID."
As a part of the order and its implementation, the White House plans to work with the Department of Labor to provide additional liability protections and safety measures for food supply workers.


theblaze--2020-04-28--Marco Rubio explains what a post-COVID-19 America will look like

"The Rubin Report" host Dave Rubin was joined by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) to discuss what getting back to work and reopening American will look like.
"So, as we look at the stimulus package and we look at refiguring our situation with China, what does getting America back to work look like?" Rubin asked.
"We're still in the middle of the storm," Rubio told Rubin.
Rubin asserted what he believes is the silver lining of being quarantined and left to our thoughts.
Watch the video to hear the full interview.
Use code DAVE to save $30 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Dave Rubin?
To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-04-28--College uses photo from 2017 student protest that turned violent to promote school's 'social justice

College uses photo from 2017 student protest that turned violent to promote school's 'social justice.' Oops.

College uses photo from 2017 student protest that turned violent to promote school 's 'social justice . '
Oops .
@ @ @ @ @

You might recall a headline-grabbing left-wing student protest at Vermont's Middlebury College in 2017 that resulted not only in the shutdown of a talk by conservative speaker Charles Murray but also in an injury to a liberal professor who took part in the event in order to foster dialogue — and who later took to task the "thug" who physically attacked her.
Oops
Well, for some reason, the school used a photo of a student protesting Murray's talk in a promotional Instagram story last Wednesday, student newspaper the Middlebury Campus reported — and the Instagram story gushed with pride: "At Middlebury, we don't just talk about social justice; we also act on it."
Which is kind of an odd take considering that besides the protest turning violent, dozens of Middlebury students were sanctioned by the school for taking part it, with punishments ranging from "probation to official College discipline, which places a permanent record in the student's file. Some graduate schools and employers require individuals to disclose official college discipline in their applications."
The school paper said current and former students were unhappy that Middlebury marketed the same protest its officials punished, and that the Instagram story was deleted the same day it went up.
"Funny that you would punish students for protesting and then use their protest as part of an [sic] big advertising ploy," Middlebury student Cora Kircher — a member of the environmental activism group Divest Middlebury — wrote in an Instagram story last Wednesday, the paper said.
Divest Middlebury shared a screenshot of Kircher's post on its Facebook page:
The now-former student depicted in the Instagram story, Austin Kahn, noted on Facebook his displeasure with Middlebury's marketing campaign, saying the school "launched an investigation where they used images like the one neatly featured on their IG account to discipline dissidents among the student body and intimidated sympathetic faculty." The school paper noted that Kahn was one of the disciplined students.
What did Middlebury have to say?
Andrew Cassel, the school's social media director, told the Middlebury Campus that backlash against the school's Instagram story is "fully justified."
"When we realized our mistake, of course we were concerned about any hurt it would bring to our community," Cassel told the paper. "In this case, both the admissions and communications teams recognized that we had made this oversight and deleted the post."
What happened at the protest?
Murray, author of "The Bell Curve," was drowned out by students calling him "racist, sexist," and "anti-gay." But that was quite minor compared to the experience of Political Science professor Allison Stanger, taking part for "a chance to demonstrate publicly my commitment to a free and fair exchange of views in my classroom."
Stanger said she and Murray eventually exited the venue and livestreamed their Q&A from a private location instead — a contingency plan agreed upon ahead of time in case things got out of control.
But Stanger said when she and Murray exited the room, protesters were ready for them.
"We confronted an angry mob as we tried to exit the building," Stanger said. "Most of the hatred was focused on Dr. Murray, but when I took his right arm both to shield him from attack and to make sure we stayed together so I could reach the car too, that's when the hatred turned on me."
Stanger said that a "thug grabbed me by the hair and another shoved me in a different direction. I noticed signs with expletives and my name on them. ... For those of you who marched in Washington the day after the inauguration, imagine being in a crowd like that, only being surrounded by hatred rather than love. I feared for my life."
Murray also wrote about the experience, noting the mob attack came despite the presence of "two large and capable security guards." Seems that among the mob "a big man with a sign was standing right in front of us and wasn't going to let us pass," Murray said. Their only option? Walking right toward the guy as a security guard "pushed him aside," he recalled.
"The three of us got to the car, with the security guards keeping protesters away while we closed and locked the doors," Murray said. "Then we found that the evening wasn't over. So many protesters surrounded the car, banging on the sides and the windows and rocking the car, climbing onto the hood."
They actually had to take a "decoy route" to their post-event dinner, Stanger wrote, adding she told a colleague she "felt proud of myself for not having slugged someone." But the respite was short-lived. Stanger said they were told the protesters knew where they were.
"We raced back to the car, driving over the curb and sidewalk to escape quickly," Stanger recalled. "It was then we decided that it was probably best to leave town."
After all was said and done, Stanger needed a trip to the emergency room and was diagnosed with a concussion. "This was the saddest day of my life," she said.
Here's a clip from the protest. (Content warning:Rough language, from mouths and on signs):
Middlebury College protest against author Charles Murray youtu.be
(H/T: The College Fix)


theblaze--2020-04-28--Airbnb now requiring 24 hours between bookings to limit COVID-19 spread

Airbnb's CEO announced Monday that the company is establishing new cleaning guidelines for hosts, placing 24 hours between all bookings at all times.
The new guidelines will go into effect in May, CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement.
The move is an attempt to tamp down the spread of COVID-19.
What are the details?
A statement from the company detailing the new measures states that "guidance will include specific information on COVID-19 prevention, such as the use of personal protective equipment, like masks and gloves for hosts or their cleaners, as well as disinfectants that are approved by regulatory authorities."
"Hosts can commit to keeping their home empty for a set period in between stays, with no activity other than cleaning," the statement continued, pointing a second option if hosts were unable to abide by the stringent, new cleaning regulations.
A spokesperson for the company told Business Insider that the new protocols represent "the best way for hosts to show guests that they take cleanliness and sanitization seriously."
"We have seen signals that the COVID-19 pandemic will shape consumer needs both and preferences in the short and long term, and heard feedback from our host community that they care about and want more resources," the spokesperson added. "We believe that enrolling in our enhanced cleaning initiative, with guidance and resources provided by Airbnb, is the best way for hosts to show guests that they take cleanliness and sanitization seriously."
Chesky predicts that business will boom after the pandemic has subsided, insisting that there will be a "huge amount of business on the other side."
What else?
The company has worked side by side in developing the guidance with former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.
"As a society, we need to observe the physical distancing recommendations made by public health officials while finding ways to preserve and strengthen human connection," Murthy said. "I'm looking forward to helping the Airbnb community as it develops a health and science based approach for safe travel lodging and experiences. These approaches will continue to evolve as our knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 grows."


theblaze--2020-04-28--9 states still prohibit religious gatherings during pandemic. All others have religious exemptions f

9 states still prohibit religious gatherings during pandemic. All others have religious exemptions for stay-at-home orders.

