theblaze--2020-01-27--'A poignant moment': Trump lawyer hits Nancy Pelosi for impeachment signing ceremony from Senate flo

'A poignant moment': Trump lawyer hits Nancy Pelosi for impeachment signing ceremony from Senate floor during trial

' A poignant moment ' : Trump lawyer hits Nancy Pelosi for impeachment signing ceremony from Senate floor during trial

During the Senate's ongoing impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Monday, Trump attorney Jay Sekulow criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for handing out souvenir pens after signing the House's articles of impeachment last month, complete with video.
During his remarks from the floor of the Senate, Sekulow said that he wanted to "contrast the solemn nature of these proceedings and what has been laid out before us, from a both historical and constitutional perspective ... with what took place in the House of Representatives upon the signing of articles of impeachment."
The attorney then drew the chamber's attention to a video of the ceremony where Pelosi gave out souvenir signing pens after putting her mark on the House's two articles of impeachment earlier this month.
"Pens! Distributed to the impeachment managers," Sekulow said. "A celebratory moment: Think about that ... A poignant moment."
Sekulow's remarks echo criticism of the signing ceremony and its now-infamous souvenir pens that appeared to undermine Pelosi's longstanding talking point that impeachment was a serious and somber process.
"They claim it's a somber, serious occasion they're heartbroken over ... and then they pass out impeachment-signing pens with special cases. Folks. You can't make it up," Rep. Mark Meadows (N.C.) tweeted at the time.
"Dems were giddy with excitement in Capitol hallway, asking, 'Did you get your pen?'" Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) wrote about the event. "The American people will hold House Dems accountable for making a mockery of their duty to the Constitution."
"We are used to seeing signing ceremonies, handing out pens at moments of celebration, when a president is signing legislation, when even sometimes...when the House sends over a piece of legislation," CNN's Dana Bash said of the signing ceremony. "It was unusual to see that kind of ceremony and handing out the pens and smiling for a picture in this kind of situation where the House Speaker has bent over backwards to say publicly and privately this is somber, this is not a time for celebration."
"Nothing says seriousness and sobriety like handing out souvenirs," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said days after the signing.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Hallmark Channel CEO who hinted at openness to gay Christmas movies resigns

Hallmark Channel CEO who hinted at openness to gay Christmas movies resigns Was that the reason he stepped down ?

The Hallmark Channel executive who recently said that the company would be "open" to doing movies with gay characters and lead actors has resigned from his position.
Bill Abbott, the former CEO and president of Crown Media Family Networks — which encompasses the popular family-friendly Hallmark Channel — stepped down last Wednesday, according to a statement on the company website.
"After 11 years, Bill Abbott, president and CEO of Crown Media is leaving the company," Mike Perry, president and CEO of Hallmark Cards, Inc. said. "I want to thank Bill for his many years of success and contributions to Crown Media and wish him continued success."
What's the background?
Abbott sparked controversy last holiday season when he indicated surprising openness to Christmas films featuring gay lead actors or including gay characters.
"I'm gay, where are the same-sex movies?" one of the interviewers asked Abbott in a podcast interview with The Hollywood Reporter last November. "Have you talked about incorporating stories about same-sex couples at Christmas?"
"We're open to really any type of movie of any type of relationship in any space," Abbott said in response.
Later that holiday season, Hallmark Channel sparked further controversy after a series of commercial advertisements that depicted a same-sex wedding were aired, then temporarily pulled, and then aired again.
Following the kerfuffle, Perry apologized for the company's decision to temporarily pull the ads and said he had been "agonizing" over it.
"The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we've seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused," Perry said. "Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision. Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions, and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts from this purpose is not who we are. We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused."
The nature of Abbott's involvement in the decisions to air and then temporarily pull the ads is unclear, however, as the head of the organization's media wing, it is reasonable to assume he was at the very least knowledgeable regarding the decision-making process.
Was that the reason he stepped down?
The statement regarding Abbott's resignation did not elaborate on why he parted ways with the company, or whether he was asked to step down.
Instead, Perry noted the need for producing "relevant" entertainment for a growing audience.
"In a time when there is immense competition among television networks and streaming services, it is more important than ever that we find relevant new ways to grow our business and continue to produce high quality programming that resonates with our growing audience," Perry said.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Bernie Sanders adviser vows to repeal law meant to screen immigrants for potential welfare use

Bernie Sanders adviser vows to repeal law meant to screen immigrants for potential welfare use 'We must reverse these Trump @ @

The Supreme Court decided to allow the Trump administration to move forward with a new policy to place higher financial requirements on legal immigrants and the Democrats aren't happy about it.
As an earlier report at TheBlaze noted:
In a 5-4 ruling along ideological lines Monday, the nation's highest court cleared the way for the Trump administration to begin enforcing the so-called "public charge" rule while its merits are argued in lower courts, CBS News reports.
Under the rule, federal officials will now have more authority to deny entry to the U.S. or legal status to people who the government determines will likely rely on public assistance.
The ruleupdated current regulations, which determined whether or not an applicant would become a public charge based on their presumed need for cash benefits. Now, in addition to that, the criteria for determining whether or not an applicant will become a public charge will be based on non-cash benefits, as well, such as housing assistance and food stamps.
Alex Jacquez, a senior policy adviser for the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), called the news "disgusting. Not only is Bernie going to rescind this on day one in office, we're going to repeal the 'public charge' statute entirely."
Similarly, Sanders criticized the policy with a Monday tweet saying, "We must reverse these Trump programs which are designed to demonize and hurt those who are the most vulnerable of all."
Proponents of the administration policy have pointed out that it is meant to determine whether or not a prospective immigrant to the United States is likely to rely on taxpayer funded welfare programs or be able to support themselves financially.
"For over a century, the public charge ground of inadmissibility has been part of our nation's immigration laws," then-USCIS acting Director Ken Cuccinelli said in a statement when the updated policy was announced in August. "Throughout our history, self-sufficiency has been a core tenet of the American dream."
Detractors, however, just see it as a cruel effort to restrict access to the United States.
Other Democratic presidential candidates voiced their frustration at the Supreme Court's decision on Monday.
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg criticized the court's decision Monday, tweeting, "Immigration is central to the American story," and "This isn't just wrong — it's hurting America's future."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called the policy "simply another way for the Trump administration to attack immigrants, particularly those with disabilities."
In addition to the 2020 candidates, the American Civil Liberties Union also criticized the policy in light of the Supreme Court's ruling, saying that it "enshrines the false stereotype that people with disabilities do not contribute to our society" and "must be stopped."
The Department of Homeland Security traces "public charge" immigration policies back to the late 1800s and points out that the current policy stems on laws passed and signed during the Clinton administration.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Glenn Beck: 'The president's defense is VERY compelling' as they dismantle Democrats' impeachment ar

Glenn Beck: 'The president's defense is VERY compelling' as they dismantle Democrats' impeachment arguments

Glenn Beck : 'The president 's defense is VERY compelling ' as they dismantle Democrats ' impeachment arguments ' I @ @ @ @ @ really good '

On the radio program Monday, Glenn Beck, Stu Burguiere, and Pat Gray discussed the Trump defense team's arguments in the Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.
"This is different than what the Democrats were doing," Glenn said of the Trump team's impeachment defense. "We know the case of the Democrats, they just kept going over and over and over, for three days, the same stuff. The Republicans, at least on Saturday, did not ... and I thought it was really, really good."
Glenn added, "The president's defense was very compelling."
Watch the videos below to hear Glenn's top takeaways from the president's defense team:
Part 1: Why the president's defense is 'very compelling'
Part 2: Top takeaways from president's impeachment defense
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theblaze--2020-01-27--Viral video shows group of New Yorkers banding together to lift a car off a woman who was run over

A newly viral video shows a group of New Yorkers lending a hand to help a woman who was pinned underneath a vehicle after she was struck.
What are the details?
The incident took place Sunday when a SUV struck a woman in the city's Lower East Side.
The woman was trapped underneath the vehicle, and several people can be seen running toward her and forming a group to help lift the vehicle and free her. In the video, the group can be seen rocking and lifting the SUV, ultimately freeing the woman, as first responders arrived.
Colby Droscher, editor in chief of Viumbe, shared the video on Twitter, captioning it, "Just now at Delancey and Norfolk in the Lower East Side an accident ran over a pedestrian trapping them under an SUV. Onlookers just lifted the SUV, dragging the victim out."
At the time of this writing, the video has received more than 105,000 likes and has been retweeted more than 19,000 times.
Droscher told the New York Post that the incident "happened so fast."
"As I approached, there were big crowds forming all around the intersection," he said. "All of a sudden, everyone ran to lift the car."
He later shared a photo of the woman, who seemed to be in good enough spirits to be using her cellphone while New York City firefighters and police had also gathered.
He captioned the snap, "The woman is awake and on her phone."
According to the outlet, a New York City Fire Department spokesperson said it received a trauma call around 5:10 p.m. local time.
The unnamed woman was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
At the time of this report Monday, WABC-TV said there was no public update on the woman's condition.


theblaze--2020-01-27--What is 'Post-traumatic slave syndrome'?

