theblaze--2020-04-22--Beware the dreaded ‘mini-roll’: Online scammers are duping people into buying tiny toilet paper roll

Beware the dreaded ‘mini-roll’: Online scammers are duping people into buying tiny toilet paper rolls

Beware the dreaded ‘ mini-roll ’ : Online scammers are duping people into buying tiny toilet paper rolls 'Yeah , @ @ @ @ @ .
I put some in Easter baskets as gag gifts '

Toilet paper has become a precious commodity since the start of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year as crowds descended upon grocery stores to panic-buying rolls en masse. The hoarding has since driven shoppers online to scour for sales as prices soared to as much as $10 a roll late last month.
But now, toilet paper scammers are taking advantage of the situation by duping internet shoppers into buying the sought-after good at lower prices — only to deliver miniature-sized rolls.
According to the Charlotte Observer, after placing orders from dubious online outfits, American shoppers have been receiving absurd variations of toilet paper on their doorsteps, inspiring terms such as "mini rolls," "baby rolls" and "doll paper."
Shirley Ann Hodges of Florida told McClatchy News she ordered 12 rolls for $16.99 from Asia, which seemed reasonable. She got the 12 rolls all right, but they're a fraction of the size she expected.
"Yeah, they took advantage of us. I put some in Easter baskets as gag gifts," Hodges said. "I didn't send it back. What happens if I get desperate?"
Hector Cruz of Charlotte said "the TP shortage of 2020" compelled him to order a 10-pack for $14.99 and he ended up with rolls one-third the normal size.
He says he saw the ridiculousness and shared photos on Facebook, figuring others could use "a good laugh."
"Maybe they thought I had Lego figures that needed TP," he wrote on Facebook.
Commenting on his girlfriend's order of a 12-pack of toilet paper off of Amazon — which somehow fit inside his mailbox — Medium.com blogger J.R. Reed wrote: "This is what happens to people in the early days of the pandemic, with people hoarding toilet paper. You force people like my girlfriend who are very intelligent and extremely sane to order Chinese toilet paper off Amazon."
For those who wish to score toilet paper online but want to avoid being ripped off, Digital Trends has offered some pointers. Implicit in its post about how to buy toilet paper online is some prudent advice — stick to retailers you recognize.
"First, you need to have a list of online retailers to check for new supplies, and you need to check them often to score a new shipment. Thankfully, this is a lot easier than running to every store in your town looking for a roll," a recent post reads. "In addition to conventional online stores like Walmart, Amazon, and Target, check at some less obvious sites like Lowes, Home Depot, OfficeMax, and Staples."
If, however, you are forced to wade into foreign e-commerce waters, whatever you do, beware the dreaded mini-roll.


theblaze--2020-04-22--Michigan governor gets exposed awarding coveted COVID-19 contracts to Democratic organizations, forc

Michigan governor gets exposed awarding coveted COVID-19 contracts to Democratic organizations, forced to rescind offers

Michigan governor gets exposed awarding coveted COVID-19 contracts to Democratic organizations , forced to rescind offers Even one ran by @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus on President Trump

Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer awarded coveted coronavirus contact-tracing operation contracts to two Democratic consulting firms, then later rescinded the agreements after it was revealed her campaign had a relationship with one of the firms.
Whitmer's administration announced in a press statement:
[The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services] is contracting with Great Lakes Community Engagement, a firm that specializes in outreach campaigns to engage citizens, and Every Action VAN, a voter/individual contact platform used by non-profits, to provide software to help organize remote phone banking and track information and contacts.
What the statement did not include was that Every Action VAN is part of NGP VAN, a data firm that works with major Democratic campaigns and labor unions. The organization is run by Stuart Trevelyan, a longtime Democratic operative who worked in the Clinton White House and is currently helping Joe Biden's campaign, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
Excluded from the statement was also the fact that Whitmer's own campaign has worked with NGP VAN, as recently as 2019.
Meanwhile, Great Lakes Community Engagement is run by Democratic consultant Michael Kolehouse. The well-known Democratic operative has previously wished that President Donald Trump would "get Coronavirus ASAP," Fox News reported.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel reacted, "This is who @GovWhitmer is giving state contracts to?"
State lawmakers had more poignant concerns. For example, GOP state Rep. Shane Hernandez wanted to know if Whitmer bypassed state protocol outlining how to properly award contracts.
"I want to know how Gov. Whitmer's administration decided to hire this company without a competitive bid process, or letting the Legislature — charged with ensuring accountability within state government — know about it," Hernandez said, the Detroit News reported. "I want to know what safeguards the governor has in place to ensure the information gathered during this COVID-19 response doesn't wind up in the hands of any campaigns."
In response to the growing criticism, Whitmer's office announced late Tuesday that she would rescind the contracts.
A spokesperson for Whitmer said the state agency tasked with emergency response would issue new contracts.
"This contract should have been approved by the State Emergency Operations Center. This issue is being corrected, and a different vendor and software platform will be selected by the SEOC," the spokesperson said, the Free Beacon reported.


theblaze--2020-04-22--Homeowner fights man he spotted rifling through his car in middle of night. Crook reaches for his ba

Homeowner fights man he spotted rifling through his car in middle of night. Crook reaches for his backpack — so homeowner fires his Glock.

Homeowner fights man he spotted rifling through his car in middle of night .
Crook reaches for his backpack — @ @ @ @ @ .

A Florida homeowner contacted law enforcement about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, saying he saw someone using a flashlight in his car outside his Deltona residence, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.
So the 57-year-old homeowner grabbed his Glock handgun and a flashlight and ran to confront the suspect, the sheriff's office said. The suspect responded by shoving the homeowner and knocking him to the ground — after which the pair fought, authorities said.
What happened next?
At one point the homeowner saw the suspect reach for his backpack — so the homeowner fired his gun at the suspect, the sheriff's office said, adding that the shot hit the suspect's knee.
The suspect — later identified as 39-year-old Justin Lee Braddock — fled the scene, and soon after the driver of a white SUV picked up Braddock and drove away, authorities said.
The homeowner called law enforcement to report the car burglary and shooting, and less than 30 minutes later, the sheriff's office said it found out that a male gunshot victim had arrived at a hospital in Sanford, which is in Seminole County.
Deputies responded and confirmed the vehicle Braddock arrived in and the white SUV used to take him from the burglary scene were the same, authorities said.
What else?
Turns out Darrell Ray Cantrell, 30, and Amy Eland — both of Deltona — drove Braddock to the hospital, the sheriff's office said, adding that detectives questioned the pair and determined Cantrell worked with Braddock on car burglaries as a lookout and getaway driver.
Justin Lee Braddock (left); Darrell Ray Cantrell (right) Image source: Volusia County Sheriff's Office
Braddock had surgery Tuesday afternoon and was recovering at the hospital in the custody of Seminole County Sheriff's deputies, authorities said. He's charged with burglary of a conveyance, conspiracy to commit burglary of a conveyance, and battery to cause bodily harm with bail set at $30,000.
Cantrell was charged with burglary of a conveyance, conspiracy to commit burglary of a conveyance, and obstruction of criminal investigation, authorities said, adding that he was taken to jail on $16,500 bail.
Deputies determined Eland's only involvement was to help stop Braddock's bleeding by using a belt as a tourniquet as they drove him to the hospital.


theblaze--2020-04-22--Trump gives brutal response when asked how he feels about Mitt Romney

On Tuesday's show of "Pat Gray Unleashed," Pat Gray reported that a Salt Lake Tribune reporter asked President Trump if his decision to exclude Sen. Mitt Romney from his newly formed congressional task force meant that Trump was still holding a grudge.
"Yes, it does. Yeah, I'm not a fan of Mitt Romney," Trump said during Monday's White House COVID-19 task force press briefing.
Pat laughed, adding that "the Salt Lake Tribune is a piece of garbage newspaper."
Trump formed the congressional task force last Thursday to oversee the progress made as states begin to reopen after closing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Watch the video below to hear Trump's full response.
Use code PAT to save $30 when you subscribe to one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Pat Gray?
To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-04-22--Drugs promoted as potential 'game changers' for coronavirus increase risk of cardiac death, NIH says

Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , speaks as President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ of the White House Coronavirus Task Force at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 in Washington , D.C. ( Alex Wong/Getty Images )

A combination of drugs touted by President Donald Trump and some medical researchers over the past month as a potentially effective treatment for COVID-19 actually increase the risk of cardiac death in patients, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The institute, led by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is also on the White House coronavirus task force, recommended against the use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, an antibiotic, as a combination treatment for COVID-19. From NPR:
"The combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was associated with QTc prolongation in patients with COVID-19," the panel said.
QTc prolongation increases the risk of sudden cardiac death.
The recommendation against their combined use would seem to fly in the face of comments made by President Trump suggesting the combination might be helpful. On March 21, for example, the president described them in a tweet as having a "real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine."
The NIH panel did not recommend for or against the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine alone for treatment of COVID-19, citing insufficient clinical data.
Despite anecdotes from patients and doctors about the effectiveness of drugs such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and remdesivir, there are still no proven treatments for COVID-19, and research and testing are ongoing.
"At present, no drug has been proven to be safe and effective for treating COVID-19," NIH guidelines read. "There are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs specifically to treat patients with COVID-19. Although reports have appeared in the medical literature and the lay press claiming successful treatment of patients with COVID-19 with a variety of agents, definitive clinical trial data are needed to identify optimal treatments for this disease.
"Recommended clinical management of patients with COVID-19 includes infection prevention and control measures and supportive care, including supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilatory support when indicated," the guidelines continue.


theblaze--2020-04-22--Recent data tells a different story about COVID-19 infection and mortality rate