9 states still prohibit religious gatherings during pandemic .
All others have religious exemptions for stay-at-home orders .

As states sought ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, many governors issued executive orders limiting — or even banning social gatherings — including religious services.
But what to do about First Amendment religious protections?
The fight over religious protections has been waged across the nation during the epidemic — in both traditionally liberal and traditionally conservative states. In California, for example, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) faced lawsuits from pastors saying his orders have violated religious freedom and from the Center for American Liberty demanding that drive-in services be allowed. In Kansas, a federal judge struck down an executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly (D) because "churches and religious activities appear to have been singled out among essential functions for stricter treatment."
Most states in the U.S. carved out religious exemptions to their COVID-19 rules about social distancing. Some states limited gatherings to 10 people or fewer; some have slightly higher limits; and about a third of the states chose to allow religious gatherings to happen without any size limits.
According to the Pew Research Center, the states that currently have no limits on religious gatherings are Utah, Arizona, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
However, nearly one-fifth of the states still have outright prohibitions on all in-person religious gatherings. Until Sunday, Pew noted, Montana — a typically conservative, hands-off state — also prohibited religious services.
Here are the nine states that still have a ban on in-person services:
Alaska California Idaho Illinois Minnesota New Jersey New York Vermont Washington
(NOTE: The Pew graphic below states that it "reflects executive orders in effect on April 24. Montana allowed places of worship to resume services on April 26.")


theblaze--2020-04-28--Alyssa Milano got called out by Tara Reade over her hypocritical support for Biden. Now the #MeToo a

Alyssa Milano got called out by Tara Reade over her hypocritical support for Biden. Now the #MeToo activist is singing a different tune.

Alyssa Milano got called out by Tara Reade over her hypocritical support for Biden .
Now the # MeToo activist @ @ @ @ @ . '
I hear and see you , Tara '

Actress and #MeToo activist Alyssa Milano caved to pressure Tuesday and tweeted out support for Tara Reade, the former staffer for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden who has accused him of sexually assaulting her.
Milano posted the tweet after Reade called her out in an interview with Fox News Monday, slamming Milano for hypocritically supporting Biden despite the existence of credible allegations of sexual assault against him.
The #MeToo activist was a prominent voice during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings in 2018, claiming his accuser from decades earlier should be believed even though corroborating evidence was lacking.
"I think we need to compare how she responded to Brett Kavanaugh ... quite different than the talking points she [used] regarding Joe Biden," Reade said of Milano in the interview. "She never reached out to me. I don't really want to amplify her voice because I feel like she hijacked my narrative for a while and framed it about herself ... she knows nothing about it."
What is she saying now?
After media backlash ensued Monday after the interview posted, Milano changed her tune.
"I'm aware of the new developments in Tara Reade's accusation against Joe Biden," Milano wrote. "I want Tara, like every other survivor, to have the space to be heard and seen without being used as fodder. I hear and see you, Tara."
Milano, who has endorsed Biden for president, has previously defended the former vice president over Reade's allegations.
In a recent interview with Andy Cohen, Milano was asked about her silence regarding the allegations, to which she replied: "I'm still trying desperately to stand back and be sort of objective about this, because I sent the #MeToo tweet out over two years ago, [and] I never thought that it would be something that was going to destroy innocent men."
"So, we have to find this balance in the 'Believe Women' movement, and also giving men their due process," she added.
What's the background?
Late last month, Reade accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 while she was working for the then-Delaware senator as a congressional aide.
In a podcast interview with journalist Katie Halper, Reade explained that the assault occurred after she was asked to bring Biden his gym bag near the U.S. Capitol building.
"He greeted me, he remembered my name, and then we were alone. It was the strangest thing," she recalled. "There was no like, exchange really. He just had me up against the wall.
"His hands were on me and underneath my clothes," she continued. "He went down my skirt and then up inside it and he penetrated me with his fingers and he was kissing me at the same time and he was saying some things to me."
Reade has since filed a formal criminal complaint against Biden and a former neighbor of Reade's has come forward to corroborate her claims. The Biden campaign has denied the allegations.


theblaze--2020-04-28--New York City ER doc on frontline of COVID-19 battle explains why America should reopen immediately

New York City ER doc on frontline of COVID-19 battle explains why America should reopen immediately 'The wave passed over @ @ @ @ @ '

One emergency room doctor who has been on the frontline of the coronavirus fight in New York City says it is time to reopen America.
Leaning on his experience treating COVID-19 patients, Dr. Daniel Murphy, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, explained in an essay for the New York Post why he believes America should strongly consider reopening.
1. The curve is flattening
According to Murphy, who actually contracted COVID-19, the "wave has crested."
"At 1 p.m. on April 7, the COVID-19 arrivals slowed down. It was a discrete, noticeable event," he wrote. "Stretchers became available by 5 p.m., and the number of arriving COVID-19 patients dropped below the number discharged, transferred or deceased."
"This was striking, because the community I serve is poor. Some are homeless. Most work in 'essential,' low-paying jobs, where distancing isn't easy. Nevertheless, the wave passed over us, peaked and subsided," Murphy explained. "The way this transpired tells me the ebb and flow had more to do with the natural course of the outbreak than it did with the lockdown."
2. Non-COVID care has plummeted — which is bad
According to Murphy, his ER has seen a significant drop in non-COVID patients. In fact, his ER, which he said normally sees 240 patients per day, is now averaging fewer than 100.
"That means our patients in this diverse, low-income community are afraid to come to the ER for non-COVID care," Murphy explained.
Murphy said the "unfortunate consequence of the stay-at-home strategy" is that growing numbers of people are dying at home because they are afraid to seek out medical help.
"A large share of those staying home surely have emergency medical and surgical conditions not related to the novel coronavirus," he explained. "The growing numbers dying at home during this crisis must include fatal myocardial infarctions, asthma exacerbations, bacterial infections and strokes."
"Meanwhile, our pediatric volume in the ER has practically disappeared. Visits to primary-care pediatricians are also down, with vaccine schedules falling behind," Murphy said. "Everyone seems to be avoiding the health system."
3. COVID fear is over-amplified
"Inordinate fear misguides the public response," Murphy explained. "While COVID-19 is serious, fear of it is being over-amplified. The public needs to understand that the vast majority of infected people do quite well."
4. COVID is more prevalent than we know
Murphy said that more people have contracted COVID-19 than have tested positive for the virus. This is due to the fact that a significant number of COVID-positive patients are asymptomatic.
"Many New Yorkers already have the COVID-19 infection, whether they are aware of it or not. As of today, over 43 percent of those tested are positive in The Bronx. We are developing a significant degree of natural herd immunity," Murphy explained. "Distancing works, but I am skeptical that it is playing as predominant a role as many think."
"More testing will better establish the numbers among those with mild illnesses and no symptoms. My professional experience tells me the number of infected people will be high," he continued.
"Testing is important work, but it should happen in parallel to the immediate resuscitation of the economy and getting people back to work," Murphy wrote.
Indeed, antibody testing shows that more people have contracted COVID-19 than have tested positive for the virus. This indicates that COVID-19 is less lethal than reported numbers show.
Murphy is not the only doctor calling for an end to the lockdown.
Drs. Dan Erickson and Artin Massihi from Bakersfield, California, called for an end to the shutdown last week after significant testing showed them that reopening would be safe because the virus is less lethal than believed. The doctors also said quarantine is preventing the build up of immunity.