'Just because two things seem related does n't mean that they are '

On Monday's episode of "Pseudo-Intellectual," Lauren Chen discussed a recent video from AJ+ featuring Dr. Joy DeGruy, who details her theory of "post-traumatic slave syndrome."
In this clip, Lauren broke down DeGruy's theory that suggests that post-traumatic slave syndrome is an adaptive survival behavior that affects the black community and is a direct result of the multigenerational oppression of Africans.
DeGruy wrote a book on the topic where she claimed that oppression experienced in the black communities today link to chattel slavery, a form of slavery that is founded on the principle that "African-Americans were inherently/genetically inferior to whites."
According to DeGruy, chattel slavery was the precursor to institutionalized racism.
"Just because two things seem related doesn't mean that they are," Lauren said.
Lauren broke down DeGruy's analysis and determined that there is little evidence to support her claim that post-traumatic slave syndrome is a real thing.
Later, DeGruy claimed that their parents denigrate children in the black community as a form of protection.
To watch Lauren destroy DeGruy's argument, watch the video below.
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theblaze--2020-01-27--Army general: Instead of mourning some basketball player, I'll remember a fallen soldier

Army general : Instead of mourning some basketball player , I 'll remember a fallen soldier Not the best way @ @ @ @

While many are publicly mourning the death of former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, one U.S. Army general appeared to take exception to the level of attention paid to Bryant's death in contrast with a U.S. soldier who was recently killed in Syria, according to Business Insider.
Maj. Gen. John Evans was criticized for a controversial tweet pitting the two tragedies against one another.
"Lots of people mourning a basketball player this morning," Evans wrote Monday. "I think I'll use my energy to remember SPC Moore and his family. #RIP."
Evans shared an article from the Military Times about the death of 22-year-old Army Spc. Antonio Moore, who was killed in a vehicle accident Friday in Syria.
Evans later wrote that those criticizing him for comparing the deaths were supporting his original point, which he said was that no life should be treated as more valuable than another.
"I think my detractors here made my case for me — no life is any more important than another — regardless the celebrity," Evans wrote. "Look forward to them retweeting the story about Spc. Moore to demonstrate their conviction."
Not all military veterans appreciated Evans' way of attempting to elevate the memory of Spc. Moore.
"This is not a healthy look for civil-military relations," former Army officer Phillip Carter replied. "The military does not have a monopoly on suffering or death; insisting on the primacy of grief is inconsistent with the Army value of selfless-sacrifice."
Another veteran pointed out that Bryant's life and career carried significant meaning to him and other vets as they served their country.
"As a life long Laker fan, Kobe helped me get through deployments in the early 2000s," wrote one user in reply to Evans' tweet. "Both deaths are tragic, but in different ways. No need to make it a contest."
Bryant was killed Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in California.


theblaze--2020-01-27--'The facts haven't changed': Republicans dismiss Bolton book's impact on Senate impeachment trial

'The circus is over .
It 's time to move on ! '

The Sunday night revelations about former White House national security adviser John Bolton's forthcoming book have threatened to upend the Senate's impeachment trial, but several Republican senators are saying that the news doesn't change anything for them.
The New York Times reported late Sunday that Bolton's new book claims that President Donald Trump admitted in August that he wanted to continue holding up military aid to Ukraine if the Ukrainian government did not cooperate with investigations into the Bidens. Trump responded that he "NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens."
Naturally, the news prompted congressional Democrats to reiterate their longstanding calls for witnesses, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) asking, "How can Senate Republicans not vote to call that witness and request his documents?" at a Monday morning news conference.
In an appearance on CNN, Senate Judiciary Committee member Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said that not calling Bolton to testify "will tell me that the Republicans are going right along with the president and Mitch McConnell in rigging this trial."
Before the trial proceedings resumed Monday, some Republican lawmakers were dismissive of the report's overall effect on the case.
"I think we're going to have some new something that comes out every single day" of the trial, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told reporters, adding that it "doesn't really change anything."
Blackburn's fellow Tennessean, outgoing Sen. Lamar Alexander (R), said that he would withhold judgment on whether or not new evidence was needed until the White House's team finished their opening arguments and senators had asked written questions later in the week.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters that the news "doesn't change the underlying facts that a president is justified, has full authority and indeed a responsibility to investigate serious evidence of corruption." He also said that he "predicted at the outset of this proceeding that there would be breathless revelations day after day that would be turned into a frenzy."
"There is nothing new here to what the House managers have been saying." Senate GOP Conference Chairman John Barrasso (Wyo.) said about the Bolton news at a Monday news conference. "Take a breath; let's listen to the President's lawyers today in the case they present."
"Do not get distracted by the shiny objects of saying 'we need witnesses' or Bolton's new manuscript or anything else," House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Doug Collins (R-Ga.) told reporters. "Don't lose sight of the fact that the facts haven't changed."
Speaking to reporters in the basement of the Capitol Building, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) even questioned Bolton's credibility, saying that "I wouldn't bet my house" on him telling the truth, and said that new allegations would have more credibility if they were raised by someone else.
But not everyone in the Senate Republican conference was so dismissive of the report's allegations. GOP Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) said that the Bolton book news "strengthens the case for witnesses" in a statement, while Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) said it was "increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton."
The Senate's newest Republican member even went so car as to criticize Romney over wanting to hear from Bolton. In a Monday tweet, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (Ga.) said that her colleague "wants to appease" the left by calling witnesses with potentially damaging testimony to the trial. "The circus is over. It's time to move on!"
Additionally, despite his previously stated desire not to draw out the length of the trial with more witnesses, Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) said that he would want to see what's in the manucript in order to determine whether or nor he should be called.
"I want to see what's in the manuscript," Graham — one of Trump's top allies in the trial process so far — told reporters. "Let's see what's in the manuscript, let's see if it's relevant, and if it is, I'll make a decision about Bolton."
However, Graham also reiterated Monday that if the Senate calls Democrat-desired witnesses, then the chamber should also allow President Trump "to call all relevant witnesses he has requested."


theblaze--2020-01-27--Joy Behar asks Holocaust survivor thoughts about kids separated from their families at the border. T

Joy Behar asks Holocaust survivor thoughts about kids separated from their families at the border. The conversation did not go the way she apparently wanted.

Joy Behar asks Holocaust survivor thoughts about kids separated from their families at the border .
The conversation did not @ @ @ @ @ wanted .

"The View" co-host Joy Behar seemed to compare a portion of the Holocaust experience with caged children at the U.S. southern border on Monday, but it didn't go quite as she may have planned.
What are the details?
On Monday, the ABC show welcomed Holocaust survivor Millie Baran to honor Holocaust Memorial Day.
Millie appeared on the hit daytime TV show with her husband Miklh and their two adult daughters. During a discussion, Millie shared her personal story of surviving the Holocaust, which included an immigration to America after nearly a five-year wait.
Behar, of course, decided to ask Millie a very pointed question as to whether the Holocaust survivor believed that separating children from their parents at the border was the right thing to do.
"Millie," she began, "we just heard in the video that you had to wait over four years before you could come into this country. ... You know, some people are experiencing that right now in our country. They're not letting people in [at the U.S.-Mexico border] and it's just tragic to me and to you, I'm sure. Would you like to speak to that at all?"
Millie responded by saying that she empathized with the women and children at the border, and said that she couldn't imagine being separated from her own family even for a short period of time.
"I realized," she continued, "who doesn't want to come to America? The best land in the world. The lucky ones who can come here, a land of opportunity, of freedom. To us, it was a dream to get here. Naturally, it was worth it to wait, because when we came here, I practically kissed the earth."
What else?
Millie continued, however, pointing out the importance of immigrants to follow the United States' immigration policy.
"[Immigration] was for us, a miracle, a miracle what happened," she said. "And when we saw what happened with the people who wanted to come to America, naturally — it's a land of laws. You cannot just come and want to come in, but I'm sure that the United States will find a way how to accommodate people who want freedom — who want a good life."
www.youtube.com
(H/T: The Daily Caller)


theblaze--2020-01-27--Supreme Court hands win to President Trump on 'public charge' rule, which gives feds more power to b

Supreme Court hands win to President Trump on 'public charge' rule, which gives feds more power to block immigrants who are likely to require public assistance

Supreme Court hands win to President Trump on 'public charge ' rule , which gives feds more power to block @ @ @ @ @ require public assistance

The Supreme Court has green-lit a rule pushed by the Trump administration to restrict immigration to the U.S. for those who are unlikely to support themselves without using government welfare programs.
In a 5-4 ruling along ideological lines Monday, the nation's highest court cleared the way for the Trump administration to begin enforcing the so-called "public charge" rule while its merits are argued in lower courts, CBS News reports.
Under the rule, federal officials will now have more authority to deny entry to the U.S. or legal status to people who the government determines will likely rely on public assistance.
The ruleupdated current regulations, which determined whether or not an applicant would become a public charge based on their presumed need for cash benefits. Now, in addition to that, the criteria for determining whether or not an applicant will become a public charge will be based on non-cash benefits, as well, such as housing assistance and food stamps.
Monday's ruling sets aside a nationwide injunction placed on the rule by a federal judge in New York last summer.
The Trump administration had blasted the injunction before asking the Supreme Court to remove the hold on the rule's implementation. "It is extremely disappointing that yet another judicial ruling has blocked — on a nationwide basis — this Administration's efforts to restore integrity to the immigration system, consistent with the plain meaning and clear intent of the law," White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, according to the Hill.
Critics of the rule have argued that it closes the door to low-income immigrants and people of color looking for a brighter future in America. But proponents say that is an exaggeration since the rule does not apply to those seeking asylum or refugee status or escaping from human trafficking or domestic violence situations.
Arguing in favor of the rule, acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli added that this type of assessment has long been a mainstay of America's immigration policy.
"For over a century, the public charge ground of inadmissibility has been part of our nation's immigration laws," he stated. "Throughout our history. Self-sufficiency has been a core tenet of the American dream. Self-reliance, industriousness, and perseverance laid the foundation of our nation and have defined generations of hardworking immigrants seeking opportunity in the United States ever since."