Time tells all. Time told us how easily Americans would forfeit their liberty for a false sense of security. Time is telling us the truth about the infection and mortality rate of COVID-19. And time will tell if our nation will bounce back from the economic and psychological devastation inflicted on the American people as a result of the many shelter-in-place orders across counties of these United States.
Steven Crowder and his crew discussed the numbers on Wednesday's show of "Good Morning Mug Club." Here's Crowder with the takeaways:
#11 Good Morning #MugClub youtu.be
Use promo 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--2020-04-22--Horowitz: We don’t need another bailout; we need to reopen

Horowitz : We don ’ t need another bailout ; we need to reopen

Why even have a Republican Party when, with control of two of the three branches of the political process, Republicans can't provide any vision or contrast in the worst crisis of our lifetime?
Once again, Republicans are falling into a trap of getting into a bidding war with Democrats on how much money to spend to treat a self-imposed problem without addressing the cause of the problem.
Here's the simple truth: If Republicans push to end the shutdown, curtail the unconstitutional actions of governors, suspend taxation and regulations for several years, and get the economy moving, they won't need more bailout bills. If, on the other hand, they continue the shutdown and won't address the other issues related to the cause and solution for the China virus, sovereignty, regulations, and supply chains, no amount of Monopoly money they print can cover destroying most small businesses in America.
The $480 billion bill pumps another $310 billion into the newly created Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses shut down by the government to incentivize them to keep their employees on the payroll. But they don't address the actual shutdown or get governments to end their unconstitutional restrictions, a power Congress possesses through the 14th Amendment.
Furthermore, they fail to fix the unemployment insurance provision that works against the premise of the small business loan program. The entire purpose is to incentivize businesses not to fire workers. But in certain industries, the workers will now make more money on unemployment than on payroll, thanks to a provision from the last hastily passed bill. This is particularly true of workers in the restaurant industry, which has been the hardest-hit sector of the economy.
Next, the bill gives an additional $75 billion to hospitals. We certainly want to help hospitals at a time like this, but again, the root cause of their bankruptcy is not the virus, but the government-mandated shutdown. Most of the money goes to rural hospitals that were not overrun with COVID-19 patients but were shut down by arbitrary and unconstitutional orders to suspend vital procedures and medical care. Why not address the shutdown?
The bill also contains $25 billion for more testing. But as more information comes out about the virus, it appears that it has already been here for months and has spread to millions of people. We need more antibody tests. Moreover, Congress needs to spend time investigating why our government is going with only one model and ignoring so many countervailing studies from prestigious research that indicate lockdowns are either unhelpful or destructive?
This bill is full of provisions that try with one hand to put a bandage on an injury they are causing with the other hand. Why not have a debate on that other hand, rather than focusing just on the issues and premises Democrats want to discuss?
We have a severe and protracted suspension of the Bill of Rights by more than half the state governments, and Congress has an obligation to intervene under the 14th Amendment. Yet they are acting as if everything is fine. Moreover, those illegal declarations of martial law are the cause of most of the economic damage Congress is now trying to subsidize.
How can a Republican-controlled Senate completely ignore the 800-pound gorilla in the room causing the shutdown? Even if you believe we must spend more money now, at least get policy changes in return that will cure the problem so that we are not throwing more money into the same black hole every two weeks.
The only saving grace of the deal is that it does not include another bailout for the states and localities causing the shutdown, although the president seemed to indicate that would be part of phase five in the never-ending parade of spending bills.
What is so disgusting is that leaders in both parties give the Democrats what they want (minus one extra provision) and then demand it be voted on without any amendments or even time to read the bill and publicly digest it. That is how they typically treated post office naming bills over the years, but now that has become the modus operandi for every single important bill. This bill will get a voice vote today before anyone has understood it and will pass in the House by Thursday.
Why are there no votes on using the 14th Amendment and the power of the purse to restrict state officials from overbroad shutdowns? Why are there no votes on deregulation and cutting taxes to invest in business rather than investing in a shutdown and having nothing to show for it but crushing debt? None of the items from my original list of 15 ideas have been included in any of these bills.
It is shocking how almost nobody in Congress recognizes the severe threat of creating so much debt and devaluing our currency. Before embarking on this path, why not verify whether the shutdown is even necessary? But alas, we can always count on Congress to engage in malpractice: Treating a public policy illness directly created and continued by the same politicians, with the ax in one hand and the morphine in the other.


theblaze--2020-04-22--Airlines received $25B in coronavirus aid — and are asking for more. But most of them are refusing t

Airlines received $25B in coronavirus aid — and are asking for more. But most of them are refusing to refund $10B in ticket purchases to customers, senators say.

Airlines received $ 25B in coronavirus aid — and are asking for more .
But most of them are refusing @ @ @ @ @ ticket purchases to customers , senators say .
Why does the public put up with @ @

Domestic airlines received a $25 billion bailout in Congress' "Phase 3" coronavirus relief package — and they're asking for more. To be sure, airlines have taken a serious hit during these times of social distancing and lockdowns. But what about their customers?
A group of senators revealed Friday that most major U.S. airlines that received coronavirus aid "still refuse" to refund about $10 billion to customers whose travel plans changed or were canceled due to the pandemic. Instead, those airlines are holding on to customers' cash and issuing credits instead, Nextgov reported.
What are the details?
Federal law requires that airlines offer full refunds if the company cancels a flight, but travelers who cancel their own flights receive airline credits.
That includes customers who cancel because of the coronavirus crisis.
Democratic Sens. Ed Markey (Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), and Kamala Harris (Calif.) sent letters on March 31 to 11 major domestic airlines and demanded that those companies issue cash refunds to all customers who cancel their flights during the pandemic.
The letters were sent to Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines, and asked the airlines to respond to the following questions:
What is the estimated total value of all travel vouchers and credits you have issued during the coronavirus pandemic?
What is the estimated total number of flights that your airline cancelled during the COVID-19 crisis, including flights cancelled due to travel restrictions implemented by countries globally?
Will your airline commit to providing full cash refunds to travelers who cancel their flights during the coronavirus outbreak, including refunds in lieu of travel credits to those who have already received but not used those credits during this pandemic?
Will your airline commit to providing full cash refunds to any travelers who experienced flight cancellations due to COVID-19 travel restrictions implemented globally?
Will your airline commit to working with the State Department to expedite commercial flights – at an affordable price – for all Americans who remain stranded abroad?
According to the senators, only two airlines — Allegiant and Spirit — said they were offering refunds to customers who canceled their own flights due to the coronavirus.
Of the other nine airlines, only JetBlue revealed the total value of travel credits and vouchers it had issued during the pandemic. The airline said that it issued more than $20 million per day of travel credits during the early weeks of March.
Nextgov reported:
In their response letters to the lawmakers, most companies outlined how the pandemic is depleting their funds. JetBlue, for example, said in March 2019 a typical day would have meant about $22 million made from booking and fees, but this March the company was “taking in an average of less than $4 million per day while also issuing over $20 million per day of credits to customers." The company called it a “stunning shift and clearly insufficient revenue to come anywhere close to covering [its] daily expenses."
Using the data from JetBlue and "[b]ased on JetBlue's 5.5 percent share of the domestic market, and assuming a similar trend throughout the industry over the last month," the senators extrapolated that "this figure could mean that the airlines are sitting on more than $10 billion in customer cash."
"If airlines dispute this exact figure, the Senators welcome more information from each company, which know exactly how much of their customers' money they are currently holding onto in the form of travel vouchers. Most airlines have refused to share this information to date," the lawmakers said.
'Bogus' claim by the airlines
Consumer Reports' aviation adviser Bill McGee said airlines' claim that they don't have the funds to issue cash refunds is "bogus," Nextgov reported, adding that the domestic airline industry has scored "record profits" in recent years.
McGee told the outlet:
We're not ignoring the fact that the airlines are, you know, in bad financial shape right now because so many people are not flying. We get that. But the fact is, the answer to their financial problems is not to withhold funds from consumers who should be getting refunds. They need to find another way.
McGee also said it's "unacceptable" that the airlines are taking tax dollars for the crisis but refusing to offer refunds and noted that the airlines could have purchased pandemic insurance but none of them did so. More from Nextgov (emphasis added):
McGee said that the current voucher vs. cash refund debacle has been an issue for years now, but it's become “chronic" in the national emergency over the last six or so weeks. “We were not happy with airline refund policies before, but this is just unacceptable," he said. Regarding the companies' recent bailout, he also called it unacceptable that airlines are “accepting money from taxpayers and on the other hand, they're withholding refunds." Further, McGee also made it a point to note that before the latest health crisis, “none of the U.S. airlines invested in" pandemic insurance, though such products have been on the market.
Consumer Reports launched a petition urging airlines to give cash refunds "to any customer who had a flight cancelled, or elected to cancel a flight, due to COVID-19. Vouchers for future flights are insufficient since no one knows when regular travel will resume, and some consumers will not be flying at all."
The petition currently has more than 43,000 signatures.


theblaze--2020-04-22--California now will allow drive-in church services amid coronavirus shelter-in-place order, reversin

California now will allow drive-in church services amid coronavirus shelter-in-place order, reversing course after lawsuit

California now will allow drive-in church services amid coronavirus shelter-in-place order , reversing course after lawsuit Democratic Gov .
Gavin @ @ @ @ @ are `` technology , '' drive-in church services are OK under shelter-in-place rule