theblaze--2020-04-28--Poll: 72% of Americans say they will hit ‘breaking point’ if nationwide lockdown continues into summ

Poll: 72% of Americans say they will hit ‘breaking point’ if nationwide lockdown continues into summer months

Poll : 72 % of Americans say they will hit ‘ breaking point ’ if nationwide lockdown continues into summer @ @ @ @ @ hack it

Almost three-quarters of polled Americans say that they will hit a mental "breaking point" if stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19 remain in place through the summer months.
What are the details?
According to Newsweek, a recent survey found that the majority of respondents said they were concerned over their mental health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The survey, conducted by Kelton Global, queried 1,895 U.S. adults between April 3 and April 6.
The poll found that 69% of Americans said they were "extremely worried" about traveling on airliners, and 62% were concerned about visiting restaurants.
Newsweek also reported that the majority of respondents said that they were concerned over "traditional transportation and business activities" when the nation does lift its social distancing and stay-at-home measures. And 76% of adults also admitted that they were "extremely worried" about ever taking a cruise liner again, and 43% of those people said that their fear of cruise ships "will likely last forever."
Seventy-two percent of respondents said that if they had to endure another 30 days of lockdown measures, it would force them to a mental or emotional "breaking point."
The outlet noted that 100% of respondents said they would have "some type of mental or emotional breakdown if stay-at-home orders" ran more than six months.
At least 69% of respondents reported that they would forever change at least one "everyday behavior" because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twenty percent of adult women polled said they'd reached their breaking points in the first week of April. Twelve percent of men reported the same feeling.
Of the survey, Dr. Martin Eichholz — Kelton Global's chief insights officer — said, "Our findings highlight the increasingly serious implications of stay-at-home orders, and puts some urgency on the actions of politicians and organizations who try to manage the COVID-19 fallout."


theblaze--2020-04-28--'Bored' driver with suspended license jailed after joyride on closed beach — and is mercilessly mock

'Bored' driver with suspended license jailed after joyride on closed beach — and is mercilessly mocked for misdeed

'Bored ' driver with suspended license jailed after joyride on closed beach — and is mercilessly mocked for misdeed 'How @ @ @ @ @ to drive from the 70s to Clearwater Beach ? '

John McGarry was "bored," according to police in Clearwater, Florida — and he apparently tried to cure it Saturday by driving on a Sand Key Beach at about 35 mph in places.
Officers pursued and arrested the 25-year-old Idaho native in the Sheraton Sand Key parking lot around 2:45 p.m., the Tampa Bay Times reported.
While the beach is closed to the public amid the coronavirus pandemic, vehicles aren't allowed on the sand even when the beach is open, the paper said.
McGarry now faces misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, resisting arrest without violence, and driving with a suspended license, the Times said, adding that he was booked on $650 bail for the three charges.
What did observers have to say?
As you might imagine, folks reacting to McGarry's stunt on Facebook showed him no mercy:


theblaze--2020-04-28--Got taters? Belgium faces a huge potato surplus, so its citizens are being urged to eat fries twice

Got taters? Belgium faces a huge potato surplus, so its citizens are being urged to eat fries twice a week

Got taters ?
Belgium faces a huge potato surplus , so its citizens are being urged to eat fries twice @ @

Potato farmers in Belgium are beyond worried.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to a massive surplus of their product, and they may be forced to toss hundreds of thousands of tons of potatoes, CNBC reported Tuesday.
So citizens are being asked do to their part ... or ... eat their part.
What's going on?
As the virus spread around the world, governments worldwide instituted various lockdowns. Belgium's nationwide lockdown led to a lowered demand for frozen potatoes — especially the national dish of frites, a twice-fried potato.
But it wasn't just the Belgian lockdown that played a role.
Euronews reported that 90% of Belgium's potatoes are exported, so when restaurants were forced to close throughout the EU and travel bans were instituted, the food supply chain was disrupted.
The decreased demand for frozen potatoes, which makes up about 75% of the country's potato process, CNBC said, led to an inventory glut and diminished freezer capacity. As a result, more than 750,000 tons of potatoes could be lost, Romain Cools, the head of Belgapom, Belgium's potato industry association, told CNBC.
Now the potato farmers are asking the government for help.
Cools is asking for a national push to urge Belgians to do what they can to help potato producers — starting by eating fries at least twice a week.
He told CNBC he wants to "launch a campaign asking Belgians to do something for the sector by eating fries — especially frozen fries — twice a week during the coronavirus crisis."
"What we are trying to do is to avoid food waste, because every lost potato is a loss," he said.
The industry is also seeking help from the EU for the first time, Cools said, but EU legislation is not designed with farmers in mind, Euronews reported.


theblaze--2020-04-28--AG Barr to prosecutors: 'Be on the lookout' for state and local orders that violate the Constitution

AG Barr to prosecutors : 'Be on the lookout ' for state and local orders that violate the Constitution 'The @ @ @ @ @ times of crisis '