theblaze--2020-01-27--'For white people only' event helps college students examine 'nasty little racist inside them'

'For white people only ' event helps college students examine 'nasty little racist inside them' MLK Day event was titled @ @ @ @ @ Inner Racist : A Session for White People '

Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, held a "for white people only" event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day that helped attendees look at the "nasty little racist inside them."
The event — "How to Embrace Your Inner Racist: A Session for White People" — was led by Ahmed Afzaal, a Concordia professor of religion and social activism who's published works such as "Free Speech Comes with a Price Tag" and an essay on the peaceful application of jihad in the modern world, Campus Reform said.
What are the details?
The event's description says, "After participating in this session, attendees will be able to ... recognize and acknowledge that there is a nasty little racist inside them, and to do so without becoming angry or defensive; and ... describe the skills of psychological flexibility that they must develop in order to make authentic choices in defiance of their racist tendencies."
A side note indicated that the session "is for white people only. While we won't stop people of color from attending, they should know that their presence in the room is likely to interfere with the effectiveness of the session."
Campus Reform said it reached out to Afzaal and Concordia but didn't hear back in time for publication.
However, a Concordia student named Gabe — who asked the outlet not to use his last name over fear of backlash — said whites exclusively attended the event.
"The room was packed with people sitting on the floor," he told Campus Reform, adding that about 70 students went to a morning session. There also was an afternoon session scheduled.
Other topics
Concordia also featured a number of other events related to MLK Day. Among them were:
"Calling In Call-Out Culture," which was scheduled to examine everything from celebrities being "canceled" to similar examples at Concordia and "alternative strategies of addressing bias and ignorance" in order to find "the best method in which we might create an environment where cultivating empathy, humility, and space to learn is at the top of our ever-growing to-do list."
"Anti-racism for White People," which was scheduled to "engage in advancing awareness of whiteness, what it means, and how it operates."
Here's video of a 2016 campus chapel event that featured Afzaal addressing spiritual harmony:


theblaze--2020-01-27--Virginia Dems push expansion of gun rights … for teen murderers

What are they up to ?

Among the several gun control measures being shepherded through the Virginia legislature is SB 240, the so-called "red-flag" law. The bill would require law enforcement to confiscate guns, circumventing the normal judicial due process required to limit constitutionally protected rights, upon belief that an individual is a danger to himself or others. This includes those without criminal records: The burden of proof would be on them to prove they are not a danger, rather than on the government to initiate the confiscation order. The bill passed the state Senate 21-19 last week.
What about those with a substantial criminal record? Democrats would work assiduously to ensure they don't have guns, right? Actually, some of the same Democrat lawmakers are working overtime to restore gun rights to some of those people.
Virginia attorney Hans Bader warns that prominent Democrats in both houses of the legislature are supporting HB 274, a bill that raises the age for when a juvenile criminal conviction triggers a ban on that individual owning or transporting firearms.
Under current Virginia law, juveniles may be tried as adults for violent offenses beginning at age 14. This bill will would raise the age to 16. In addition, under current law (§18.2-308.2(A)), it is prohibited for "any person adjudicated delinquent as a juvenile 14 years of age or older at the time of the offense of murder in violation of § 18.2-31 or 18.2-32, kidnapping in violation of § 18.2-47, robbery by the threat or presentation of firearms in violation of § 18.2-58, or rape in violation of § 18.2-61 … to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport any firearm or ammunition for a firearm."
This bill would change the age threshold from 14 to 16, meaning that anyone convicted of a violent murder under the age of 16 would still be able to legally possess a firearm.
This statute is specifically designed for the worst juvenile offenders who have already used firearms in the furtherance of the most heinous crimes. These are not crimes of violating public order or simple drug possession. Yet Democrats, led by freshman Delegate Joshua Cole (D-Fredericksburg), are specifically targeting these individuals for restoration of gun rights, even after they have been duly convicted for the most high-level crimes.
The bill has attracted six other House sponsors. The two Senate co-sponsors are Jennifer McClellan and Joseph D. Morrissey. Those two senators just voted for the red-flag law to confiscate firearms of those who have never been convicted of any crime without the traditional due process and without the opportunity to initially plead their case before a judge.
This bill greenlighting gun ownership for some who murder or rape as teenagers was introduced as a flurry of other bills are winding through the legislature to weaken criminal justice laws. Earlier this month, two Senate committees passed a "geriatric prisoners conditional release" bill, allowing for the release of all but a few of the most violent murderers and gun felons once they reach the age of 50 or 55, depending on how much time they have served. Legislators seem to think 50-year-old murderers are old enough for "geriatric" compassionate release, but 14- to 16-year-old murderers aren't old enough for meaningful punishment, much less a ban on gun ownership.
As state Democrats moved ahead with a series of gun control bills, Senate Democrat Leader Dick Saslaw said in a statement, "Today, we have laid the foundation to ensure that Virginia is a place where we are safe in our workplace, our children are safe at school, we are safe where we choose to worship, and that all of us are safe at home and in our communities."
The question lawmakers will have to grapple with in the coming years is how they can achieve public safety when violent criminals are released with their gun rights restored, while the rest of the citizens are left with diminishing options to protect themselves.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Mitt Romney says Bolton book revelation makes it 'increasingly likely' GOP senators will vote to cal

Mitt Romney says Bolton book revelation makes it 'increasingly likely' GOP senators will vote to call witnesses

Mitt Romney says Bolton book revelation makes it 'increasingly likely ' GOP senators will vote to call witnesses 'It would @ @ @ @ @ John Bolton '

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said Monday that former national security adviser John Bolton's book excerpt, tying Ukraine military aid with investigations, makes it "increasingly likely" that Republican senators will vote in favor of calling witnesses during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, according to NBC News.
The New York Times reported on an excerpt from the unpublished book manuscript in which Bolton writes that Trump told him he wanted to withhold nearly $400 million in military security aid from Ukraine until Ukraine agreed to assist with an investigation into the Bidens — the very "quid pro quo" on which Democrats have built their impeachment case. From NBC News:
"I think, with the story that came out yesterday, it's increasingly apparent that it would be important to hear from John Bolton," Romney told reporters in brief comments. He said he hasn't fully made up his mind on calling witnesses, but what Bolton has to say is "relevant" and "therefore I'd like to hear it."
"I think it's increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton," Romney said. "I've spoken with others who've opined upon this as well."
Three other Republican senators are considered most likely to vote in favor of calling witnesses during the trial. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) issued a statement Monday morning saying she is likely to vote for witnesses.
"I've always said that I was likely to vote to call witnesses, just as I did in the 1999 Clinton trial," Collins said. "The reports about John Bolton's book strengthen the case for witnesses and have prompted a number of conversations among my colleagues."
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said he will wait until after arguments are made and questions are asked to weigh in on whether witnesses should be called. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), took a similar stance.
For witnesses to be called, at least four Republicans would have to join all 47 Democrats when the vote is taken on the issue later in the trial.


theblaze--2020-01-27--GOP Rep. Mark Meadows gives ominous prediction on FISA abuses: 'We have't seen the end of this'

GOP Rep. Mark Meadows gives ominous prediction on FISA abuses : 'We have't seen the end of this' 'Those crazy @ @ @ @ @ be right after all '

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) predicted Sunday that additional Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuses will surface in the coming weeks and months.
The Republican lawmaker's comments come after the Justice Department revealed last week that at least two of the FISA warrants the FBI secured on Trump campaign associate Carter Page lacked sufficient probable cause — and therefore should have not been issued.
According to Meadows, the evidentiary problems likely extend to each warrant secured against Page.
"Trey Gowdy, John Ratcliffe, Jim Jordan, and I knew — knew the facts of this. We knew that not only that that third and fourth FISA application had problems with it, but we also know that there were real probable cause concerns with the first and second one," Meadows said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."
"So, we haven't seen the end of this," he predicted.
The implications of the development are important, Meadows went on to explain, because it proves that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who rebutted claims of FISA abuses, is not trustworthy.
"Why does it matter? It matters for this reason: Adam Schiff knew that there were problems with that. He purposely went out and suggested that Devin Nunes was not correct with his analysis, just like he's purposely going out right now spinning a narrative as it relates to Ukrainian aid being held up for some nefarious purpose," Meadows said.
For his part, former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), who appeared alongside Meadows, concurred with his former colleague.
"Schiff, [James] Comey, [Andrew] McCabe, the Washington Post, New York Times, Politico, they were all wrong, and those crazy House Republicans turned out to be right after all," he said.


theblaze--2020-01-27--'Friends' actor David Schwimmer says he's 'very aware' of 'privilege as a heterosexual white male,'

'Friends' actor David Schwimmer says he's 'very aware' of 'privilege as a heterosexual white male,' says 'Friends' should reboot with all-black or all-Asian cast

'Friends ' actor David Schwimmer says he 's 'very aware ' of 'privilege as a heterosexual white male , ' @ @ @ @ @ with all-black or all-Asian cast Because of course it should