California has reversed course and now is allowing drive-in church services amid coronavirus shelter-in-place orders, KMPH-TV reported.
What are the details?
The policy change came after a lawsuit from the Center for American Liberty and its request for a temporary restraining order, the station said.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Xavier Becerra responded by agreeing that since cars are "technology," drive-in church services should be allowed under the state's shelter-in-place rule, KMPH said.
The caveat is that drive-in church service participants must continue to follow social distancing guidelines, the station said.
"The state does not get to dictate the method of worship to the faithful," Harmeet K. Dhillon, chief executive officer for the Center for American Liberty, said in a statement at the time of the lawsuit. "If a Californian is able to go to Costco or the local marijuana shop or liquor store and buy goods in a responsible, socially distanced manner, then he or she must be allowed to practice their faith using the same precautions."
After the policy change, Dhillon called it "heartening progress for our clients, and all Californians. But while this is a step in the right direction, it is still not enough."
More from Dhillon:
"The state is still holding houses of worship to a different standard," explained Dhillon. "[Attorney General William] Barr's statement on Tuesday was clear, states cannot have two sets of restrictions — those that apply to churches and the more relaxed standards that apply to other entities. The State's orders still do not define worship as an essential activity that permits travel in California, even while at the same time the state is now saying drive-in worship is permissible. The orders are riddled with contradictory and confusing language."
"Even after these policy changes, houses of worship are still very limited in their permissible activities. Many of these activities provide immeasurable societal good, be it delivering food to the elderly, hosting addiction support groups, providing spiritual comfort and counseling for Californians in crisis, and so many other essential services," explained Dhillon.
Barr last week warned state authorities that social distancing mandates do not give them the right to restrict religious organizations more than nonreligious ones.
"We intend to pursue this case until all Californians are restored the full free exercise of religion guaranteed to all Americans under the Constitution," Dhillon added.
Anything else?
In Mississippi, a controversy over drive-in church services was resolved last week after the Democratic mayor of Greenville backed down from his executive order banning such services. Errick D. Simmons' change of heart happened after uproar and lawsuits earlier this month after city police officers handed out $500 tickets to members of Temple Baptist Church who stayed in their vehicles with their windows up in the church parking lot to listen to their pastor's radio sermon.
(H/T: LifeSite News)


theblaze--2020-04-22--YouTube will remove any coronavirus content that goes against WHO recommendations

YouTube will remove any coronavirus content that goes against WHO recommendations Even suggestions to take vitamin C

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki told CNN any coronavirus-related content that goes against recommendations from the World Health Organization will be removed from the platform.
In an interview with CNN's Brian Stelter, Wojcicki described the aggressive measures YouTube is taking to combat what it perceives to be misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.
"And so we talk about that as raising authoritative information," Wojcicki said, referring to an increase in news consumption on the site. "But then we also talk about removing information that is problematic, you know. Of course, anything that is medically unsubstantiated. So people saying, like, take vitamin C, you know, take turmeric, like, those are—will cure you. Those are the examples of things that would be a violation of our policy. Anything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy. And so remove is another really important part of our policy."
Videos of people touting hydroxychloroquine as an effective treatment for COVID-19 are also subject to removal. The anti-malarial drug has shown promise in some patients but is not clinically proven to be a consistently effective treatment.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who had COVID-19, reportedly promoted the drug as an effective treatment and downplayed the need for social distancing in a since-removed video.
Wojcicki's standard for removing videos is more strict than the standard previously established by YouTube in a statement, when it said it would remove "any content that disputes the existence or transmission of Covid-19, as described by the WHO [World Health Organization] and local health authorities."
That guideline specifically mentioned videos that claim the coronavirus is caused by 5G.
President Donald Trump announced last week that the U.S. would halt funding to the WHO pending a review of its role in covering up the spread of COVID-19.
(H/T: The Daily Wire)


theblaze--2020-04-22--The case against Ilhan Omar, part 1 — 2018 Ilhan Omar documentary prints her father’s name as ‘Nur S

The case against Ilhan Omar, part 1 — 2018 Ilhan Omar documentary prints her father’s name as ‘Nur Said’ — three times

The case against Ilhan Omar , part 1 — 2018 Ilhan Omar documentary prints her father ’ s name as @ @ @ @ @ three times Finally , some 'Nur Said ' evidence that Rep. Omar ca n't purge @ @ @ @

The legal case against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) may seem difficult to follow, but the facts are actually clear and compelling. As Rep. Omar campaigns for her third election, TheBlaze will be publishing exclusive new evidence while getting readers up to speed on the four years of already-public facts.
First, learn the simple heart of the case: During her 2009-17 marriage, Omar seemed to have a father AND a father-in-law named Nur Said — a name so rare that in the U.S./U.K. only one man alive seems to fit both descriptions.
Rep. Omar has likely committed the most extensive spree of federal and state felonies by an elected official in American history. It may also be themost well-documented.
Several dozen pieces of verified evidence support the case against her. None support her defense. And unlike, for example, the complex case against the Steele dossier's legitimacy, the facts implicating Rep. Omar are clear, accessible, and seemingly beyond a reasonable doubt.
This latest find, described below, may be the best example yet of the case's simplicity.
***
On Aug. 9, 2016, Ilhan Omar defeated 44-year incumbent Phyllis Kahn to win the DFL primary for Minnesota House District 60B. Filmmaker Norah Shapiro was present to capture Omar's celebration, and for several months, she documented Omar's first campaign. Shapiro's "Time for Ilhan" would premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival nearly two years later — just six weeks before Omar unexpectedly announced a 2018 run for federal office.
On Aug. 12, 2016, Minnesota journalist Scott Johnson published proof that Omar was legally married to a British citizen. Johnson also published compelling evidence that the same man is Omar's sibling. The husband's name — Ahmed Nur Said Elmi — was the immediately apparent red flag. Online and in public, Omar had been referring to her father as Nur Said.
Near-universally, Somali naming tradition does not use family surnames. Somali children receive a first name followed by the first names of the father, paternal grandfather, and paternal great-grandfather.
It's that simple. Ilhan's father and father-in-law seemed to be "Nur Said."
Try searching online: Only a small handful of people living in the U.S. or U.K. have a name that includes "Nur Said." One, according to Ilhan herself, is her father. Incredibly, she married one of the very few others. And no "Nur Said" seems to fit the name and age range of her father-in-law — except for her own father.
Shortly after the publication of Scott Johnson's article, posts on Omar's verified social media accounts that identified her father as "Nur Said" were deleted.
Several additional rounds of deletions have occurred in the three years since.
***
Below is a screenshot from Norah Shapiro's "Time for Ilhan," which is now available to stream on Amazon:
Image source: "Time for Ilhan" screenshot
That title card — "Nur Said: Ilhan's Father" — doesn't leave much wiggle room.
Shapiro also prints "Nur Said" in the film's credits — twice. Here:
Image source: "Time for Ilhan" screenshot
And here:
Image source: "Time for Ilhan" screenshot
In this second screenshot, note that a member of "Ilhan's Campaign Team" in 2016 — Ali Isse "Ganey", who is also a key member of Omar's 2020 campaign — receives quotation marks signifying a nickname.
In September 2019, Mohammed Tawhidi spotted one still-active 2013 tweet on Omar's account in which she refers to her father as "Nur Said." Predictably, Omar deleted the tweet that evening. She also responded with a facially absurd explanation: That "Said" is her father Nur's life-long nickname because "Nur Said" means "happy light."
Of course, "Said" — alone, and in its multiple spellings — is a common name worldwide. It would make for a bizarre nickname, especially when appended to a given first name. ("Hi, I'm George. But my friends call me George Steve.")
Clearly, Norah Shapiro uses quotation marks to signify a subject's nickname, and does not use them for Nur Said.
***
Since 2016, Johnson, Minnesota reporter Preya Samsundar, and I have published dozens of verified pieces of evidence — including court documents, school records, and address records — which establish Omar's familial relationship to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. In 2019, I published a U.K. marriage certificate that seemingly refers to Omar's father as "Nur Said Elmi." I also detailed how the totality of the verified public evidence appears to eliminate any other reasonable explanation.
Rep. Omar's 2009-2017 marriage appears to have been an attempt to facilitate immigration fraud, student loan fraud, and several other serious crimes.
No other explanation, reasonable or otherwise, which takes all of the verified public evidence into account has been offered by Rep. Omar — or anyone else.
In January, I published that the FBI had shared evidence of Omar's massive legal exposure with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Dept. of Education inspector general. Since then, an original 2016 source of Scott Johnson's reporting came forward in the U.K. outlet Daily Mail, despite previous threats against his safety. He received additional threats immediately thereafter.
I do expect this saga to conclude in the coming months, likely before August's primary elections in Minnesota. In the coming days and weeks, I will be publishing a series of articles here at The Blaze detailing extensive new evidence behind this reasoning.


theblaze--2020-04-22--UN experts say the world will face a global famine of ‘biblical proportions’ due to COVID-19 pandemi

UN experts say the world will face a global famine of ‘biblical proportions’ due to COVID-19 pandemic

UN experts say the world will face a global famine of ‘ biblical proportions ’ due to COVID-19 pandemic