In a memorandum issued Monday, Attorney General William Barr instructed federal prosecutors to "be on the lookout" for state and local ordinances that violate Americans' constitutional rights and civil liberties.
"The Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis," he added.
The new instructions come as Americans across the country continue to live under burdensome social distancing guidelines as part of a nationwide effort to combat the coronavirus. In several states, Americans have taken to the streets to protest guidelines that they view as unduly restrictive.
Now it appears that the Department of Justice will also be monitoring potential state and local abuses of power.
"I am directing each of our United States Attorneys to also be on the lookout for state and local directives that could be violating the constitutional rights and civil liberties of individual citizens," Barr wrote in the memorandum.
Barr noted that in a prior memoranda, he directed U.S. attorneys to "prioritize cases against those seeking to illicitly profit from the pandemic" by hoarding vital medical supplies in order to sell them at exorbitant prices. But now, prosecutors are also to prioritize potentially unconstitutional state and local orders.
"The legal restrictions on state and local authority are not limited to discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers," Barr wrote. "For example, the Constitution also forbids, in certain circumstances, discrimination against disfavored speech and undue interference with the national economy. If a state or local ordinance crosses the line from an appropriate exercise of authority to stop the spread of COVID-19 into an overbearing infringement of constitutional and statutory protections, the Department of Justice may have an obligation to address that overreach in federal court."
"Many policies that would be unthinkable in regular times have become commonplace in recent weeks, and we do not want to unduly interfere with the important efforts of state and local officials to protect the public," he continued. "But the Constitution is not suspended in times of crisis."
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Eric Dreiband, and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Matthew Schneider, have been tasked with coordinating the new effort. They will work in cooperation with state and local officials as well as with DOJ offices and other federal agencies.


theblaze--2020-04-28--New Mexico mayor reopens town in defiance of state lockdown order, compares Democratic governor to H

New Mexico mayor reopens town in defiance of state lockdown order, compares Democratic governor to Hitler

New Mexico mayor reopens town in defiance of state lockdown order , compares Democratic governor to Hitler 'The governor is @ @ @ @ @ totally killing us '

Martin Hicks, mayor of the small town of Grants in western New Mexico, defiantly reopened his town on Monday, publicly slamming New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, in the process.
Last Thursday, Hicks announced that he would allow businesses in Grants to reopen by Monday in defiance of Lujan Grisham's mandatory lockdown order. Hicks said the town's police force would prevent state police from enforcing the state's order, according to KRQE-TV.
"The governor is killing us. She's totally killing us," Hicks said. "So we have no choice. So right now, we are reopening. Let State Police come down here."
According to KRQE, Hicks, who is also a Democrat, compared Lujan Grisham to Nazis.
"I've told businesses to call 911 if State Police show up to their place. We are going to stop Lujan Grisham and her Gestapo," he told the TV news station.
Businesses in New Mexico have been on coronavirus lockdown since March 24. Last week, Lujan Grisham extended the lockdown order to at least May 15, increasing the strain on small businesses.
On Monday, Hicks made good on his promise, reopening city hall, the town's golf course, and allowing businesses to reopen their doors, KOAT-TV reported. Businesses that reopened had social distancing guidelines in place.
In response, Lujan Grisham vowed last Friday that state police would enforce her lockdown order if Hicks reopened Grants.
She said, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican:
This notion that you don't have to comply is wrong. That you can just open up businesses and not worry about public health issues is really quite frankly tantamount to opening up a public pool and having a pee section.
This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, flies in the face of every single positive, productive, evidence-based public health effort and, quite frankly, I happen to know that the county commission is incredibly upset by these directions.
Lujan Grisham's office also condemned Hicks for comparing Lujan Grisham to Hitler, KRQE reported.
"To compare an elected official making difficult decisions to protect the public health of all New Mexicans to Hitler is disgusting," spokeswoman Nora Sackett said. "We condemn it in the strongest possible manner. The world recently observed Holocaust Remembrance Day, and to make such a horrifying and misguided comparison while New Mexicans are taking action to protect themselves and their communities from a terrible virus is beyond the pale."
New Mexico has had at least 2,823 confirmed coronavirus cases and at least 104 people have died.


theblaze--2020-04-28--Fire marshal allegedly threatens restaurant manager with jail after he refused to order police to le

Fire marshal allegedly threatens restaurant manager with jail after he refused to order police to leave outdoor eating area ' @ @ @ @ @ little much '

The president of a Houston restaurant said the fire marshal threatened his general manager with jail after he refused to order police to leave an outdoor area adjacent to the restaurant where officers were eating, KTRK-TV reported, noting the dust-up was over coronavirus social distancing rules.
What's the background?
Buffalo Grille has been feeding first responders for free since April 1 and will continue doing so through Saturday due to an anonymous donation it received.
Prior to the donation Buffalo Grille has been giving first responders a 50% discount for years, KPRC-TV reported.
Well, on Monday a Houston firefighter came to the restaurant to get a free meal and told the general manager that a group of Houston police officers eating outside at a table needed to leave right away, KPRC said.
The general manager didn't feel comfortable telling the officers to leave, so the fire department member asked the officers to leave instead, restaurant president John McAleer told KTRK.
"About 15 minutes later, another set of police officers were there, and the fire marshal came and asked them to leave and wrote us a notice of violation, I believe is what it's called," McAleer added to KTRK. "We were surprised about it, but it is what it is. If we are in violation of it, we'll take the notice."
'It's a little much'
But that ain't all, apparently.
McAleer also told KTRK the fire marshal threatened the Buffalo Grille general manager with jail if it happened again.
"My manager's understanding is that if this does happen again that he will go to jail," McAleer told the station. "This is the understanding that he had from the fire marshal."
Of the jail threat, McAleer added to KTRK: "I believe it's a little much. I understand rules are rules ... just like every restaurant in the city of Houston ... we have tried our best to do everything we can to stay within what seems to be kind of ... fluctuating guidelines."
He added to the station that his general manager also was told that police officers can't even eat in their patrol cars and that the whole thing "has put a little bit of a scare into him."
TheBlaze on Tuesday asked the Houston Fire Department to comment on McAleer's allegation that the fire marshal threatened his general manager with jail. The fire department didn't specifically address the question but offered the following statement from Fire Chief Sam Peña:
Both departments (HFD and HPD) are working diligently to enforce the spirit of the County's Stay-Home order. With every one of the hundreds of complaint responses, the primary goal for HFD's Occupancy Task Force has been to achieve voluntary compliance with the order through information and education. We have been extremely successful in achieving this goal as was the case in this instance. Contrary to reports, the Buffalo Grille was not cited by the HFD Occupancy Task Force and there was no fees assessed. The complaint was resolved via notice of violation as required by the County's Order. I want to thank the management of Buffalo Grille for helping us resolve this issue and thank the officers of both the Houston Police and Fire department's for working to do the right thing.
Buffalo Grille has maintained a great relationship with members of Public Safety and we appreciate their generosity.
What did police have to say?
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told KTRK that he spoke to Peña about the incident and that he'll make sure to find out who the officers were and remind them that they have to follow social distancing rules, too.
'We don't want to police any of our first responders'
McAleer told KTRK that the incident has left Buffalo Grille with the uncomfortable responsibility to patrol first responders' behavior, noting again the jail time threat "if we don't police the police and the customers even if they're not on our premises."
"That's not a position we want to be in," he added to the station. "We don't want to police any of our first responders. All we want to do is thank them and do what we can for them, do our little part."
(H/T: Blue Lives Matter)