Actor David Schwimmer said recently that he is well aware of his "privilege as a heterosexual white male" and insisted that "Friends" should be rebooted with an all-black or all-Asian cast.
Schwimmer, most famous for his portrayal of "Ross Geller" in the hit show, "Friends," made the remarks during a recent interview with The Guardian. "Friends" has come under fire in recent years for its perceived outdated social storylines.
What are the details?
During the interview, which was published Monday on The Guardian, Schwimmer said that a brand-new, "woke" remake might remedy the criticisms of the show.
"Maybe there should be an all-black 'Friends' or an all-Asian 'Friends,'" he suggested. "But I was well aware of the lack of diversity, and I campaigned for years to have Ross date women of color."
Schwimmer said he has always had a diverse portfolio of dating partners and that he previously dated Asian American women as well as African American women.
"That was a very conscious push on my part," he added.
He also admitted his "privilege," pointing out that he grew up in a very socially conscious household, which made him the man he is today.
"My mom was a very vocal, groundbreaking feminist activist lawyer [and occasional actor]," Schwimmer told the outlet. "So my earliest memories of theater were watching these feminist productions that my mom was in and being on the picket line with my parents and fighting for women's rights and gay rights."
"That's the environment I grew up in," he added. "I'm very aware of my own privilege as a heterosexual white male whose parents were able to pay for a private education for me. I've always felt a sense of responsibility to give back and to call things out if I see an abuse of power."
What about the criticisms?
As for the criticisms of the show, Schwimmer says that the show did the best it could at the time.
“I feel that a lot of the problem today in so many areas is that so little is taken in context," he reasoned. "You have to look at it from the point of view of what the show was trying to do at the time. I'm the first person to say that maybe something was inappropriate or insensitive, but I feel like my barometer was pretty good at that time. I was already really attuned to social issues and issues of equality."


theblaze--2020-01-27--Man shoots out patio door of ex-girlfriend's home after threatening to shoot her, family. But homeow

Man shoots out patio door of ex-girlfriend's home after threatening to shoot her, family. But homeowner gets upper hand with his own gun.

Man shoots out patio door of ex-girlfriend 's home after threatening to shoot her , family .
But homeowner gets @ @ @ @ @ gun .

There are many ways to handle a break-up — and this certainly was not one of them.
Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff's deputies said Joseph James Harkless, 21, and a female broke up Saturday, and he threatened to shoot her and her family, WLTX-TV reported.
What happened next?
Then around 7 p.m. Harkless broke into the female's Columbia home by shooting out a back glass patio door, deputies told the station.
But the homeowner had a gun, too. And when he retrieved it, he shot Harkless once in the upper body after Harkless' entrance into the home, officials told WLTX.
With that, Harkless ran off and stole a vehicle from the driveway next door — the vehicle was running and unattended — and drove to a nearby hotel where he asked staff to call 911, the station said.
There were no reports of Harkless' condition, but in the aftermath he was being held in jail on three counts of attempted murder and grand larceny, WLTX said.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Transgender felons are upset their transition doesn't allow them to change their legal names after b

Transgender felons are upset their transition doesn't allow them to change their legal names after being convicted, its 'tantamount to torture'

Transgender felons are upset their transition does n't allow them to change their legal names after being convicted , its @ @ @ @ @ had to tell somebody about something that is none of her business : What genitalia @ @ @ @ @ '

Transgender people are challenging laws across several states that bar convicted felons from changing their legal names, a new report finds.
The report, published by the Marshall Project and Vox, details lawsuits being lodged in Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Pennsylvania where transgender felons are hoping their gender transition will provide them a new identity and an exception from present law.
What is the background?
Currently, at least 17 states automatically bar those convicted of certain felony crimes from changing their legal name. The purpose of these laws is to prevent dangerous criminals from misrepresenting themselves to the public.
"There's a danger that someone will change their name and try to misrepresent themselves. For example, someone who committed a crime against children finding a way to get a job around children by hiding their past," said Ed Clere, the Indiana state representative who sponsored the ban in his state.
The laws restrict name changes to varying degrees. In one of the states where a lawsuit has been filed, Illinois, a convicted felon may file a petition for a name change, but that petition may never be honored depending on the crime committed. Among the crimes for which that is often the case are sex crimes and identity theft.
But in some cases, exceptions have been made. Due to pushback, Indiana lawmakers decided to create exemptions to the name change ban "for marriage, divorce, adoption, and religion — but not for gender transition," the Marshall Project report notes.
The transgender plaintiffs in the lawsuits argue an exception should be granted to them, as well.
Trans people argue the bans unfairly harm them
The report goes on to chronicle stories from the lawsuits that it says range from "frustrating" to "chilling."
Such stories include constant reminders of one's birth name — or "deadname" — while in prison, the difficulty in landing a job after release, and awkward interactions in public.
Transgender people in prison in these states must use their birth name — sometimes referred to as a deadname in the transgender community — on official mail and on the prison phone system. In federal prison, this means that every five minutes during a call the phone system plays a recorded message with their former name. Several plaintiffs say they limit contact with family and friends to avoid this humiliation. Encounters with police once released can become fraught. During a traffic stop, police once accused one of the Texas women of stealing her own car because of the male name on her driver's license and registration.
Moira Meltzer-Cohen, one of the attorneys for the Texas plaintiffs, says that such treatment is essentially "torture."
"If the name that everyone is calling you consistently misgenders you, that's tantamount to torture," she said. "And it signals an institutional disrespect that exposes trans people to violence and disrespect and harassment, from both staff and other prisoners."
Texas plaintiff, Alexandra Carson, recalled how her job interview got gummed up after she had to explain why the legal name on her ID is male while filling out paperwork.
"She became very closed-off and brusque," Carson recalled of the manager. "Suddenly, it was, 'We have other people we have to talk to.'" A friend of Carson's who worked at the restaurant later told her the manager admitted she did not hire Carson because she is transgender. "She would never have known," said Carson, if not for the name on her identification.
The report does not note, however, that another potential reason that the restaurant manager decided not to offer her the job could have been that she was formerly convicted of a felony crime.
Burt Carson argues that, due to the law, trans people are constantly put in positions where they have "to tell somebody about something that is none of her business: What genitalia I was born with."
"It does leave me having to say things to people that nobody in that position would normally have to talk about," she added.
The Pennsylvania case will be the first to be tried in court, with a first round of arguments set to begin next month. According to the report, state authorities there argue that an official government ID is not private speech, and that the ban on name changes is "rationally related to the legitimate state interest of protecting public safety."


theblaze--2020-01-27--LIVE VIDEO: President Trump's team takes the Senate floor again to fight Democrats' impeachment char

LIVE VIDEO: President Trump's team takes the Senate floor again to fight Democrats' impeachment charges, could address the recent Bolton accusations

They are laying the wood to Adam Schiff 's crew LIVE VIDEO : President Trump 's team takes the Senate @ @ @ @ @ ' impeachment charges , could address the recent Bolton accusations Jay Sekulow , personal attorney @ @ @ @ @ , speaks during a news conference in the Senate Subway at the U.S. Capitol in @ @ @ @ @ Silbiger/Bloomberg via Getty Images )

President Donald Trump's defense team is set to begin day two of its three-day opening arguments at 1 p.m. ET Monday. You can watch a live feed of the proceedings below once it begins.
On Saturday, the president's team began its presentation and immediately launched into its "six key facts" about the Democrats' impeachment case that, they say, absolve Trump of wrongdoing. The team also accused lead House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) of concealing the "potentially exculpatory" testimony of a major witness. The team's defense was seen by at least one senator as a "kneecapping" of Schiff.
The Hill reported that, following Saturday's presentation, at least two Democrats have indicated that they could vote for Trump's acquittal.
Constitutional lawyer and frequent Trump critic Jonathan Turley praised the defense team's efforts, calling them "powerful" and "brilliant." And even CNN's Jeffrey Toobin said over the weekend that Republicans and the president are "winning" the impeachment case.
A new twist in the impeachment saga developed over the weekend as part of former national security adviser John Bolton's book manuscript leaked to the media. The New York Times reported that Bolton's book claims that Trump admitted that he wanted to continue freezing aid to Ukraine until the Ukrainian government investigated former Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.
The president has adamantly denied Bolton's reported allegations. It is possible the president's defense team could address the accusations during Monday's presentation.
Democrats have long desired to have Bolton testify and reportedly have even discussed a witness swap to get the former NSA to share what he knows in exchange for having one of the Bidens testify. However, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) killed that idea last week.
Under the trial's organization resolution, after the House impeachment managers wrapped up their case Friday, the president's defense team has up to 24 hours over three days to present its side. The Trump team is scheduled to finish its opening arguments Tuesday.
After both sides have made their cases, senators will have 16 hours to submit questions to both the House managers and the president's defense team.
Following the time for questions, the Senate will decide whether to seek more documents from the administration or call witnesses.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Las Vegas mass murderer's ex-girlfriend is caught with a fake gun near a New Zealand shopping mall

Las Vegas mass murderer 's ex-girlfriend is caught with a fake gun near a New Zealand shopping mall