The United Nations warns that the COVID-19 pandemic is on the cusp of causing global famines of "biblical proportions."
What are the details?
According to CNN, the famines will affect the world in a matter of months and will likely push an already coronavirus-struck population of 130 million people to the brink of starvation.
In a Tuesday address, David Beasley — the executive director of the World Food Programme — told the UN Security Council during a video conference that widespread famines could affect "about three dozen countries" in the coming months.
CNN reported that Beasley — a former Republican South Carolina governor — cited "conflict, an economic recession, a decline in aid, and a collapse in oil prices" as factors that could lead to massive food shortages.
"While dealing with a COVID-19 pandemic, we are also on the brink of a hunger pandemic," Beasley said. "There is also a real danger that more people could potentially die from the economic impact of COVID-19 than from the virus itself."
A report from the agency identified at least 55 countries around the world that are at elevated risk of famine due to the virus.
A portion of the report read, "These countries may face an excruciating trade-off between saving lives or livelihoods, or, in a worst-case scenario, saving people from the coronavirus to have them die from hunger."
What countries will most likely be impacted?
Those countries include:
Afghanistan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ethiopia
Haiti
Nigeria
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Venezuela
Yemen
CNN reported that while those countries have been mostly spared from the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic when compared to places like China, Italy, and North America, the countries' food supply was previously being impacted by locust swarms and crop failure.
"Exceptional drought followed by extremely heavy rainfall markedly decreased the seasonal crop yield in the Horn of Africa during 2019," the outlet added. "These irregular weather and climate patterns also contributed to the worst desert locust invasion in 25 years, which further threatened the crop supply in the region."
Beasley added that other measures — such as lockdowns and recessions — will also lead to a "major loss of income among the working poor" around the world.
"The loss of tourism receipts will damage countries such as Ethiopia [and] the collapsing oil prices in lower-income countries like South Sudan will have an impact significantly," he pointed out.
"There are no famines yet. But I must warn you that if we don't prepare and act now — to secure access, avoid funding shortfalls, and disruptions to trade — we could be facing multiple famines of biblical proportions within a few short months," he added.
"The truth is," he concluded, "we do not have time on our side, so let's act wisely — and let's act fast. I do believe that with our expertise and partnerships, we can bring together the terms and the programs necessary to make certain the COVID-19 pandemic does not become a humanitarian and food crisis catastrophe."
Anything else?
Beasley told the Guardian that famine is more than just hunger.
"We are not talking about people going to bed hungry," he said. "We are talking about extreme conditions, emergency status – people literally marching to the brink of starvation. If we don't get food to people, people will die."
He added, "This is truly more than just a pandemic — it is creating a hunger pandemic. This is a humanitarian and food catastrophe."


theblaze--2020-04-22--Fox News blasts methodology of study that claims that Sean Hannity's viewers are more likely to die

Fox News blasts methodology of study that claims that Sean Hannity's viewers are more likely to die of coronavirus

Fox News blasts methodology of study that claims that Sean Hannity 's viewers are more likely to die of coronavirus

After the University of Chicago's Becker Friedman Institute of Economics published a studypurporting to show that Fox News' Sean Hannity's viewers were more likely to die of the coronavirus than Tucker Carlson's, the network fired back, attacking the study's methodology and defending Hannity's coverage of the coronavirus crisis.
The study, titled, "Misinformation During a Pandemic," claimed to show that, since Carlson allegedly treated COVID-19 more seriously earlier on, watchers of Carlson were more prepared and better warned about the dangers of the coronavirus, and thus had better health outcomes.
At the outset, Fox News has a fairly obvious point about the weaknesses of the study's methodology. The study does not even purport to have evaluated actual watchers of Hannity's show or Carlson's show, but instead examined death and infection rates from the coronavirus in counties where Hannity's viewership was higher than Carlson's.
Thus, without even knowing how a single actual viewer of Hannity or Carlson interpreted their coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, the researchers claimed to be able to say that watching Hannity led to increased infection and mortality rates from the coronavirus.
Needless to say, Fox News was not amused by the giant gaps in this study and its methodology, calling it "reckless and irresponsible." Furthermore, Hannity defended his own coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, releasing a timeline of his coverage of the virus. In that timeline, Hannity pointed specifically to coverage beginning on Jan. 27, in which he discussed the arrival of the virus to the United States and its potential impacts, and a Feb. 2 interview with President Trump, during which Trump discussed the possibility of completely closing the borders due to the coronavirus.
Hannity has been widely criticized for allegedly referring to the coronavirus as a "hoax" in a March 9 segment, in which he said, "They're scaring the living hell out of people and I see it again like, 'Oh, let's bludgeon Trump with this new hoax.'" Hannity later insisted that he never intended to call the virus itself a hoax, but rather merely the attacks on President Trump's handling of the pandemic outbreak.


theblaze--2020-04-22--New York tells first responders not to bother reviving people without a pulse amid the coronavirus

New York tells first responders not to bother reviving people without a pulse amid the coronavirus 'They simply let you @ @

New York state has issued a guideline to emergency first responders advising them not to resuscitate patients who don't have a pulse when they arrive on the scene.
The updated advisory was issued in a state Health Department memo issued last week, according to the New York Post. The memo called the change "necessary during the COVID-19 response to protect the health and safety of EMS providers by limiting their exposure, conserve resources, and ensure optimal use of equipment to save the greatest number of lives."
Emergency medical service workers, who normally spend up to 20 minutes attempting to revive people found in cardiac arrest, were outraged over the change, the Post reported.
"They're not giving people a second chance to live anymore,'' Oren Barzilay, head of the city union, which includes uniformed EMTs and paramedics, said. "Our job is to bring patients back to life. This guideline takes that away from us."
"Now you don't get 20 minutes of CPR if you have no rhythm," a veteran FDNY EMS worker added. "They simply let you die."
The order follows guidelines issued earlier in the month by the Regional Emergency Services Council of New York that advised emergency services workers not to transport cardiac arrest patients who cannot be revived on the scene to the hospital.
The drastic measures come as New York City hospitals have been inundated with patients during the coronavirus pandemic, often leaving few or no intensive care unit beds.
The city has evidently made the determination that potentially disseminating the disease through resuscitation is too great a risk. ABC News reported that in guidelines issued last month, the American College of Cardiology assessed that while the chances are survival are slim for those who go into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, the "wide dissemination" of coronavirus particles is probable.
The veteran EMS worker acknowledged to the Post that only 3 or 4 people out of 100 are successfully revived through CPR and other aggressive intervention methods both on the scene and at the hospital.
"[But] for those 3 or 4 people, it's a big deal," the worker added.


theblaze--2020-04-22--Far-left Democrat accuses President Trump of 'war crimes' over government's coronavirus response

Democratic rhetoric on President Donald Trump 's coronavirus response has reached new heights .
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley ( D-Mass . )
, a far-left freshman Democrat , is now accusing the president of `` war crimes '' over his administration 's response to the pandemic .
`` As far as I 'm concerned , what 's happening with this administration , it 's akin to war crimes .
Criminal negligence , science denials , a sluggish response , '' Pressley said in a video this week .
`` And so we find ourselves in the position of playing catch-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is the last place that you want to be in the midst of any public health crisis , certainly of a pandemic , is working from behind . ''
Pressley did not , however , explain how the administration is guilty of `` criminal negligence . ''
The United Nations defines war crimes as breaches of an agreement ratified at the 1949 Geneva Convention .
Such actions include `` willful killing , '' `` torture or inhumane treatment , `` willfully causing great suffering , or serious injury to body or health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of property , not justified by military necessity , '' among other crimes .
Trump and his administration have committed no such crimes .
Moreover , Pressley did not explain what science Trump 's administration has denied .
In fact , Trump has allowed medical experts , like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx , to take prominent roles in the pandemic response .
And was Trump 's response slow ?
Not really .
In late January , Trump announced travel restrictions on China and mandatory quarantine for any person entering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where COVID-19 originated .
The action was condemned by the World Health Organization as unnecessary and one that would lead to racial backlash against Asians .
One month after Trump took those precautionary steps , Pressley 's leader , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , was urging people to congregate outdoors , telling her San Francisco constituents that it was `` safe . ''
We now know that such downplaying may have had deadly consequences .

Democratic rhetoric on President Donald Trump's coronavirus response has reached new heights.
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), a far-left freshman Democrat, is now accusing the president of "war crimes" over his administration's response to the pandemic.
"As far as I'm concerned, what's happening with this administration, it's akin to war crimes. Criminal negligence, science denials, a sluggish response," Pressley said in a video this week. "And so we find ourselves in the position of playing catch-up in the midst of a pandemic, which is the last place that you want to be in the midst of any public health crisis, certainly of a pandemic, is working from behind."
Pressley did not, however, explain how the administration is guilty of "criminal negligence."
The United Nations defines war crimes as breaches of an agreement ratified at the 1949 Geneva Convention. Such actions include "willful killing," "torture or inhumane treatment, "willfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health," "Extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity," among other crimes.
Trump and his administration have committed no such crimes.
Moreover, Pressley did not explain what science Trump's administration has denied. In fact, Trump has allowed medical experts, like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, to take prominent roles in the pandemic response.
And was Trump's response slow? Not really.
In late January, Trump announced travel restrictions on China and mandatory quarantine for any person entering the U.S. from Hubei, the Chinese province where COVID-19 originated. The action was condemned by the World Health Organization as unnecessary and one that would lead to racial backlash against Asians.
One month after Trump took those precautionary steps, Pressley's leader, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was urging people to congregate outdoors, telling her San Francisco constituents that it was "safe." We now know that such downplaying may have had deadly consequences.


theblaze--2020-04-23--Business owner obtains payroll loan to keep paying 35 employees — they respond with a 'firestorm of

Business owner obtains payroll loan to keep paying 35 employees — they respond with a 'firestorm of hatred' Republicans warned @ @ @ @ @ consequence of the program