theblaze--2020-04-28--China threatens to cut off imports from Australia if Australia continues to push for independent inv

China threatens to cut off imports from Australia if Australia continues to push for independent investigation into the origin of the COVID-19 outbreak

China threatens to cut off imports from Australia if Australia continues to push for independent investigation into the origin of @ @ @

The Chinese ambassador to Australia has threatened that China may boycott Australian imports if the Australian government continues to push for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison made news last week by asking for international support for an independent international investigation into the outbreak, which would presumably include an investigation into the Chinese government's handling of the crisis. Morrison reportedly even brought the issue up during the course of telephone calls with leaders from Germany, France, and the United States.
Even before the coronavirus outbreak, relations between China and Australia were already at a breaking point after Australian authorities uncovered a plot late last year in which the Chinese government reportedly attempted to plant a spy in the Australian parliament. Further recent allegations of spying rankled Australians when Australian media reported that the Chinese government may have spied on Chinese scientists who were studying live bats in Australia in order to determine the origins of the coronavirus.
Morrison's call for an independent investigation appears to have rankled the Chinese government to the point that China's ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, threatened a Chinese boycott of Australian goods like beef and wine. Jingye claimed, for the benefit of any extremely naive people, that the threat was merely meant to indicate that average Chinese consumers would stop buying Australian products.
The Australian government, which is not naive, fired back at the Chinese response Monday. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said, "We reject any suggestion that economic coercion is an appropriate response to a call for such an assessment, when what we need is global cooperation."
Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham also condemned the Chinese threats.
"Australia's position is very clear that we believe it is entirely reasonable ... for there to be a genuine inquiry and investigation into the cause of the loss of life of hundreds of thousands of people around the world," he said. "We won't be changing our public policy position, on the face of such a serious public health matter, in the face of any threats of coercion from any other nation."
China is currently Australia's largest export market for beef and wine. Around a quarter of all Australian exports are currently sold in China.


theblaze--2020-04-28--YouTube removed the viral video of frontline doctors calling for an end to quarantine and comparing

YouTube removed the viral video of frontline doctors calling for an end to quarantine and comparing COVID-19 to the flu

Last week, two frontline doctors who said they have administered more than 5,000 coronavirus tests, made headlines when they compared the coronavirus to the seasonal flu and called for an end to quarantine practices.
The two physicians, Dan Erickson and Artin Massihi of Accelerated Urgent Care in Bakersfield, California, presented their medical advice in a video briefing with KERO-TV that the news outlet then uploaded to YouTube. The video quickly went viral, garnering more than 5.46 million views.
But on Monday, the video was taken down for "violating YouTube's Terms of Service."
In a follow-up report, KERO-TV confirmed that the first of two videos playing the press briefing in full was removed. The news outlet submitted an appeal to YouTube about the removal, but has not yet heard back.
In a statement to the outlet following the video's removal, Dr. Erickson said, "Anytime you push against the grain, you are going to have people who don't like it."
Why was it taken down?
TheBlaze reached out to YouTube's press division for a more specific answer on why the video was taken down, but YouTube did not immediately respond.
After publication, YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi responded to the TheBlaze in a statement:
"We quickly remove flagged content that violate our Community Guidelines, including content that explicitly disputes the efficacy of local healthy authority recommended guidance on social distancing that may lead others to act against that guidance. However, content that provides sufficient educational, documentary, scientific or artistic (EDSA) context is allowed -- for example, news coverage of this interview with additional context. From the very beginning of the pandemic, we've had clear policies against COVID-19 misinformation and are committed to continue providing timely and helpful information at this critical time."
Erickson and Massihi spoke to Fox News host Laura Ingraham Monday evening just before the video was removed. After the interview, when Ingraham discovered the video had been taken down, she noted relevant comments regarding censorship that YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki had recently made.
"Anything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy ... [removal] is another really important part of of our policy," Wojcicki reportedly said.
Dr Erickson's video removed after Laura Ingraham interview (27APR2020) youtu.be
What did they say?
In the video briefing, Erickson and Massihi pushed back against the conventional narrative regarding the dangers of COVID-19 and the effectiveness of social distancing measures.
"Do we need to still shelter in place? Our answer is emphatically no," Erickson said. "Do we need businesses to be shut down? Emphatically no. Do we need to test them and get them back to work? Absolutely."
Erickson went on to say that COVID-19 and the seasonal flu are "similar in their prevalence and death rates."
"If you study the numbers in 2017 and 2018, we had 50 to 60 million with the flu," Erickson said. "And we had a similar death rate in the deaths the United States were 43,545 — similar to the flu of 2017-2018. We always have between 37,000 and 60,000 deaths in the United States, every single year. No pandemic talk. No shelter in place. No shutting down businesses."
He also warned that quarantining could lead to weakened immune systems.
"Sheltering in place decreases your immune system. And then as we all come out of shelter in place with a lower immune system and start trading viruses, bacteria — what do you think is going to happen? Disease is going to spike," Erickson explained.
Though the original upload has been removed, video of the press briefing can still be seen elsewhere on YouTube:
COVID-19 Briefing: Current Quarantine Approach Wrong Based on Science | Dr Erickson & Dr Massihi Pt1 www.youtube.com
Editor's Note: This post has been updated to include YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi's response to our question regarding the video's removal.


theblaze--2020-04-28--Chinese scientists say they expect seasonal outbreaks of coronavirus  — and warm weather won't kill

Chinese scientists say they expect seasonal outbreaks of coronavirus  — and warm weather won't kill the virus

Chinese scientists say they expect seasonal outbreaks of coronavirus — and warm weather wo n't kill the virus Will we @ @ @ @ @ flu season ?