New Zealand authorities on Thursday reportedly seized a fake gun from an unnamed former girlfriend of Las Vegas mass murderer Stephen Paddock.
Paddock opened fire on a crowd at a country music festival in Las Vegas in 2017, killing at least 58 people and injuring hundreds of others. During the attack, police stormed Paddock's Las Vegas hotel room, which prompted Paddock to turn the gun on himself.
During the horrific attack, Paddock — an avid gambler who often frequented the Las Vegas area — fired more than 1,000 rounds on concertgoers from his hotel room window.
What are the details?
The unnamed woman, who apparently lives in New Zealand, reportedly waved around a replica of a gun at a reporter outside of a shopping mall. The woman and her son recently moved from the United States to the Auckland area.
The New Zealand Herald reported that police visited the woman at her home and confiscated the fake gun during the visit.
She reportedly told officials that she kept the replica weapon for protection and told the outlet that she didn't want anyone to know that she'd left the United States.
"I have been living here a while, but I didn't want anyone to know," she told the paper in a statement. "The investigation is still ongoing in the States. I still live with a lot of guilt knowing I could have potentially prevented [the attack], so as a result, I have a lot of people who want me dead for failing to do something."
In a statement, local law enforcement told the Herald, "Inquiries were made this evening and a replica pistol was located and it has been surrendered to police for destruction. A female has been warned for unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm."
"Anyone who has a firearms license that is endorsed to allow ownership of a pistol must comply with strict regulations around carriage of the pistol," the statement added.
What does she know about the mass killing?
According to the Herald, the unnamed woman was in contact via telephone with Paddock while he was in Las Vegas ahead of the fateful attack.
She told the outlet that she met him in a Miami, Florida, bar in 2013 where the two bonded over their mutual love of guns.
It remains unknown as to why Paddock — who left behind at least 23 weapons in his hotel room — carried out the attack on the country music festival.
In 2018, the Las Vegas Police Department closed the investigation into the matter, noting that it could not determine a motive in the mass killing. The report concluded that Paddock, however, did work alone in the planning and executing of the attack. It also noted that Paddock lost more than $1 million gambling in the year leading up to the massacre.
In 2019, the FBI also wrapped up its investigation into the mass killing. A statement on the report, which was compiled by the Las Vegas Review Panel, read:
The LVRP found no evidence that Paddock's attack was motivated by any ideological or political beliefs. The LVRP concludes that Paddock's attack was neither directed, inspired, nor enabled by ideologically-motivated persons or groups. Paddock was not seeking to further any religious, social, or political agenda through his actions. The LVRP further assesses that Paddock conspired with no one; he acted alone.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant reportedly attended Catholic Mass right before he was killed in a helicopter crash

Kobe Bryant reportedly attended Catholic Mass right before he was killed in a helicopter crash 'Go to Mass here so @ @ @ @ @ forever in heaven '

Former NBA star Kobe Bryant reportedly attended Mass Sunday morning, right before he, his daughter, and seven other passengers were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, according to The Daily Wire.
"A friend texted me today to tell me that a friend of hers saw Kobe Bryant at Catholic Mass this morning," wrote David Barnes, whose Twitter profile identifies him as "Catholic Priest and Director of the Catholic Newman Center at Boston University." "Mass is the worship of God. Heaven is the worship of God. Go to Mass here so that you can worship God forever in heaven."
Bryant said he was raised Catholic and that his children also ascribed to the Catholic faith. That faith helped him get through the aftermath of being accused of rape in 2003, he told GQ in 2015:
The one thing that really helped me during that process — I'm Catholic, I grew up Catholic, my kids are Catholic — was talking to a priest. It was actually kind of funny: He looks at me and says, "Did you do it?" And I say, "Of course not." Then he asks, "Do you have a good lawyer?" And I'm like, "Uh, yeah, he's phenomenal." So then he just said, "Let it go. Move on. God's not going to give you anything you can't handle, and it's in his hands now. This is something you can't control. So let it go." And that was the turning point.
Bryant is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players at all time. He won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002, before his life was nearly derailed by a 2003 accusation of rape by a 19-year-old woman in Colorado.
Bryant, who was married, confessed to infidelity but maintained that the encounter was consensual. The sexual assault charges were ultimately dropped, and Bryant settled a civil lawsuit with his accuser and reconciled the situation with his wife, who he remained married to until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three children. Nine people died in the helicopter crash: Bryant; his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna; Ara Zobayan, the pilot of the helicopter; Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton; John, Keri, and Alyssa Altobelli; and Christina Muser, a coach for Bryant's youth basketball team.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Actress Salma Hayek — who's from Mexico — bows to 'woke' fans after touting controversial novel abou

Actress Salma Hayek — who's from Mexico — bows to 'woke' fans after touting controversial novel about Mexican woman before she read it

Actress Salma Hayek — who 's from Mexico — bows to 'woke ' fans after touting controversial novel about Mexican @ @ @ @ @ ' I thank all of you who caught me in the act of not doing @ @ @ @ @ setting me straight '

Actress Salma Hayek is the latest celebrity to get called out for her sins by ever-vigilant, ever-woke social justice warriors — and in turn she gave an effusive, even appreciative apology to the leftist mob "for setting me straight," presumably lest she be crushed or canceled.
What are the details?
Hayek posted a now-deleted Instagram photo of herself thanking Oprah for recommending new novel "American Dirt" to her book club and "giving a voice to the voiceless & for loving harder in response to hate," Yahoo Celebrity reported.
Problem is that Jeanine Cummins' novel — about a Mexican woman fleeing to America with her 8-year-old son after Mexican drug cartels kill numerous family members — has been embroiled in controversy, the outlet said.
More from Yahoo Celebrity:
In a review for the New York Times, writer Parul Sehgal noted the book's othering of its characters: "The writer has a strange, excited fascination in commenting on gradients of brown skin: Characters are 'berry-brown' or 'tan as childhood,'" and Sehgal wasn't the only one to object. Chicana writer Myriam Gurba wrote a scathing review of the book, writing that it is filled with racist stereotypes, "among them the Latin lover, the suffering mother, and the stoic manchild."
Cummins who has identified as white (or white and Latina, reported the New York Times), wrote in the book's author's note about Mexican migrants, "At worst, we perceive them as an invading mob of resource-draining criminals, and, at best, a sort of helpless, impoverished, faceless brown mass, clamoring for help at our doorstep," adding, "We seldom think of them as our fellow human beings." She also wrote, "I worried that, as a nonmigrant and non-Mexican, I had no business writing a book set almost entirely in Mexico, set entirely among migrants. I wished someone slightly browner than me would write it." Cacophonous voices across the internet threw up alarm bells.
Hayek bows to woke fans
The outlet said that a day after Hayek posted her Instagram message, she deleted it. The actress — who's from Mexico — then posted an apology to her woke fans:
"Yesterday, I posted a message about a book which I removed from my Instagram," Hayek began. "I want to say to all of you that I got very excited when Oprah shared with me her pick for her book club because in the description of the book I learned that it was the story of a Mexican woman, so I rushed into sharing my excitement with you."
Hayek added: "I confess, I have not read it and was not aware of any kind of controversy. I thank all of you who caught me in the act of not doing my research, and for setting me straight, because that means you know me and gave me the benefit of the doubt; and I apologize for shouting out something without experiencing it or doing research on it."
Yahoo Celebrity said Oprah hasn't commented on the controversy.
Now there's backlash about the backlash
While it's predictable that a mass call-out of Hayek from the more highly evolved among us would occur, it stands to reason that a bunch of folks catching wind of the controversy and the actress' apology might say enough is enough: And that's just what happened.
Here's a collection of the more pointed Yahoo Celebrity comments in that vein:


theblaze--2020-01-27--Outside of DC, pro-lifers march for the unborn across the United States

Outside of DC , pro-lifers march for the unborn across the United States 'We have to speak up for the @ @ @ @ @ voice '

While a massive group of pro-life demonstrators made their way to Washington, D.C., for the national March for Life on Friday, they weren't the only ones to take to the streets in defense of the unborn recently. This weekend saw multiple other local pro-life demonstrations all across the United States.
In Texas, the Austin American-Statesman reports that more than 5,000 activists showed up for the Texas Rally for Life in the Lone Star State's capital city. "We're here to support life," marcher Carl Johnson told the newspaper. "When children are born, they change your life. I'm here because my life was changed through my kids. We're here for peace. We're here for love. We're here to spread God's love to everybody." U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) spoke at the event and told RedState that "the promise for life is winning out over the message of despair and of death."
In Louisiana, event organizers estimated that around 1,500 pro-lifers showed up to march for the unborn in Baton Rouge on Saturday, according to the The Advocate. "We have to speak up for the unborn children who have no voice," marcher Ellie Ross told the newspaper. The event's motto for this year was "Love life."
Pro-lifers also took to the streets of Knoxville, Tennessee, Saturday for a silent March for Life event, WBIR-TV reported, noting attendees' support for abortion restrictions recently proposed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee. "I pray daily that more and more bills will be passed until everyone stops," marcher Lisa Privetts told the station.
In Minnesota, pro-lifers held a march ahead of the national one on Wednesday, scheduling it to coincide with the 47th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. Minnesota Public Radio reported that "dozens" of state legislators addressed the pro-life event in St. Paul. "These are the legislators that stand in the gap for life," Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka told attendees. "We're pro-life proud."
In California, pro-lifers marched in downtown San Francisco in the 16th annual Walk for Life West Coast, the Associated Press reported. The story pointed out that while the group met with counterprotestors, there were no reports of violence. "Imagine if every one of you, when you leave here today, you go home and join with one other person, or more, and you do everything you can for the next year to end abortion," speaker Ron Konopaski told the crowd, according to the National Catholic Register. "Just imagine. We could be here next year celebrating for the end of abortion. We would turn this city upside down."
Pro-lifers also marched in Chicago's seventh annual March for Life rally, WGN-TV reported, with one participant telling the station that abortion laws recently enacted in the state were "scary." In June, the state's governor signed a bill removing several of the state's previous abortion restrictions.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Pro-life Dem confronts Pete Buttigieg over extreme abortion position — and he refuses to include her

Pro-life Dem confronts Pete Buttigieg over extreme abortion position — and he refuses to include her in party ' ... @ @ @ @ @ second part of my question '