The experience of a small business owner in Washington state is highlighting the unintended consequences of the massive coronavirus relief bill passed to keep employees receiving a paycheck.
Jamie Black-Lewis told CNBC that she was able to obtain loans for $177,000 and $43,800, and thought that her 35 spa employees would be happy that they weren't losing their jobs.
Instead, she was met with a "firestorm of hatred."
Black-Lewis said that the employees, many of which were paid hourly, were angry because they were preparing to obtain more money through unemployment than they would by staying employed.
"It's a windfall they see coming. In their mind, I took it away," she explained.
"I couldn't believe it," she added. "On what planet am I competing with unemployment?"
'We cannot create an incentive not to work'
The bizarre happenstance was predicted by many lawmakers, but they passed the bill despite some misgivings because they believed that the relief needed to go out as quickly as possible.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott warned that giving people more money than they receive in unemployment might incentivize some to not work.
"We have a virus and we know people can't work for a variety of reasons," Rick Scott said according to the Miami Herald. "We got to help them but at the moment we go back to work, we cannot create an incentive not to work. We cannot be paying people more money on unemployment than they get paid in their job."
The law was passed with the provision despite some conservatives' misgivings.
Black-Lewis was disappointed by the entire episode.
"There's a bad taste from it," she told CNBC. "We'll recover. But it's just a bummer."
Here's more about the PPP loans:


theblaze--2020-04-23--Watch: Quarantined stuntmen (and women) show off their moves in epic viral 'fight'

Watch : Quarantined stuntmen ( and women ) show off their moves in epic viral 'fight '

A group of professional stuntmen and stuntwomen have made the best of their time off work during the coronavirus shutdown, and created a brilliantly coordinated viral "fight" using household props within the confines of their respective quarantine locations.
What are the details?
The video is full of flips, punches, headbutts, dramatic falls, painful reactions, and the use of on-hand "weapons" such as fruit, toilet paper, and even a toddler—making it an online success.
In one notable scene, a woman takes two "punches" before grabbing a chair and rushing the man with whom she is assumably "sheltering-in-place." In another take, a male fighter wearing a face mask takes a dramatic pause to apply hand sanitizer before busting the nose of the next opponent in line.
The athletes appear to be in an array of locations, ranging from family rooms, bedrooms, wooded areas, lakeside (and pondside) backdrops, in-home gyms, a stairwell, a public bridge, and in front of a children's playhouse. There's even a German Shepherd that goes into attack mode.
#CUCchallenge - Fightcovid CUC www.youtube.com
The clip was released by campusUcascades, which, according to Fox News, is "a European training center that specializes in stunt techniques for film and television." Students and instructors alike were included in the performance.
The video is posted as the "#CUCchallenge - Fightcovid CUC," and has been making the rounds across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other platforms, racking up more than 5 million views since its release on Sunday.


theblaze--2020-04-23--China is using Trevor Noah's videos from 'The Daily Show' to bash Trump in their propaganda

China is using Trevor Noah 's videos from 'The Daily Show ' to bash Trump in their propaganda 'Blood is @ @ @ @ @ should all be sued ! '

The communist Chinese government is utilizing video from comedian Trevor Noah in order to bash President Donald Trump in their propaganda, said a New York Times report.
The report documented some of the ways that the Chinese government is downplaying how bad coronavirus hit Wuham, where it originated, while exaggerating the decimation in Italy and Spain.
Among the propaganda tools used in China to mislead their citizens is video of Noah from "The Daily Show" giving a scathing criticism of the response to the pandemic by Trump.
"The website of Global Times, a tabloid controlled by the Communist Party, added Chinese subtitles to a video from Mr. Noah's show that featured President Trump and many Fox News personalities, showing how for weeks they played down the risks of the coronavirus," said Li Yuan, the New York Times' Asia tech columnist.
Yuan added that these videos were propagated with disturbing headlines, such as "Blood is on their hands and they should all be sued!"
She offered her personal recollection of being subjected to Chinese propaganda as a child.
These tactics aren't new. Many Chinese children of my generation read a newspaper column for students called "Socialism Is Good. Capitalism Is Bad." Each week, it described the wonders of China alongside the hardships of capitalist societies. The lesson: Socialist China takes care of its people, while people in the United States go hungry and the elderly die alone.
Even if the stories were true, they didn't represent the full picture. Chinese children like me pitied Americans even when almost all of China lived in poverty. How much would we have envied them if we had known that most could eat meat whenever they liked?
The report goes on to document how many writers and vloggers have vanished in China when they tried to report on the real situation against the government's wishes.
On Monday, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said that the evidence pointed to China purposely seeding coronavirus cases in other countries in order to strengthen their relative global power.
Here's more about Chinese culpability for the pandemic:


theblaze--2020-04-23--Cuomo to struggling unemployed: 'You want to go to work? Go take a job as an essential worker'

Cuomo to struggling unemployed : 'You want to go to work ?
Go take a job as an essential worker' @ @ @ @ @ out-of-work New Yorkers is , 'It 's not all about you '

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was asked Wednesday for his response to unemployed New Yorkers protesting against the state's coronavirus lockdown, and he suggested those who are struggling to pay their bills should "go take a job as an essential worker."
What are the details?
During a press conference, a reporter told the governor she had spoken to demonstrators outside the venue before the briefing, telling Cuomo, "These are regular people who are not getting a paycheck. Some of them are not getting their unemployment check, and they're saying that they don't have time to wait for all of this testing and they need to get back to work in order to feed their families."
"Their point is, the cure can't be worse than the illness itself," the reporter continued, asking Cuomo for his reaction.
"The illness is death," Cuomo responded, before dismissing the reporter's assertion that extended financial strains and a broken economy would lead to suicides and other deaths rivaling COVID-19 fatalities.
Addressing protestors directly, Cuomo said, "It's not all about you."
Gov. Cuomo went on to say that he "gets" the economic hardships, but stressed that it could not be addressed "in a way that jeopardizes public health and possibly causes more people to die." He also acknowledged that there was a delay in unemployment payments.
The unidentified reporter pressed further, asking, "Is there a fundamental right to work if the government can't get me money when I need it? Is there a fundamental right to go to work?"
Cutting her off, Cuomo fired back, "Sure, you want to go to work? Go take a job as an essential worker. Do it tomorrow."


theblaze--2020-04-24--Rand Paul returns to Congress after beating coronavirus and gives a fiery speech against 'draconian'

Rand Paul returns to Congress after beating coronavirus and gives a fiery speech against 'draconian' lockdown

Rand Paul returns to Congress after beating coronavirus and gives a fiery speech against 'draconian ' lockdown 'Our recovery only @ @ @ @ @ ended '

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky excoriated his colleagues in Congress over their efforts to provide relief to Americans while putting the country in debt instead of opening up the economy.
"If you print up billions of dollars and give it to people, they are unlikely to spend it until you end the quarantine," said Paul in his speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday after returning from his battle with coronavirus.
He went on to point out that there were some studies showing that experts' predictions of mortality rates from coronavirus could be inaccurate and overblown.
"The virus is still dangerous," he added, "and we shouldn't ignore the risks, but we should put those risks in perspective!"
Paul said that these randomized studies show that America can manage the coronavirus without continuing the "draconian" lockdown policies.
Plagued by a lack of commerce, not money
"So today I arise in opposition to spending $500 billion more. The virus bailouts have already cost over two trillion dollars. Our annual deficit this year will approach four trillion dollars!" he said.
"We can't continue on this course!" Paul added.
"No amount of bailout dollars will stimulate an economy that is being strangled by quarantine!" he exclaimed. "It is not a lack of money that plagues us, but a lack of commerce!"
Paul praised the numerous efforts from Americans to combat the coronavirus pandemic, then returned to the subject of the debt amassed by the relief bills.
"With the recent $2 trillion bailout we are borrowing faster than we have ever borrowed before!" he continued. "Had we practiced sound budgeting in the past, we would have been better, significantly better positioned to weather this storm."
He pointed out that the most recent statistics said more than 20 million Americans are unemployed.
"Make no mistake. The massive economic calamity we're experiencing right now is caused by government. Passing out $1,200 checks indiscriminately, to people who haven't lost their job, will do nothing to rescue the country!" he explained.
"Our recovery only comes when the quarantine is ended," Paul added.
'A terrible, terrible conclusion'
Paul said that economists should also weigh in on what the balance should be between fighting a virus and causing harm to the entire economy.
"We need to get past a one-size-fits-all approach to infectious disease!" he said.
Paul also decried the passage of the massive relief bill without a recorded vote.
"I don't want to see this massive accumulation of debt destroy this great country," Paul concluded. "So my advice to the Senate and to the American people is, let's be aware of what we're doing by creating all this new debt and let's think before we jump to a terrible, terrible conclusion."
Here's the video of Paul's speech:


theblaze--2020-04-24--4 men held woman captive in her home to steal her stimulus money, police say

4 men held woman captive in her home to steal her stimulus money , police say One suspect allegedly pointed @ @ @ @ @ victim 's face while demanding cash

Four men have been arrested for allegedly holding a woman captive at gunpoint in her Lake Station, Indiana, home for hours over the weekend while demanding cash after learning that the victim had received her government stimulus funds.
What are the details?
Suspects Paul Blankenship, Phillip Guzman, Christopher Henderson, and Jacob Baughman are accused of using a stolen spare house key to enter the home of the unnamed victim, whom they all knew.
Once inside, the woman says, the men woke her up at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, took her phone so that she could not call for help, and demanded cash. The woman said the men knew she had recently received federal funds from the coronavirus stimulus package.
The victim says she was held against her will by the suspects for four hours, and during that time, they threatened her with a loaded gun.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Henderson "allegedly pointed a gun at her face and released its clip to show her it was loaded" and told the woman, "These are for you," referring to the bullets.
Guzman is accused of assaulting the woman after becoming frustrated over being unable to find the money, and the suspects finally left empty-handed at around 6:00 a.m.
The men threatened the victim and told her to stay put until they returned, but she drove to the police station after she was sure they were gone.
The suspects were arrested later that day and have each been "charged with burglary with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon and burglary of a dwelling and residential break and enter," NBC News reported.


theblaze--2020-04-24--Former WH press secretary Dana Perino: Would I work for Trump?