Chinese scientists say that they believe the coronavirus will periodically resurface, predicting that it could return much like the seasonal influenza infection.
What are the details?
A group of Chinese virologists told reporters Monday that they do not believe the coronavirus will be eradicated. According to Bloomberg News, the medical experts said that the disease is likely to remain with humankind for the foreseeable future.
Jin Qi, director of the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said, "This is very likely to be an epidemic that co-exists with humans for a long time, becomes seasonal, and is sustained within human bodies."
Because COVID-19 can infect asymptomatic carriers, the scientists believe that people will continue to spread the virus without experiencing traditional symptoms — or any symptoms at all.
Wang Guiqiang, head of infectious diseases at Peking University First Hospital, added, "The virus is heat-sensitive, but that's when it's exposed to 56 degrees Celsius [132.8 degrees Fahrenheit] for 30 minutes and the weather is never going to get that hot. So, globally, even during the summer, the chance of cases going down significantly is small."
At the time of this writing, researchers at Johns Hopkins University estimate that at least 3,060,152 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed around the world, with 212,056 deaths as a result of the virus.
What else?
Earlier this month, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he believed the virus could emerge seasonally. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that he believes the U.S. could see the "beginning of a resurgence" of COVID-19 during the next flu season.
"We will have coronavirus in the fall," he said. "I am convinced of that."
Last week, U.S. officials said Americans should prepare to face two viruses in the fall and winter months — coronavirus and influenza.
During a White House press briefing, Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "Next fall and winter, we're going to have two viruses circulating and we're going to have to distinguish between which is flu and which is the coronavirus."
Redfield also told the Washington Post last week that the winter's coronavirus could be "even more difficult" to face than what the U.S. has been dealing with since February and March.
"There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," he said. "And when I've said this to others, they kind of put their head back — they don't understand what I mean. We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time."


theblaze--2020-04-28--WaPo pushes forward with narrative that Trump botched COVID-19 response despite on-the-record denial

WaPo pushes forward with narrative that Trump botched COVID-19 response despite on-the-record denials 'This is n't true .
And we @ @ @ @ @ wrote . '

Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell was forced to publicly rebuke the Washington Post on Monday after the newspaper reported as fact something that his office definitely said was not true.
According to the Post, President Donald Trump was given more than a dozen warnings about the coronavirus in the President's Daily Brief, a daily intelligence briefing informing the president of the most important and sensitive issues around the world, between January and February.
The Post reported:
For weeks, the PDB — as the report is known — traced the virus's spread around the globe, made clear that China was suppressing information about the contagion's transmissibility and lethal toll, and raised the prospect of dire political and economic consequences.
But the alarms appear to have failed to register with the president, who routinely skips reading the PDB and has at times shown little patience for even the oral summary he takes two or three times per week, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss classified material.
The premise of the Post's story is that Trump ignored advanced warnings about the seriousness of COVID-19, which led to a delayed response to the virus and a death-toll that recently surpassed 50,000 Americans.
The Post claimed health experts view Trump's alleged inaction as "a squandered opportunity to contain the outbreak."
But Grenell, whose office is responsible for the PDB, said the Post is not telling the truth — and that the newspaper published its story despite on-the-record denials from his office.
"This isn't true. And we told you this before you wrote. And you put the DNI denial of your premise in paragraph 9," Grenell wrote on Twitter.
Indeed, the Post included the on-the-record denial from Grenell's office in its story, which undercuts the very premise of the story.
The Post repoted:
In response to questions about the repeated mentions of coronavirus, a DNI official said, "The detail of this is not true." The official declined to explain or elaborate.
The mainstream media has been working overtime to pin blame for the COVID-19 outbreak on Trump, but it has been unsuccessful.
Earlier in April, ABC News claimed military intelligence — via the National Center for Medical Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency — had warned about the potential pandemic as far back as November.
The report prompted an immediate and very rare response from the NCMI DIA.
"As a matter of practice the National Center for Medical Intelligence does not comment publicly on specific intelligence matters. However, in the interest of transparency during the current public health crisis, we can confirm that media reporting about the existence/release of a National Center for Medical Intelligence Coronavirus-related product/assessment in November of 2019 is not correct. No such NCMI product exists," Col. (Dr.) R. Shane Day, director of the NCMI DIA, said.


theblaze--2020-04-28--Moderate Republican senator: The whole reason for the lockdowns has passed

Moderate Republican senator : The whole reason for the lockdowns has passed 'It 's now clear that we are not @ @ @ @ @ system '

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, known as one of the more moderate members of the Republican caucus, advocated for reopening his own home state of Pennsylvania Monday, pointing out that the reason for the lockdown has passed.
Appearing on the Philadelphia-based "The Dom Giordano Program," Toomey said, "I think we need to remember the reason we closed the economy in the first place, because that's an absolutely stunning and unprecedented move. The reason we did it was because we feared that if we didn't do that, the disease might spread so rapidly and infect so many people and cause so much acute illness that we would overwhelm our hospital systems. I think it's important to remember that because that would have been an absolutely catastrophic result — so disastrous that we couldn't risk it, and so I understand why governors across the country, including ours, decided we need to shut down the economy to head off that risk."
Pointing out the obvious, Toomey said, "The great news is, it's now clear that we are not going to overwhelm our hospital system — certainly not a chance outside the southeast [part of Pennsylvania] where the concentration of this illness is greater. I don't think we're going to overwhelm our southeast hospitals. But I acknowledge the frequency of the disease is greater in the southeast."
Later in the interview, Toomey said that there are "literally thousands of miles" in Pennsylvania where there are no COVID-19 cases, and their hospitals are virtually empty because elective procedures and other medical treatments have been virtually halted.
Toomey ultimately advocated for a county-by-county reopening that is based on comparing each county's infection rate with their hospital capacity and determining whether any chance exists that the county will overwhelm its hospital system. Toomey acknowledged that the Philadelphia area would likely be the last part of the state to reopen.
Toomey also had praise for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who has kept a relatively low profile compared to other Democratic governors who have managed high population centers.
Pennsylvania has been particularly hard-hit by unemployment claims caused by the coronavirus lockdowns.


theblaze--2020-04-29--Sen. Gillibrand said women should be believed 'every time.' But she doesn't believe Biden's accuser.