A pro-life Democrat confronted Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg at a Fox News town hall Sunday, resulting in Buttigieg refusing to say that pro-life voters are welcome in the Democratic Party.
"I am a proud pro-life Democrat. So, do you want the support of pro-life Democrats, pro-life Democratic voters? There are about 21 million of us," audience member Kristen Day asked. "And if so, would you support more moderate platform language in the Democratic Party to ensure that the party of diversity and inclusion really does include everybody?"
In his response, the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor ignored the heart of Day's question, saying:
Well I respect where you're coming from and I hope to earn your vote, but I'm not going to try to earn your vote by tricking you. I am pro-choice and I believe that a woman ought to be able to make that decision.
I know that the difference of opinion that you and I have is one that we have come by honestly and the best that I can offer, and it may win your vote, and if not, I understand, the best I can offer is that if we can't agree on where to draw the line, the next best thing we can do is agree on who should draw the line and in my view it's the woman who's faced with that decision in her own life.
Stepping in, moderator Chris Wallace noted that President Donald Trump was the first sitting U.S. president to attend the annual March for Life rally — emphasizing that pro-life issues are important to Trump — then asked if Buttigieg's response was satisfactory.
"I was not because he did not answer the second part of my question," Day responded.
She continued, "I was not because he did not answer the second part of my question and the second part was: The Democratic platform contains language that basically says that we don't belong, we have no part in the party, because it says abortion should be legal up to nine months, the government should pay for it, and there's nothing that says that people who have diversity of views on this issue should be included in the party.
"So, my question was would you be open to language like that in the Democratic platform that really did say that our party is diverse and inclusive and we want everybody?" she asked again.
Buttigieg then told Day that he supports the Democratic Party's language and refused to say that pro-life voters are welcome in the Democratic Party.
"I support the position of my party, that this kind of medical care needs to be available to everyone, and I support the Roe v. Wade framework that holds that early in pregnancy there are very few restrictions and late in pregnancy there are very few exceptions," Buttigieg said. "And again the best I can offer is that we may disagree on that very important issue and hopefully we will be able to partner on other issues."


theblaze--2020-01-27--Time-lapse video shows massive crowd of pro-lifers at the 2020 March for Life

A massive crowd of people poured into the nation's capital to support life and protest abortion at the 2020 March for Life on Friday, and an amazing time-lapse video shows it all.
The 58-second video captures the scale of the enormous crowd, showing a continuous stream of protesters marching down Constitution Avenue toward the Supreme Court.
youtu.be
In 2019, a time-lapse video of similar length was recorded and released following the 2019 March for Life, which was estimated to have a turnout of between 100,000 and 200,000.
In the lead-up to the national march, pro-lifers across the country rallied to protest abortion laws in their cities and states. In Denver and Chicago, thousands gathered to call for an end to abortion and raise awareness about the issue.
The national march in Washington, D.C., featured a speech from President Donald Trump, who became the first sitting president to ever speak at the March for Life in its 47-year history since the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling in 1973.
Following the announcement that Trump would speak at the march, the March for Life website crashed and had to be brought back online.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Ohio judge says he calls ICE himself if he suspects defendants are here illegally

Ohio judge says he calls ICE himself if he suspects defendants are here illegally ' I have n't got one @ @ @

While ICE has been barred from making immigration arrests of illegal aliens in courthouses around the country, one local judge in Ohio has been calling the agency himself when he suspects someone isn't in the country legally.
USA Today reports that Judge Robert Ruehlman, a common pleas judge in Hamilton County Ohio, says he acts on hunches for when to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement to look into defendants who might be illegal immigrants.
"They're committing a crime by being here illegally, and then, if they're in front of me, they've allegedly committed a felony," Ruehlman told the Cincinnati Enquirer last week. In such a situation, "I set a high bond and I call ICE," he explained.
And despite acting on hunches, Ruehlman says "I'm batting a thousand. I haven't got one wrong yet."
So what informs those hunches? "They're from Mexico. They have an interpreter. They're charged with having a lot of drugs they brought from Mexico," Ruehlman told WLWT-TV. "I mean, it's pretty obvious they're illegal."
The judge's admission comes after WCPO-TV reported earlier this month that ICE agents had been entering the Hamilton County Courthouse to conduct arrests without the knowledge of the local sheriff or clerk of courts.
"My office was not aware of this activity — nor would I be aware of it — because my office is not responsible for security in these courtrooms," Sheriff Jim Neil said in a statement to the station. "Furthermore, my office does not have a partnership of any kind with ICE regarding these types of enforcement actions."
This contrasts starkly with the approach taken by the presiding and administrative judge for Common Pleas Court, Charles Kubicki, who says in the USA Today story that he "never" calls ICE on defendants and doesn't "know their number." He explained to the newspaper that he would feel no obligation to report someone even if they admitted to not having legal status in the country.
In a statement to the Washington Post over the weekend, ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls says that, per current policy, courthouses are not considered "sensitive locations," such as churches and schools, where enforcement operations are typically discouraged.
"ICE officers have been provided broad at-large arrest authority by Congress and may lawfully arrest removable aliens in courthouses," Walls' statement reads. "This arrest authority is central to ICE's mission, which focuses first on criminal aliens."
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus said Friday that Ruehlman's actions are "clear racial profiling" and that ICE shouldn't even be contacted by judges because such actions "foster insecurity, fear, and distrust in immigrant communities, and contribute to eroding public trust with law enforcement."
Ruehlman, however, defended his actions to WCPO, saying, "It's not racial profiling. It's just common sense." He added that he calls ICE around "10 to 20" times every year.
Meanwhile, officials in multiple states and lower jurisdictions around the country have been trying to keep ICE agents from doing their jobs at courthouses for some time now. In November, U.S. Attorney General William Barr and acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf called on two such states — Washington and Oregon — to reject these kinds of anti-enforcement policies, which the two said were "dangerous and unlawful."


theblaze--2020-01-27--WaPo reporter suspended after tweeting story about rape allegation against Kobe Bryant shortly after

WaPo reporter suspended after tweeting story about rape allegation against Kobe Bryant shortly after his death

A Washington Post reporter was suspended after tweeting an article detailing the 2003 rape allegation against former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant in the hours after his death Sunday, the Daily Mail reported.
Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and several others were killed Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Hours after the deaths were reported, Post national politics reporter Felicia Sonmez tweeted a 2016 article from the Daily Beast titled, "Kobe Bryant's disturbing rape case: The DNA evidence, the accuser's story, and the half-confession."
That tweet angered many who were mourning Bryant's death, and Sonmez wrote several follow-up tweets about the backlash she was getting.
"Well, THAT was eye-opening," Sonmez wrote. "To the 10,000 people (literally) who have commented and emailed me with abuse and death threats, please take a moment and read the story — which was written 3+ years ago, and not by me. Any public figure is worth remembering in their totality, even if that public figure is beloved and that totality unsettling. That folks are responding with rage & threats toward me (someone who didn't even write the piece but found it well-reported) speaks volumes about the pressure people come under to stay silent in these cases."
Sonmez then posted a screenshot showing some vulgar emails she received.
"As an addendum: Hard to see what's accomplished by messages such as these," Sonmez wrote. "If your response to a news article is to resort to harassment and intimidation of journalists, you might want to consider that your behavior says more about you than the person you're targeting."
Sonmez has since deleted all the aforementioned tweets, and has been placed on administrative leave by the Post.
"National political reporter Felicia Sonmez was placed on administrative leave while The Post reviews whether tweets about the death of Kobe Bryant violated The Post newsroom's social media policy," managing editor Tracy Grant told the Daily Mail. "The tweets displayed poor judgment that undermined the work of her colleagues."
Matthew Keys of The Desk cited an anonymous Washington Post employee who said the suspension wasn't because Sonmez tweeted the Daily Beast article, but that it was because the Post was concerned about the potential legal ramifications of Sonmez showing full names of emailers in her screenshot.
Bryant was accused in 2003 of raping a 19-year-old woman in a Colorado hotel. The criminal charges against Bryant were dropped, and Bryant settled a civil lawsuit with the accuser.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Obama called Trump a 'fascist' in 2016 phone call with then-Democratic VP candidate Sen. Tim Kaine,

Obama called Trump a 'fascist' in 2016 phone call with then-Democratic VP candidate Sen. Tim Kaine, NBC News reports

'Tim , remember , this is no time to be a purist .
You 've got to keep a fascist @ @ @ @ @ . '

When he was president, Barack Obama called then-presidential candidate Donald Trump a "fascist" during a phone call with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton's vice presidential running mate during the 2016 campaign, Kaine noted in a clip from an upcoming documentary about Clinton, NBC News reported.
What are the details?
Kaine recalled the phone conversation amid an exchange with Clinton caught on camera in 2016, the network said.
"President Obama called me last night and said: 'Tim, remember, this is no time to be a purist. You've got to keep a fascist out of the White House,'" the Virginia senator recounted, adding that Obama "knows me, and he knows that I could tend to err," NBC News said.
Clinton said, "I echo that sentiment" before putting her hands to her chest and adding, "But that's really — the weight of our responsibility is so huge," the network reported.
Kaine's wife, Anne Holton, also was present, NBC News said.
More from the network:
The clip appears in an episode of "Hillary," a four-part documentary series that will be available on Hulu on March 6. The docuseries, which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Saturday at a screening Clinton was scheduled to attend, chronicles her early life, rise to national prominence and political career.
NBC News was given access to the series this week. Nanette Burstein, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker who directed "Hillary," confirmed in an email that the clip of Kaine was recorded by a camera team hired by the Clinton campaign.
The date and location of the conversation are not clear.
Kaine's recollection of Obama calling Trump a fascist represents a more pointed offensive from Obama than what he said in public regarding Trump during and after the campaign, NBC News said.
The network added that Obama's communications director declined to comment about the documentary and that Kaine's office and Clinton's spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.