Former WH press secretary Dana Perino : Would I work for Trump ?

In this episode of "The Rubin Report," Fox News anchor Dana Perino joined BlazeTV host Dave Rubin to talk about the media, President Donald Trump, and what it was like to be press secretary for George W. Bush.
Asked by Dave if she would want to be President Trump's press secretary, Dana answered, "I think if I were Trump's press secretary, the one thing I would not want to be is blindsided and surprised. And that's why I would never be Trump's press secretary."
Dana also revealed what position she would want in a hypothetical Ben Shapiro administration and offered her insights on the changing perception of right-wing politics, noting in particular that politicians like Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) are showing people a different side of conservatives.
Watch the video clip below:
Ex-Press Secretary: Would I Work For Trump? (Pt. 3) | Dana Perino | POLITICS | Rubin Report youtu.be
Watch Dave Rubin's full interview with Dana Perino here: https://youtu.be/6Ht_GxtpDBo
Want more from Dave Rubin?
Looking for smart and honest conversations about current events, political news and the culture war? On "The Rubin Report," comedian Dave Rubin engages the ideas of some of society's most interesting thought leaders, authors, and politicians. Subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-04-23--CNN's Bill Weir lashes out at 's**tty' report of his claim coronavirus helped humanity with global w

CNN's Bill Weir lashes out at 's**tty' report of his claim coronavirus helped humanity with global warming

CNN 's Bill Weir lashes out at 's**tty ' report of his claim coronavirus helped humanity with global warming Weir @ @ @ @ @ from deforestation

CNN's climate correspondent Bill Weir lashed out at a report about his odd claims that the coronavirus pandemic is helping humanity deal with global warming and that the virus was caused by deforestation.
Weir tweeted his displeasure against the report in the Washington Examiner and included a colorful expletive.
Image Source: Twitter screenshot
"The full question was 'There seems to be this perception that coronavirus has helped humanity buy some time against global warming. Tell us what's wrong with that assumption.' The entire takeaway is THERE IS NO SILVER LINING," he explained.
While Weir is right that his report concludes that the economic shutdown from the coronavirus pandemic isn't enough to combat global warming, it's clear that he and the expert he consults are in favor of dismantling the economy.
In CNN's report, Weir talks to a Dr. Jonathan Foley, the executive director of Project Drawdown, a climate change think tank.
"Um, we'd have to keep doing this even more and do it for the next 30 years to really begin to bend the curve on the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," said Foley.
"It's kind of like having a really huge bathtub in the sky filled with pollution," he explained. "We have the faucet pouring, pouring more in and all we've done is turned down the faucet a little bit, but it's still filling up."
In one airing of the segment on CNN, Weir attributed the cause of the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, to deforestation.
"Virologists for years tried to warn us that an invisible enemy would come out of the jungles if we just kept cutting all of them down, and they were right," claimed Weir in sententious tone.
"So if any good can come of this," he continued, "maybe it's an understanding that the climatologists who are warning of an invisible enemy up in our skies and in our seas, maybe we should take them seriously too."
Weir tore into another person posting the video of his comments, saying, "I'm sorry for whatever hurt you and sincerely hope you find some redemptive meaning in your life."
Here's the entire context of the CNN video:


theblaze--2020-04-23--Factory workers lived at their plant for 28 days straight to make PPE materials in coronavirus fight

Factory workers lived at their plant for 28 days straight to make PPE materials in coronavirus fight The team of @ @ @ @ @ their families after nearly a month on the job

A team of 43 Pennsylvania factory workers clocked out from a 28-day shift on Sunday, after voluntarily living on-site at their plant in order to produce raw materials for making N95 masks and surgical gowns for medical workers in the fight against COVID-19.
The men are being hailed as heroes and were even recognized by the White House for their selflessness and patriotism as America continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
What are the details?
WPVI-TV reported that the employees at a Braskem America plant in Delaware County "unanimously decided to leave their families, agreeing to eat, sleep and live at the facility where they make equipment for health care workers."
The factory operated around the clock, with workers taking 12-hour daily shifts for nearly a month straight making polypropylene, a raw material used to make critical personal protection equipment for health care workers amid nationwide shortages.
Operations shift supervisor Joe Boyce told the outlet, "We're truly honored to be able to give back and support people we will never meet in some way." He added, "All the first responders, all the people on the front lines, we thank you. That's what makes our job easy to do."
Health care workers and other Americans have let the team know they are grateful for their sacrifices. Boyce told the Washington Post, "We've been getting messages on social media from nurses, doctors, EMS workers, saying thank you for what we're doing. But we want to thank them for what they did and are continuing to do. That's what made the time we were in there go by quickly, just being able to support them."
On Thursday, the White House shared the workers' story on Twitter with the message, "THANK YOU to the incredible, patriotic employees of the Braskem America plant in Pennsylvania!"


theblaze--2020-04-23--Manufacturers share how airplane seats could look in the post-coronavirus world

Manufacturers share how airplane seats could look in the post-coronavirus world Are you ready to face your fellow passengers while @ @ @ @ @

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, airlines are attempting to navigate in this new coronavirus world. Some airlines, including Delta, Alaska, and Spirit have temporarily banned passengers from sitting in the dreaded middle seat. Finally!
But airlines aren't going to want to lose out on the revenue from planes having all of the middle seats empty. Air carriers may have to redesign airplane seating to reduce the risk of COVID-19, while still filling all of the seats.
Italian manufacturer Aviointeriors created two different airplane seating concepts that take social distancing into consideration. The first configuration is called "Glassafe," which features small windshields near the top of the seats as a sort of face shield.
"'Glassafe' is made of transparent material to make the entire cabin harmonious and aesthetically light, but perfectly fulfilling the objective of creating an isolated volume around the passenger in order to avoid or minimize contacts and interactions via air between passenger and passenger," Aviointeriors said in a statement.
Be honest, you've always secretly wanted a windshield protecting you from your fellow passenger who is loudly chewing a tuna salad sandwich with a side of onion rings.
The second seating model is named "Janus," named after the two-faced Roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. In this configuration, the middle seat would face the opposite direction as the window and aisle seats. There would also be a transparent shield surrounding all of the seats, almost as if you're in an NHL penalty box.
"Each passenger has their own space isolated from others, even from people who walk through the aisle," Aviointeriors said.
Having someone face the other person is fine up until the moment they sneeze and launch 40,000 droplets at 200 mph in your direction. Not to mention that you'll awkwardly lock eyes with the person facing you on your six-hour flight from LAX to JFK.
The company has already patented both of the seat renderings and is ready to go into production.


theblaze--2020-04-23--Viral 'NY Tough' video boosted by Gov. Cuomo, Hillary Clinton was ripped off from independent filmma

Viral 'NY Tough' video boosted by Gov. Cuomo, Hillary Clinton was ripped off from independent filmmakers: report

Viral 'NY Tough ' video boosted by Gov .
Cuomo , Hillary Clinton was ripped off from independent filmmakers : @

Much of the original material for a viral video that has tugged on the heartstrings of New Yorkers in recent weeks amid the coronavirus outbreak was stolen from independent artists and filmmakers, Vice News reported Thursday.
The video containing the stolen footage garnered millions of views on social media due in large part to high-profile shares from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. It was produced and posted by Convicts, a film production company with an office in Brooklyn.
What are the details?
In the video, images of pre-quarantine New York City flash across the screen to a moving score from Hans Zimmer as Cuomo delivers inspiring words assuring New Yorkers that "we're going to get through [this]."
The film company's CEO, Peter Maiden, reportedly told Vice that the "NY Tough" video was done pro bono and was intended to encourage New Yorkers during a trying time.
"But there's one problem," the VICE report said. "Several writers and producers, who are now struggling and largely out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic and struggling, say much of the footage is theirs and was used without permission."
Here's more from Vice:
"The unfortunate thing here is that this was not a teenager or a 20 year old making some video. This was a studio," said Phil Holland, a cinematographer based out of Los Angeles whose footage was used in the video. "It's professional courtesy that you don't do this in the industry."
After seeing the video, Claudia Montano's friends thought some of the footage looked familiar — and they were right. It came from a movie she's producing with independent filmmaker, Paul Stone, she told VICE News. Stone, a native New Yorker, found footage in "NY Tough" from his film about a childhood friend who perished in the terrorist attacks on 9/11.
"Now more than ever, our intellectual property is important to us," said Montano, who's the executive producer of Firebrand Films. "So it's insulting that you would use the pandemic as an excuse to justify stealing."
Holland, whose aerial footage of the city was used in the video, said that it would normally cost $4,000-$5,000 to license the material.
"What really hit me is that they cropped out my watermark," he said.
Had he been reached out to beforehand, though, Holland said he probably would have given it over freely to the cause. Many of the other artists repeated that sentiment.
Anything else?
Montano asked Convicts to remove the video from its social channels and then filed takedown notices with YouTube and Vimeo. The original video has since been taken offline.
Maiden, who has now produced a second version devoid of ripped-off material, said he never intended to upset filmmakers.
"We wanted to be creative, we wanted to do something to help the situation," Maiden said. "We were inspired by Gov. Cuomo's words like I think a lot of people were. We really quickly put together a public service announcement using our original footage and additional clips."
Here's the updated version from Convicts' YouTube page:


theblaze--2020-04-23--California mayor: Death may await shutdown protesters who violate 'social distancing laws' and are '

California mayor: Death may await shutdown protesters who violate 'social distancing laws' and are 'locked up in an overcrowded jail'