Sen. Gillibrand said women should be believed 'every time . '
But she does n't believe Biden 's accuser .
@ @ @ @ @ a possible VP pick for Biden

During the confirmation hearings of now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) made an impassioned plea for Americans to believe women "every time" when it comes to accusations of sexual misconduct.
But now that Gillibrand has been floated as a possible vice presidential pick for presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee Joe Biden, she has made a noticeable adjustment to her own threshold for the evidence required for believing women "every time."
What are the details?
Gillibrand made a name for herself as a women's advocate by taking a stand and becoming the first to call for former Sen. Al Franken (Minn.) — a fellow Democrat whom she said she considered to be "a friend" — to resign in 2017 after sexual harassment allegations emerged against him. Franken eventually stepped down in disgrace.
Democrats criticized Gillibrand's stand against Franken during her short-lived 2020 presidential bid. But she was, of course, even more adamant that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh not be confirmed to the high court because an uncorroborated accusation of sexual assault from his high school days emerged during Senate hearings in 2018.
Amid the Kavanaugh hearings, Gillibrand tweeted, "The fundamental question we must answer right now: Do we value women? Do we believe women? Do we give them the opportunity to tell their story? To be heard? Will we ensure they get the justice they deserve? We must fight to be a country that answers, 'Yes,' every time."
But Gillibrand has made a remarkable about-face when it comes to believing women now that she has been floated as a possible pair on the ticket for Biden — who himself is now hit with an accusation of sexual assault with more corroborating evidence than Kavanaugh's accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, was able to bring forth.
Gillibrand said that Blasey Ford should be believed (and Kavanaugh should be disqualified as a nominee) because, the senator argued, Blasey Ford "was telling the truth, and you know it by her story — you know it by the fact that she told her therapist five years ago," and that she told her husband.
Yet, Tara Reade — who has accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993, with several corroborating witnesses from the time who have gone on record, a purported call from her mother to talk show host Larry King, and the possibility of documentation to support her claim — is not believable enough for Gillibrand.
Sen. Gillibrande told Just the News's Nicholas Ballasy on Tuesday, "So, when I say believe women, it's for this explicit intention of making sure there's space for all women to come forward to speak their truth, to be heard. And in this allegation, that is what Tara Reade has done. She has come forward, she has spoken, and they have done an investigation in several outlets. Those investigations, Vice President Biden has called for himself. Vice President Biden has vehemently denied these allegations and I support Vice President Biden."
But Vice President Biden has not denied the claims at all. In fact, he has not been asked by a single interviewer in the media about the allegations, and has not addressed the allegations, himself. His campaign, however, insists that Reade's claims "did not happen."
Here is the video of Gillibrand's answer to Ballasy:
Gillibrand stands by Biden after supporting Kavanaugh, Franken accusers www.youtube.com


theblaze--2020-04-29--De Blasio singles out one religious group in warning about social distancing, and he's getting roast

De Blasio singles out one religious group in warning about social distancing, and he's getting roasted for it

De Blasio singles out one religious group in warning about social distancing , and he 's getting roasted for it @ @ @ @ @

Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio faced a fierce online backlash after he singled out Jews in a message warning everyone against large gatherings during the pandemic.
De Blasio tweeted out his warning on Tuesday against those not observing the social distancing guidelines in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus. He was referring to a specific gathering for a funeral of a rabbi that the police dispersed in Williamsburg.
"My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed," he tweeted.
"I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period," he added.
"We have lost so many these last two months [and] I understand the instinct to gather to mourn. But large gatherings will only lead to more deaths [and] more families in mourning. We will not allow this. I have instructed the NYPD to have one standard for this whole city: zero tolerance," de Blasio continued.
The social media response
The bizarre tweets set off social media in an online furor against the socialist mayor from both the left and right.
"I can't imagine de Blasio saying this about any other community," said Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief of the Daily Wire. "It's pretty amazing. And for the record, MANY of the leaders of the Jewish community have taken strong stands on social distancing.
"NYC has been a refuge for Jews fleeing persecution and death for decades and more. How on earth does the mayor of NYC single them out for persecution in the middle of a pandemic? Words do not exist to describe the criminal incompetence at City Hall," said Lis Smith, the former senior adviser to Pete Buttigieg.
"What a really weird tweet," said Ben White of Politico.
"No big deal here just the mayor of New York telling Jews that 'the time for warning has passed' and promising to round them up and arrest them if they exercise their First Amendment rights. Totally fine. Who could possibly have a problem with this?" responded Matt Walsh sarcastically.
"You're an awful human being. And for the record I was ahead of the curve on it. Also, my sister and her family just moved out of what was once the greatest city in the world. Mazel tov. (Thats Jew talk.)," replied Dave Rubin.
"The NYPD are not your personal Nazis. They should tell you to pound sand and stand guard to let people worship," said Dan Gainor of NewsBusters.
De Blasio and his wife were confronted on Saturday by an angry New Yorker when they were caught taking a nonessential trip in order to take a walk miles away from their home. The video of the man berating de Blasio as he scurried away quickly went viral online.
Here's more about de Blasio's debacle:


theblaze--2020-04-29--Trump critics pounced on report he owed 'tens of millions' to China — now Politico is walking back t

Trump critics pounced on report he owed 'tens of millions' to China — now Politico is walking back the story

Trump critics pounced on report he owed 'tens of millions ' to China — now Politico is walking back the @ @ @ @ @ pushing the original false story