theblaze--2020-01-27--Trump fires back at John Bolton over explosive Ukraine allegation in forthcoming book

Trump fires back at John Bolton over explosive Ukraine allegation in forthcoming book 'If John Bolton said this , it @ @ @ @ @ book '

President Donald Trump has strongly denied explosive allegations about his Ukraine dealings made by John Bolton, his former national security adviser, in a forthcoming book.
In a series of tweets published just after midnight Monday, Trump accused Bolton of parroting falsehoods to promote book sales.
"I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book," Trump said.
The New York Times reported late Sunday that Bolton claims in his book that Trump admitted to him last August that he wanted to continue freezing nearly $400 million in security assistance to Ukraine if the Ukrainian government did not cooperate with investigations into the Bidens.
Bolton's account undercuts the heart of Trump's impeachment defense and suggests the president engaged in a quid pro quo, or at least intended to do so.
According to the Times, Bolton also writes about the involvement of other top government officials.
For example, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledged privately that there was no basis to claims by the president's lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani that the ambassador to Ukraine was corrupt and believed Mr. Giuliani may have been acting on behalf of other clients, Mr. Bolton wrote.
Mr. Bolton also said that after the president's July phone call with the president of Ukraine, he raised with Attorney General William P. Barr his concerns about Mr. Giuliani, who was pursuing a shadow Ukraine policy encouraged by the president, and told Mr. Barr that the president had mentioned him on the call. A spokeswoman for Mr. Barr denied that he learned of the call from Mr. Bolton; the Justice Department has said he learned about it only in mid-August.
Speaking on "Fox & Friends" Monday, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham blamed the manuscript leak on Bolton's publisher, and said the timing was "suspect."
"It's very clear the president did nothing wrong. And then suddenly, this manuscript has magically appeared in the hands of the New York Times making very, very big claims. This is by a publisher — the same publisher that [James] Comey used, also," Grisham said, Politico noted. "And the fact that magically, again, you know, the book ordering online — pre-order link popped up a couple hours after all of this hit, you know, it's sad. But I think the timing is very suspect."
But Bolton's lawyer, Charles Cooper, blamed the leak on the White House. He told the New York Times that the White House has been in possession of Bolton's manuscript since Dec. 30, when it was turned over for review to determine if there was classified information in the manuscript, a routine procedure for books written by former government employees.
"It is clear, regrettably, from the New York Times article published today that the pre-publication review process has been corrupted and that information has been disclosed by persons other than those properly involved in reviewing the manuscript," he said.
Bolton's book, titled, "The Room Where It Happened," is scheduled to be released on March 17.


theblaze--2020-01-28--Watch: CNN's Don Lemon laughs until he cries as pundits portray Trump supporters as stupid hicks

Watch : CNN 's Don Lemon laughs until he cries as pundits portray Trump supporters as stupid hicks 'Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ y'all — y'all elitists are dumb . '

Anti-Trump Republican Rick Wilson and New York Times op-ed writer Wajahat Ali had CNN host Don Lemon in stitches Saturday night while doing impressions on air depicting supporters of President Donald Trump as uneducated rednecks.
What are the details?
The Daily Wire reported on the segment from over the weekend and provided a script of the exchange that occurred on CNN, along with the video posted by former CNN (and former TheBlaze) employee Steve Krakauer, who tweeted, "The arrogance, the dismissiveness, the smug cackling, the accents. If Donald Trump wins re-election this year, I'll remember this brief CNN segment late one Saturday night in January as the perfect encapsulation for why it happened."
Wilson kicked off the impression contest after being asked about reports that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "screamed and cursed" at an NPR reporter and ordered her to point out Ukraine on a map.
"Look," Wilson said of Pompeo. "He also knows deep in his heart that Donald Trump couldn't find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter U and a picture of an actual physical crane next to it. He knows that this is, you know, an administration defined by ignorance of the world, and so that's partly him playing to their base and playing to their audience, you now, the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump, that wants to think that 'Donald Trump's the smart one, and y'all — y'all elitists are dumb.'"
With Lemon laughing, snorting, and eventually wiping away tears, Ali joins in with his own impression of a redneck accent, saying, "You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling...your reading...knowing other countries...sipping your latte."
Appearing to realize he may have gone too far, Ali said, "Sorry, I apologize..." while chuckling, "It was Rick's fault. I blame Rick."
The two went back and forth, cracking each other up, mocking Trump supporters, as Lemon was doubled over with amusement before the host said, "That was good, sorry. Rick — that was a good one. I needed that."
Anything else?
Ali and Wilson are both unapologetic despite the backlash that occurred after their segment went viral.
In reaction to a RealClearPolitics story saying the two "trash[ed] Trump supporters as ignorant Rubes," Ali tweeted, "We did. Not going to apologize for it either. If you're willing to believe and promote these absurd and dangerous lies, well, you deserve to be mocked for it."
After President Trump retweeted the clip shared by the Daily Caller, Wilson tweeted, "The most beautiful part of this entirely contrived phony bullshit outrage about that segment isn't that I insulted the Maga demo. The best part is how they're repeating the now-classic #UCrane bit and amplifying a line that clearly made @realDonaldTrump furious."


theblaze--2020-01-28--Mark Meadows warns Republicans that they will face repercussions if they vote for new impeachment wi

Mark Meadows warns Republicans that they will face repercussions if they vote for new impeachment witnesses '' There is no @ @ @ @ @ than this . ''

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) warned his Republicans colleagues that they would face political repercussions if they chose to vote to hear more witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
He made the comments in an interview with Norah O'Donnell on CBS News.
"I mean listen, I don't want to speak for my Senate colleagues. But there are always political repercussions for every vote you take," he answered.
"There is no vote that is higher profile than this," he explained.
Republican centrists are under pressure to split with the caucus in the Republican-controlled Senate in order to allow Democrats to call witnesses who have not yet testified.
One such witness who could have a deleterious effect on the president's defense is John Bolton, who served as the president's national security adviser. He has reportedly made comments criticizing Rudy Giuliani's quest to investigate Joe Biden's dealings in Ukraine.
Bolton also gave Democrats hope when a report claimed that his forthcoming book will bolster accusations against the president of a "quid pro quo" with the Ukrainian president.
Republicans have also warned Democrats that if they try to call new witnesses for the prosecution, this will open up opportunities for new witnesses for the defense, including Hunter Biden.
Here are the comments from Meadows:


theblaze--2020-01-28--WaPo ripped by union over suspension of reporter who tweeted Kobe Bryant rape allegation story follo

WaPo ripped by union over suspension of reporter who tweeted Kobe Bryant rape allegation story following his death '' A @ @ @ @ @ for making a statement of fact . ''

The Washington Post Newspaper Guild — the union representing the Washington Post's employees — issued a statement Monday condemning the newspaper for suspending one of its reporters after she tweeted out an article about a 2003 rape allegation against NBA superstar Kobe Bryant hours after his death on Sunday.
What are the details?
Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday morning, along with seven other victims. Within hours, Post national politics reporter Felicia Sonmez tweeted out a link to a 2016 piece from the Daily Beast titled, "Kobe Bryant's disturbing rape case: The DNA evidence, the accuser's story, and the half-confession."
Sonmez received a barrage of messages criticizing her for sharing the article as Bryant's family and his fans mourned. In one of several follow-up tweets, the reporter wrote, "Well, THAT was eye-opening To the 10,000 people (literally) who have commented and emailed me with abuse and death threats, please take a moment and read the story — which was written 3+ years ago, and not by me.
"Any public figure is worth remembering in their totality, even if that public figure is beloved and that totality unsettling. That folks are responding with rage & threats toward me (someone who didn't even write the piece but found it well-reported) speaks volumes about the pressure people come under to stay silent in these cases."
Sonmez later deleted all of the tweets regarding Bryant and the backlash and was suspended by the Post, which told the Daily Mail in a statement: "National political reporter Felicia Sonmez was placed on administrative leave while The Post reviews whether tweets about the death of Kobe Bryant violated The Post newsroom's social media policy. The tweets displayed poor judgment that undermined the work of her colleagues."
In response, the Washington Post Newspaper Guild issued a statement slamming the paper for suspending Sonmez, expressing its "alarm and dismay" at the reporter's punishment and urging the outlet to "take immediate steps to ensure the safety of our colleague."
"We understand the hours after Bryant's death Sunday were a fraught time to share reporting about past accusations of sexual assault," the Guild wrote. "The loss of such a beloved figure, and of so many other lives, is a tragedy. But we believe it is our responsibility as a news organization to tell the public the whole truth as we know it — about figures and institutions both popular and unpopular, at moments timely and untimely."
The union continued, "This is not the first time that The Post has sought to control how Felicia speaks on matters of sexual violence. Felicia herself is a survivor of assault who bravely came forward with her story two years ago. When articles attacking her were published in other outlets, The Post did not release a statement in support of one of its respected political reporters. Instead, management issued a warning letter against Felicia for violating The Post's vague and inconsistently enforced social media guidelines."
Anything else?
The Post was also slammed for suspending Sonmez by its own media critic. Erik Wemple wrote in his column Monday that Sonmez received an email from management telling her, in part, "Your behavior on social media is making it harder for others to do their work as Washington Post journalists."
Sonmez told Wemple in response, "I would argue that not ignoring a matter of public record is the way to go and making survivors feel seen and heard helps Washington Post journalists rather than making our jobs harder."


theblaze--2020-01-28--State Dept. retaliates against NPR after blow up with Mike Pompeo

State Dept .
retaliates against NPR after blow up with Mike Pompeo Even the ACLU weighed in on this one