California mayor : Death may await shutdown protesters who violate 'social distancing laws ' and are 'locked up in an @ @ @ @ @ with us .
You will not endanger the lives of our hardworking families because of @ @ @ @ @ . '

For those who have it in their heads that only Democrats are talking tough to citizens about obeying social distancing orders and threatening fines and arrests amid the coronavirus pandemic, think again.
R. Rex Parris — the Republican mayor of Lancaster, which is about an hour north of Los Angeles — apparently has upped the ante.
What did he say?
Parris took to Facebook Wednesday and gave a literal life-and-death warning to folks who may be readying a protest in his city against the economic shutdown, similar to those that have taken place across the country:
Image source: Facebook
"We were notified a group is planning a similar protest in Lancaster," Parris wrote. "Make no mistake people who deliberately violate the social distancing laws, and the laws requiring that we all wear a mask will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted."
His words got tougher: "Do not mess with us. You will not endanger the lives of our hardworking families because of some misguided civil liberties argument."
Then his coup de grace: "The quote is: Give me Liberty or Give me Death. Being arrested and locked up in an overcrowded jail just might result in granting you your wish."
How are folks reacting to the mayor's warning?
Although a number of commenters stood by Parris' post, others did not enjoy his stern warning — but Parris shot right back at a few of them:
"Hitler establishes that it is not our right to peacefully assemble if we disagree with government," one commenter wrote. "But it's OK for us to line up in masses at Walmart; your reasoning for punishment of innocent civilians is definitely unconstitutional."
To which Parris replied, "Protest if it makes you feel better. Just keep six feet apart and keep your mask on."
Another commenter said, "The people would rather die in your jails than put up with a petty tyrant spouting it is good for the people. The same mantra of every single dictator of every country that lost millions of lives for the good of the people. [You're] not god or even a crappy congressman — just a tin pot mayor playing at god."
Parris quipped, "I don't think you have ever been to jail."
Yet another commenter asked, "Will we be put in cells formerly used by ... dangerous criminals who were released into society because of fear they would contract and spread the virus to other criminals in the jail?"
Parris replied, "Do you really want to find out?"
But here's one comment he didn't respond to: "Are you kidding me? ... misguided civil liberties??? There are people in a panic!!! Many are NOT receiving a pay check. They are facing the loss of their businesses. They can't pay their bills and may soon not be able to feed their families. The only recourse they have is to stand up for their ... civil liberties!!!!"
Anything else?
Parris, 68, also had tough words for those who don't abide by city's requirement instituted in early April that face coverings are worn in public.
"I'm hoping that I don't have to put a consequence on this ordinance," Parris said at a council meeting when asked about consequences for not following the rule, the Antelope Valley Press reported. "Make no mistake, that's exactly what we will do. And we will start issuing tickets for misdemeanors if it comes down to that. We are not going to allow anyone in our city to endanger the lives of our hardworking families. And anyone who is not wearing a mask, that is precisely what you're doing."
He added, "We're not doing this because we want to or because we enjoy doing it. We're doing it because people's lives are in danger."
Parris won his fifth term as mayor last week in a landslide, defeating four challengers and receiving nearly 70% of the vote.


theblaze--2020-04-23--EVENT 201: Coronavirus crisis is ushering in a new world order — and it was all planned out LAST fal

EVENT 201: Coronavirus crisis is ushering in a new world order — and it was all planned out LAST fall

EVENT 201 : Coronavirus crisis is ushering in a new world order — and it was all planned out LAST @ @ @ @ @ socialist dream come true

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a devastating shutdown of our economy, our businesses, and our way of life. It's everything socialists all over the world have dreamed of — an opportunity born out of crisis. But who drafted the agenda for our response to the pandemic?
On this week's Wednesday night special, Glenn Beck revealed how a group of global elites prepared for a future coronavirus pandemic just months before China reported its first case. And the actions our governments, media, and world organizations are taking right now were planned out in a "high-level pandemic exercise" on Oct. 18, called Event 201.
Last fall, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security partnered with the World Economic Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to host a "pandemic tabletop exercise" that was stunningly accurate in predicting the current coronavirus pandemic.
NOTE: It is not being suggested that the Event 201 hosts caused the coronavirus pandemic, only that they had already planned out their agenda-pushing response to such an inevitably.
The next step in the plan was to merge Big Tech companies with the government, exactly as we see happening now with Facebook, YouTube, and Google.
Glenn also spoke with Rosa Koire, author of "Behind the Green Mask: U.N. Agenda 21," to discuss how we've actually been fighting a global agenda for decades and the frightening endgame global socialists have for America.
Watch the full special below or on BlazeTV.com.
The True Purpose of the Coronavirus Wargame | Glenn TV youtu.be
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--2020-04-23--Mike Pompeo says US might never restore funding to WHO

Mike Pompeo says US might never restore funding to WHO US taxpayers have provided the World Health Organization with $ @ @ @ @ @ 2010 .

The United States might never resume funding the World Health Organization, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned.
On April 14, President Donald Trump announced that he was ceasing the U.S. funding for the WHO because of their response to the coronavirus pandemic.
"Today I am instructing my administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus," Trump said during the White House coronavirus task force media briefing.
WHO FAILED: Trump HALTS payment to WHO - BLAMES them for delayed response www.youtube.com
Pompeo called for "a structural fix of the WHO" to correct its "shortcomings."
"I think we've got to take a real hard look at the WHO and what we do coming out of this," Pompeo said Wednesday night on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" program. "It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting — having U.S. taxpayer dollars go to the WHO."
On April 9, Pompeo said that the administration plans to reevaluate funding for the World Health Organization because it hasn't "accomplished what it was intended to deliver" in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.
'We are re-evaluating our funding' for WHO: State Secretary Mike Pompeo www.youtube.com
The U.S. is the top funder of the WHO, providing more than $400 million in 2019, about 15% of its budget, according to Open The Books. The U.S. has already given WHO $58 million this year. U.S. taxpayers have provided the World Health Organization with $3.5 billion in funding since 2010.
Last week, senior Trump administration officials told Reuters that Washington could redirect these funds to other aid groups. The White House Budget Office instructed federal agencies to redirect WHO money to the Red Cross and Samaritan's Purse.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he "regrets" President Trump's decision to halt funding.
With support from the people and government of the U.S., WHO works to improve the health of many of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. WHO is not only fighting COVID-19. We're also working to address polio, measles, malaria, Ebola, HIV, tuberculosis, malnutrition, cancer, diabetes, mental health and many other diseases and conditions. We also work with countries to strengthen health systems and improve access to live-saving health services. WHO is reviewing the impact of our work of any withdrawal of US funding and we work with our partners to fill any financial gaps we face and to ensure our work continues uninterrupted.
The WHO has a 2020-21 budget of nearly $4.85 billion. China has pledged an additional $30 million funding for the World Health Organization. China contributes just 0.21% of the WHO's annual budget.
There are accusations that WHO helped China cover up the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China. On the same day as its infamous human-to-human COVID-19 tweet, the WHO warned hospitals of a "super-spreading" event.


theblaze--2020-04-23--92% of inmates tested at Indiana prison are reportedly positive for COVID-19

92 % of inmates tested at Indiana prison are reportedly positive for COVID-19

At least 92% of tested inmates at Indiana's Westville Correctional Facility are positive for COVID-19, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.
What are the details?
Participants at a hospital planning committee meeting said that 126 of 137 tested inmates are positive for the virus.
"Overall," the outlet reports, "more than half (55%) of all confirmed state prison cases are in Westville."
The Indiana Department of Corrections reported that the medium-security prison has an inmate population of about 3,200.
Last week, the Michigan City News-Dispatch reported that La Porte County Commissioner Shiela Matias said that the correctional facility was "seeing a large increase in positives."
"The staff there and at [Indiana State Police] are our neighbors and family members; please keep those in both Westville and ISP, as well as in health care facilities across the county in your thoughts and prayers," she added. "State DOC, state Health Department and state leaders are hearing our concerns loud and clear and are taking action."
Earlier in April, Indiana Department of Corrections Commissioner Rob Carter said that COVID-19 is the "challenge of our times."
"Having a loved one in prison only adds to that uncertainty," he added, and insisted that the department of corrections is taking all possible precautions to "resist the spread of COVID-19 and limit its impact on those incarcerated within IDOC's juvenile facilities and prisons."
"[O]ur goal is the same as yours," he added, "To keep your loved ones safe and healthy."
What else?
The news comes amid the pandemic that spurred Attorney General William Barr to order certain facilities in hard-hit areas — such as Louisiana — to release low-level offenders because of COVID-19.
At the time of this writing, Johns Hopkins University researchers estimate that the state of Indiana has had at least 12,438 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with at least 666 deaths credited to the virus.


theblaze--2020-04-23--The CDC sent tests contaminated with the coronavirus to states in February

'It was just tragic' The CDC sent tests contaminated with the coronavirus to states in February Robert Redfield , director @ @ @ @ @ Control and Prevention , speaks during a news conference Wednesday at the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention botched the crucial rollout of COVID-19 tests in February, sending tests contaminated with the coronavirus to states at a time when the virus could've potentially been better contained without widespread lockdowns, the New York Times reported.
"It was just tragic," said Scott Becker, executive director of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, according to the Times. "All that time when we were sitting there waiting, I really felt like, here we were at one of the most critical junctures in public health history, and the biggest tool in our toolbox was missing."
How did this happen? The tests were contaminated due to "sloppy laboratory practices," the Times reported, including employees entering and exiting labs without changing their coats, and tests being assembled in the same room where other researchers were working on positive coronavirus samples.
The CDC has admitted that it did not follow its own manufacturing standards with the tests, and said enhanced quality control measures have been put in place since the errors.
What was the result? Because of the contamination, many of the tests sent to states during that crucial early period of the coronavirus outbreak did not produce conclusive results.
Public health labs began receiving tests from the CDC on Feb. 7. The first known COVID-19 death in the United States occurred on Feb. 6. Although the availability of testing has improved some over the past two months, an inability to widely test the population has been possibly the greatest obstacle to an effective, targeted pandemic response.
The U.S. has had more than 800,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and antibody research increasingly indicates that the true number of cases could be many times higher than the current confirmed tally. The U.S. has a relatively low COVID-19 detection rate due to scarce availability of reliable tests.
(H/T: Ars Technica)


theblaze--2020-04-23--New report reveals the 10 states with the highest — and lowest — levels of household gun ownership