Critics of President Donald Trump pounced on a story that claimed he owed tens of millions in debt to China, but the news outlet later issued a lengthy correction and apology for the false claims.
The original Politico story implied that the president could be compromised by owing an extraordinary debt to the country that originated the Wuhan coronavirus.
"Whoa, whoa!!! This is why there is an emoluments clause. Presidents cannot have financial interests dependent on foreign govts," responded "NeverTrump" pundit Jen Rubin.
On Tuesday, Politico issued a lengthy correction and apology about the claims made in the story.
On Friday evening, POLITICO received a statement from a representative for Bank of China USA, which had not been contacted beforehand, that the bank had sold off, or securitized, its debt shortly after the 2012 deal. A spokeswoman said the bank has no current financial interest in any Trump Organization properties. We updated the body of the article to take account of the bank's statement.
They also had to correct another false fact that supported the claims made against the president.
POLITICO attempted to reach other parties to the refinancing throughout the weekend and Monday. Wells Fargo on Monday confirmed the Bank of China's statement that it had been listed as a creditor on the building in error. Bank of China said Wells Fargo is taking steps to correct the record with an updated filing.
"Our commitment at POLITICO is to journalism that gets its facts straight," the news outlet added. "We regret we fell short in this case."
The story is still out there
Some of the tweets propagating the original false story were left undeleted, including that of Joe Biden's Rapid Response Director Andrew Bates:
"Trump owes the Bank of China millions for helping him acquire one of his most valuable properties. The loan comes due in the middle of the next presidential term," claimed Bates.
"Remember how much he echoed Chinese government propaganda about the virus being contained?" he asked helpfully.
In a similar situation on Monday, Fox News' Sean Hannity threatened to sue the New York Times over a story claiming that his comments downplaying the coronavirus led to the death of a man who watched the cable news channel.
Here's the latest about the coronavirus epidemic:


theblaze--2020-04-29--Rep. Justin Amash is running for president

The former Republican says Americans are ready 'for an honest , principled president who will defend the Constitution '

Michigan Rep. Justin Amash (I) has announced he is launching a 2020 presidential bid to become the nominee for the Libertarian Party.
What are the details?
In a Twitter post on Tuesday, the former Republican shared a link to his campaign website with the message, "Let's do this," before explaining, "Today, I launched an exploratory committee to seek the @LPNational's nomination for president of the United States. Americans are ready for practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people."
He added, "We're ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I'm excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president."
In a statement on his campaign website, Amash writes:
We're ready. For something new. For a government that secures our rights. For equality before the law. For an end to cronyism. For a government that fulfills its purpose and recognizes its limits. For practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people. For an honest, principled president who will defend the Constitution and put individuals first.
Who is Justin Amash?
Rep. Amash was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican during the Tea Party tidal wave in 2010. He became a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Amash is known for his knowledge of the Constitution, and for explaining the reasoning behind his votes via social media for his constituents. He is also known for taking a principled stand, even when he might stand alone.
The congressman was the sole House Republican to call for moving forward with impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, in May of last year. Amid uproar from the party, he left the Freedom Caucus in June, so as not to be "a further distraction from the group."
The next month, Amash left the Republican Party, declaring his "Independence" in a July 4 op-ed for The Washington Post, wherein he declared that "our politics is in a partisan death spiral."


theblaze--2020-04-30--WHO hails Sweden as a 'model' for fighting coronavirus without a lockdown

WHO hails Sweden as a 'model ' for fighting coronavirus without a lockdown 'What it has done differently is it @ @ @ @ @ its relationship with its citizenry '

Sweden has taken heavy criticism for refusing to issue a nationwide lockdown while facing the COVID-19 pandemic. But on Wednesday, the World Health Organization praised the Scandinavian country as a "model" for managing the virus without shutting down its economy.
What are the details?
The New York Post reported that WHO's chief emergencies expert, Dr. Mike Ryan, told reporters during a news conference that there are "lessons to be learned" from Sweden, "which has largely relied on citizens to self-regulate" during the crisis.
"I think there's a perception out that Sweden has not put in control measures and just has allowed the disease to spread," Ryan said. "Nothing can be further from the truth."
Instead of mandating mass closures, Sweden's residents have been advised to maintain social distancing, work from home when possible, and to avoid contact with the elderly. Schools for kids up to the age of 16 remain open, along with restaurants, bars, and shops, according to Newsweek.
Ryan explained that in lieu of a national lockdown, Sweden "put in place a very strong public policy around social distancing, around caring and protecting people in long term care facilities."
"What it has done differently is it has very much relied on its relationship with its citizenry and the ability and willingness of its citizens to implement self-distancing and self-regulate," he continued. "In that sense, they have implemented public policy through that partnership with the population."
Ryan added, "I think if we are to reach a new normal, Sweden represents a model if we wish to get back to a society in which we don't have lockdowns."
Sweden has implemented some restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak, such as banning gatherings of more than 50 people and requiring high schools and universities to teach courses online rather than on-site.
Newsweek reported that last month, nearly 2,300 academics signed an open letter to the Swedish government, urging leaders to impose similar lockdown measures implemented by nearly every country in reaction to the coronavirus. But the nation's leaders refused.
While Sweden's death toll from the virus is higher than other Nordic countries at more than 2,100, the epidemiologist leading the country's response said their anti-lockdown strategy places the nation in a better position to face a possible second wave of COVID-19.
Anders Tegnell told CNBC, "We believe that we have an immunity level, if I remember rightly, somewhere between 15-20 percent of the population in Stockholm," the capital of Sweden.
"This is not complete herd immunity," Tegnell said, "but it will definitely affect the reproduction rate and slow down the spread" of a second wave.
Tegnell said he expects Stockholm, where most of the country's 17,500 coronavirus cases have been reported, will reach herd immunity within "a few weeks' time."


theblaze--2020-04-30--'Take back our civil liberties right now': Dallas hair salon owner may now face arrest for reopening

'Take back our civil liberties right now ' : Dallas hair salon owner may now face arrest for reopening 'We @ @ @ @ @ Now is the time to stand up . '

Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther made national news after defying the city's lockdown orders to keep her hair salon closed.
Luther opened the doors of her Dallas business, Salon A La Mode, last week and was immediately hit with a cease-and-desist letter by Dallas police, which she publicly ripped up. In the following days, she has continued to defy multiple temporary restraining orders and a $1,000 citation.
On Wednesday, Luther told a crowd of Open Texas movement supporters that she expects to be arrested soon.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) referred to Luther as the #PatriotHairStylist in a supportive, three-part tweet on Wednesday. "This is not Texas. This is not America," he added.
Luther joined Glenn Beck on the radio program this week to discuss why she is willing to open back up, what she's doing to keep safe, and her message for other small businesses: "We have to stand up. Now is the time to stand up. Because if we don't take back our civil liberties right now, I don't know when we ever can!"
Watch the video below:
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, BlazeTV is offering our BIGGEST discount ever! Get $30 off your subscription when you use promo code GLENN. Claim your special offer at https://get.blazetv.com/glenn/.
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.