The Department of State is being accused of retaliating against National Public Radio over a report that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blew up at one of its reporters over questioning about Ukraine.
The president of the State Department Correspondents' Association released a statement criticizing the State Dept. for shutting out NPR reporter Michele Kelemen from the press pool for a trip with Pompeo to Europe.
"We can only conclude that the State Department is retaliating against National Public Radio as a result of this exchange," Shaun Tandon said.
"Michele is a consummate professional who has covered the State Department for nearly two decades," Tandon added. "We respectfully ask the State Department to reconsider and allow Michele to travel on the plane for this trip."
Pompeo reportedly blew up at NPR's Mary Louise Kelly after she pressed him on whether he ever put out a statement of support for the former ambassador to Ukraine who was removed from her post.
Kelly claimed that Pompeo cursed and screamed at her and that he demanded that she point out Ukraine on a map.
Pompeo later criticized Kelly for reporting what he said was off the record, but he did not dispute her account of their interaction.
A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union also criticized the State Dept. for its action against NPR.
"The State Department cannot retaliate against a news outlet because one of its reporters asked tough questions. It is the job of reporters to ask the tough questions, not be polite company," read the statement.
Here's more about the Pompeo blowup:


theblaze--2020-01-28--Hunter Biden agrees to pay child support, delaying contempt proceedings

The court is still waiting on evidence showing his income

Hunter Biden, son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, has agreed to pay child support to the mother of one of his children, earning a delay in contempt proceedings from a court that ordered him to hand over his financials.
What are the details?
Lunden Roberts, 28, an Arkansas woman who was formerly a stripper in Washington, D.C., has been fighting for Biden to provide support for the 17-month-old boy they share. Earlier this month, Arkansas Circuit Clerk Judge Holly Meyer officially declared Biden, 49, to be the child's biological father, citing a DNA test, following months of Biden claiming otherwise.
After Biden apparently failed to hand over sufficient financials, Judge Meyer ordered him last week to appear before her court Jan. 29 to explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt, Page Six reported.
But that contempt hearing has now been pushed back to March 1, after Biden agreed to pay Roberts child support in a court filing posted Monday.
The amount of temporary monthly support has been redacted in the document, and Judge Meyer wrote that the amount may be amended later "to rectify any inequities that might result from setting support without having all of the relevant information."
The judge added, "The Court reserves the judgment on temporary and final child support until after adequate discovery is completed and relevant evidence is available for a child support determination."
Judge Meyer previously issued a protective order to keep Biden's financials private in the lawsuit. The case is high-profile, given questions over the income Biden received from foreign business deals — particularly from Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma, where Biden served as a board member during and after his father's time as vice president and point man to the nation during the Obama administration.
Biden is accused of using his father's name and influence to gain a spot on the board — in a position that paid at least $50,000 a month — despite his apparent lack of credentials and background for the job.
Anything else?
Burisma has been under multiple corruption investigations in Ukraine, and Biden's connection to the firm continues to fall under scrutiny as House Democrats seek the impeachment of President Donald Trump over allegations that the president sought to have Biden's involvement with the firm investigated.
On Monday, White House defense team member and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made Hunter Biden's involvement with Burisma a focus of her argument before the Senate, Townhall reported.
Bondi told the upper chamber, "Multiple House Democrat witnesses, including those from the Department of State, the National Security Council, and others, unanimously testified there was a potential appearance of a conflict of interest."


theblaze--2020-01-28--'Stop playing the nasty Washington game!' — Ted Cruz slaps down reporter over question about his chi

'Stop playing the nasty Washington game!' — Ted Cruz slaps down reporter over question about his children

'Stop playing the nasty Washington game ! '
— Ted Cruz slaps down reporter over question about his children '' @ @ @ @ @ children be in prison ? ''

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) got into a heated interaction with a reporter after a pointed question that involved his two daughters.
The exchange happened during a media briefing about the impeachment trial in the Senate on Monday.
Cruz was criticizing Democrats for arguing that President Donald Trump had only sought to investigate corruption in Ukraine in order to damage his political rival.
"We've just seen two hours of evidence. And at a minimum, it was not only reasonable and justified, but the president, I think, had an obligation to investigate corruption that potentially extended to the very highest levels of the government," said Cruz.
A reporter interrupted.
"Hunter Biden got a job. His dad was vice president," the reporter interjected. "If that's a crime, shouldn't half your children be in prison?"
"My children are 9 and 11, so I'm sorry you want to throw a 9-year-old in prison," Cruz responded, to some laughter.
"But at this point, my third-grader plays basketball and softball at her school, so stop playing the nasty Washington game!" he added.
"I'm sorry, it's not a nasty Washington game," the reporter objected.
"Attacking a 9-year-old?" Cruz shot back.
Hunter Biden has become embroiled in the scandal surrounding Ukraine because of his employment at a Ukrainian energy company during his father's tenure in the Obama administration.
Here's the video of the interaction:


theblaze--2020-01-28--'Do NOT go outside': Nurse in China issues warning, claims up to 90,000 already infected with corona

'Do NOT go outside': Nurse in China issues warning, claims up to 90,000 already infected with coronavirus

'Do NOT go outside ' : Nurse in China issues warning , claims up to 90,000 already infected with coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ , you will be able to meet your family again healthy next year '

Experts fear the new coronavirus in China and a possible epidemic for two reasons: It's spreading at a much faster rate than other viruses, and it's transferable to other humans for days before symptoms can be detected, allowing infected patients to spread the disease to others without realizing it.
On Saturday, the Daily Mail reported that an unnamed woman believed to be a nurse in Wuhan, China, claimed that there are actually as many as 90,000 people already infected in China. She posted a video on social media warning people to stay inside.
"I would like to say that everyone who is currently watching this video, do not go outside. Don't party. Do not eat out," she said. "If you are safe now, you will be able to meet your family again healthy next year."
The woman went on to say that cities throughout the country are overwhelmed and need more supplies to effectively fight the virus. Read more on this here.
On the radio program Monday, Glenn Beck and Stu Burguiere discuss just how bad the coronavirus really is, how many people are infected, and how worried we should be in America.
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
youtu.be
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theblaze--2020-01-28--'Keep your door SHUT': Pittsburgh police urge residents to call 911 if they hear recording of baby c

'Keep your door SHUT': Pittsburgh police urge residents to call 911 if they hear recording of baby crying or child asking for help

'Keep your door SHUT ' : Pittsburgh police urge residents to call 911 if they hear recording of baby crying @ @ @ @ @ A local reporter says people living on the South Side are 'freaked out '

Pittsburgh police are warning residents on the South Side to stay indoors and call 911 if they hear recordings that sound like a baby crying or a child asking for help outside their homes, as authorities investigate multiple instances where people reported the eerie sounds.
What are the details?
Reporter Royce Jones of KDKA-TV has been following the story and took to Twitter on Friday, saying, "If you heard a baby crying outside your door what would you do? Pittsburgh Police say keep your door SHUT and call POLICE."
Authorities confirmed to TribLive that "police have received four reports from different areas of the South Side" from callers who have claimed to hear what sounded like recordings of a crying baby or a child's voice. But each time officers have been dispatched to investigate, they did not hear the sounds themselves and have been unable to discover their source.
The Daily Mail reported that locals chimed in on Twitter who also reported hearing the sounds, with one person claiming, "My husband heard this on 3 separate spread out occasions the last being over the summer," adding, "It was a girls voice in the distance saying help me. He was outside with our dogs. Twice late at night, once in the middle of the day."
Jones interviewed two sorority sisters who heard the noises outside their residence. The college students said they have been on high alert and have made sure none of them are alone outside until police are able to determine where the purported recordings are coming from.
The reporter said that "obviously the people who live in the apartments where this is happening are freaked out."


theblaze--2020-01-28--Breaking: Mitch McConnell tells Republicans he doesn't have enough votes to prevent new impeachment

Breaking: Mitch McConnell tells Republicans he doesn't have enough votes to prevent new impeachment witnesses

Breaking : Mitch McConnell tells Republicans he does n't have enough votes to prevent new impeachment witnesses But the process @ @ @

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reportedly told his caucus that he did not have the votes to prevent the Democrats' demands for new impeachment trial witnesses.
The possible inclusion of new witnesses has been a contentious debate between Democratic critics of President Donald Trump and his Republican allies and supporters.
On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that McConnell admitted that enough Republicans had crossed over to support the demands from Democrats. However, many Republicans remained uncommitted on the issue.
Fox News confirmed the report but added that it was unclear just what the claim meant, since some Republicans are willing to make concessions in order to call Hunter Biden to testify.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said that he was among those Republicans who wanted to hear from new witnesses, including John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser.
Bolton reportedly claimed that Trump was withholding military aid from Ukraine, a central accusation of the impeachment articles, in an upcoming book.
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) warned Republicans publicly on Monday that if they voted with Democrats for new witnesses, they could face political repercussions.
Here's a video about the development:


theblaze--2020-01-28--Fox News anchors were CONFUSED when junior senator from Delaware quoted 'Jesus and Jefferson'

Fox News anchors were CONFUSED when junior senator from Delaware quoted 'Jesus and Jefferson '

On Tuesday's episode of "Pat Gray Unleashed," Pat and Keith discussed highlights from day seven of the Senate impeachment trial and a bizarre interview that Sen. Tom Carper had with Fox News. The conversation left anchors uncomfortable when Carper began stumbling over his words as he tried to quote Scripture and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson.
"This guy was waxing eloquent talking about Jesus and Jefferson," Pat said.
Watch the video below for more.
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