New report reveals the 10 states with the highest — and lowest — levels of household gun ownership Where does @ @ @ @

A new report shows that household gun ownership in America has gone down over the last 40 years, and nearly every state in the union has followed that trend. There are currently only 11 states where at least 50% of households have firearms.
The Rand Corporation updated its Gun Policy in America initiative this week with a new report on gun ownership rates in the U.S. since 1980. The new report, "State-Level Estimates of Household Firearm Ownership," shows the rate of household gun ownership for every state compared to the national average.
According to Rand's research, 45% of American households had firearms in 1980. By 2016 (the most recent data available), that rate had dropped 13 points to 32%.
The decline happened in almost every state — from the most pro-gun to the most anti-gun.
For example, the five "best gun-friendly states" as ranked by Guns & Ammo magazine — Arizona, Idaho, Alaska, Kansas, and Oklahoma — all saw their rates of household gun ownership fall.
Arizona dropped 22 points (58% to 36%)
Idaho dropped 13 points (67% to 54%)
Alaska dropped 19 points (75% to 56%)
Kansas dropped 17 points (57% to 40%)
Oklahoma dropped 8 points (60% to 52%)
The magazine's five "worst gun-friendly states" — California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York — saw similar drops:
California dropped 23 points (39% to 16%)
Hawaii dropped 16 points (25% to 9%)
New Jersey dropped 12 points (21% to 9%)
Massachusetts dropped 10 points (19% to 9%)
New York dropped 9 points (22% to 13%)
So, which states have the highest and lowest rates of household gun ownership? We rank them below, based on Rand's most recent data available. You'll also see where the states stood in 1980 (the furthest back the report goes), as well as each state's most recent record highs and lows within the data set.
TOP 10 STATES
No. 1: Montana ● 2016 Rate: 63%
● 1980 Rate: 74%
● Record high: 75% (1984)
● Record low: 62% (2010)
No. 2: Wyoming ● 2016 Rate: 58%
● 1980 Rate: 79%
● Record high: 79% (1980)
● Record low: 57% (2011)
No. 3: West Virginia ● 2016 Rate: 57%
● 1980 Rate: 62%
● Record high: 63% (1985)
● Record low: 55% (1998)
No. 4: Alaska ● 2016 Rate: 56%
● 1980 Rate: 75%
● Record high: 75% (1980)
● Record low: 56% (2016)
No. 5: Idaho ● 2016 Rate: 54%
● 1980 Rate: 67%
● Record high: 68% (1982)
● Record low: 51% (2010)
No. 6: South Dakota ● 2016 Rate: 52%
● 1980 Rate: 59%
● Record high: 62% (1994)
● Record low: 51% (2014)
No. 7: North Dakota ● 2016 Rate: 52%
● 1980 Rate: 55%
● Record high: 59% (1988)
● Record low: 51% (2002)
No. 8: Oklahoma ● 2016 Rate: 52%
● 1980 Rate: 60%
● Record high: 65% (1989)
● Record low: 47% (2006)
No. 9: Alabama ● 2016 Rate: 51%
● 1980 Rate: 60%
● Record high: 63% (1990)
● Record low: 48% (2010)
No. 10: Missouri ● 2016 Rate: 51%
● 1980 Rate: 54%
● Record high: 56% (1990)
● Record low: 43% (2004)
BOTTOM 10 STATES
No. 50: New Jersey ● 2016 Rate: 9%
● 1980 Rate: 21%
● Record high: 25% (1982)
● Record low: 7% (2013)
No. 49: Massachusetts ● 2016 Rate: 9%
● 1980 Rate: 19%
● Record high: 21% (1992)
● Record low: 9% (2016)
No. 48: Hawaii ● 2016 Rate: 9%
● 1980 Rate: 25%
● Record high: 25% (1980)
● Record low: 7% (2015)
No 47: New York ● 2016 Rate: 13%
● 1980 Rate: 22%
● Record high: 28% (1990)
● Record low: 12% (2014)
No 46: Rhode Island ● 2016 Rate: 14%
● 1980 Rate: 13%
● Record high: 22% (1993)
● Record low: 10% (2013)
No. 45: California ● 2016 Rate: 16%
● 1980 Rate: 39%
● Record high: 41% (1982)
● Record low: 16% (2016)
No 44: Maryland ● 2016 Rate: 18%
● 1980 Rate: 41%
● Record high: 41% (1982)
● Record low: 18% (2016)
No. 43: Connecticut ● 2016 Rate: 19%
● 1980 Rate: 28%
● Record high: 34% (1992)
● Record low: 16% (2012)
No. 42: Illinois ● 2016 Rate: 23%
● 1980 Rate: 31%
● Record high: 36% (1990)
● Record low: 22% (2008)


theblaze--2020-04-23--NYT columnist complains Biden should get briefing airtime like Trump. She forgot he already tried th

NYT columnist complains Biden should get briefing airtime like Trump. She forgot he already tried that — and failed miserably.

NYT columnist complains Biden should get briefing airtime like Trump .
She forgot he already tried that — and failed @ @ @ @ @ work out so well

An opinion writer for the New York Times complained Thursday that President Donald Trump's daily briefings are equivalent to campaign events and therefore suggested that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden should be entitled to the same campaign airtime.
In her op-ed, titled, "If We're Giving Trump a Show, We Should Give Biden One, Too," Times columnist Jennifer Senior argued that the president is hitting the virtual campaign trail every night through his coronavirus task force briefings — and lamented that he is receiving free media exposure while doing it.
Let's drop all pretenses, shall we? The president has decided he's had enough of running the country and is running full time for re-election instead.
Trump's nightly news conferences, propaganda from the very beginning, are now aimed almost entirely at his base. They are campaign events. And if they are campaign events, the cable news outlets, which still carry the bulk of them live, ought to balance their programming. They ought to check in with the Joe Biden camp before, during and after each one.
There ought to be an army of Biden surrogates waiting to speak. Biden himself ought to be ready to speak: about reopening society in a rational, sane way that involves population-level testing and risk stratification, never forgetting to remind everyone we're here because Trump ignored reality. Biden ought to be hosting live, regular conversations with his brain trust, past and future.
She noted that Biden would be especially fit for such a task given his "cruel and unwelcome body of expertise in coping with grief" and ability to connect with people on an emotional level.
Did she forget Biden already tried this?
Never mind the fact that cable news outlets are not required to cover presidential candidates equally, Senior also appears to have forgotten that Biden has attempted exactly the sort of thing that she is suggesting — only to fail miserably at it.
The former vice president announced in late March that he would conduct regular "shadow briefings" of his own from his Delaware home to counteract Trump's coronavirus briefings. But the endeavor go off to a shaky start and has failed to recover.
From there, the campaign tried to change things up. They ran a virtual happy hour to cater to young voters, but that didn't take, either. The happy hour drew a measly simultaneous viewership of 2,800 and ended up disabling the comment feature midway through the event.
Over the last several weeks, Biden's briefings and TV appearances have been irregular and clunky, his message often overshadowed by frequent gaffes and incoherent speech.
It's unclear whether Senior is truly unaware of Biden's attempts at garnering the national spotlight through virtual briefings or if she has purposefully tried to forget the fact.
Either way, she is not alone. A recent NBC News poll found that almost half of people surveyed were not even aware that Biden had been weighing in on the coronavirus pandemic.


theblaze--2020-04-23--Antibody study finds 21% of New York City residents has had COVID-19

Antibody study finds 21 % of New York City residents has had COVID-19 People wait in line for meals to @ @ @ @ @ Draft House on Thursday in the Bronx in New York City .
( David Dee @ @ @

New York City may have had nearly 2 million cases of COVID-19, according to an antibody study that revealed that 21% of tested NYC residents has had the virus, according to the New York Times.
The information comes from testing done on 1,300 supermarket shoppers in New York City this week, and the results were announced Thursday by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
"What does it mean? I don't know," Cuomo said during his daily press briefing. "These are people who were out and about shopping. They were not people who were in their homes, they were not people who were isolated, they were not people who were quarantined."
The numbers: The study had a sample size of 1,300 people in New York City. Of those, 21% tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies. If that percentage held true through the entire population, that would amount to approximately 1.7 million cases — far more than the current count.
The statewide study tested 3,000 people total in the state, and the percentage of people in that sample that tested positive was 14%, which would amount to 2.6 million cases if applied to the entire population. The current number of total cases in New York is about 250,000.
If those numbers are accurate, the infection mortality rate in New York would be about 0.5% Cuomo said.
Are the numbers reliable? Some experts have reservations about the accuracy of antibody tests right now, including Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis, one of NYC's top disease control officials. From NYT:
Hours before Mr. Cuomo's presentation, a top New York City health official cautioned against making too much of the usefulness of the test results in making critical decisions about social distancing and reopening the economy, particularly in identifying immunity.
The city's top disease control officials, Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis, wrote in an email alert on Wednesday that the tests "may produce false negative or false positive results," pointing to "significant voids" in using the science to pinpoint immunity.