theblaze--2020-02-17--'Daddy still butt-f***ing you?': Pro-abortion thugs — one with nifty pentagram necklace — gang up on

'Daddy still butt-f***ing you?': Pro-abortion thugs — one with nifty pentagram necklace — gang up on pro-lifer, allegedly bump, grab, and even lick her

'Daddy still butt-f***ing you ? '
: Pro-abortion thugs — one with nifty pentagram necklace — gang up on pro-lifer @ @ @ @ @ , and even lick her 'Stop coming to the clinic , and this all ends @

A Tennessee pro-life advocate has numerous pro-abortion activists on video ganging up and harassing her in front of an abortion clinic — the Bristol Regional Women's Center — and her assailants go so far as to allegedly touch and grab parts of her body and even lick her.
To say nothing of the mountain of verbal harassment she's received — with one of them allegedly asking her, "Daddy still butt-f***ing you?"
What are the details?
Thomas More Society — a legal firm that stands up for religious liberty and pro-life issues — has taken up the matter and helped sidewalk counselor Erika Schanzenbach file petitions for orders of protection against members of what the law firm calls a "radical pro-abortion organization."
More from the firm:
Thomas More Society Counsel Michael McHale explained that the offenders have often sought out Schanzenbach for harassment wherever she stands, even when she remains across the street from the abortion facility to avoid confrontation. The offenders subject Schanzenbach to a variety of abuses, including surrounding her and blocking her from view with large, open umbrellas; licking her arms; following her very closely wherever she walks — even back to her vehicle hundreds of feet away from the abortion facility; stealing and destroying her leaflets; and hurling profanities, taunts, and obscene gestures directly in her face. [...]
These abusers boast online about their illegal conduct, identifying themselves as "Pro-Choice Bristol." Their Facebook post, "Pink Manifesto," states that they will "use any means necessary to physically block" pro-life witnesses "from sight" and will do "anything at all not being enforced equally for the protection of patients whether demonstrably legal or not." The radical group also declares that "When local government fails" it will "step in."
Schanzenbach has been on the receiving end of harassment, abuse, and stalking by Denise Skeen, along with Denise's adult daughters, Alethea and Rowan. Each is named as a respondent in petitions for court orders of protection. Also named is Cheryl Hanzlik, who on multiple occasions has attempted to cause permanent hearing damage by pointing a bullhorn blaring loud police siren sounds directly into Schazenbach's face. Supplemental court complaints have also been filed against Hanzlik and Alethea Skeen for ongoing illegal harassment.
Here's one clip. (Content warning: Language):
youtu.be
Schanzenbach repeatedly tells the women to stop touching her, specifically to cease pressing their breasts against her body. Some verbal tidbits from the pro-abortion activists:
"Suck my d***!"
"What does she f***ing expect?"
"Call the cops!"
"She touched my t***y!"
In the below clip a white-bearded man screams in Schanzenbach's face to "shut up!" repeatedly and later adds that "it's going to be like this every single time." (Content warning: Language):
youtu.be
According to protection orders Thomas More Society filed:
Last Sept. 4, Denise Skeen asked Schanzenbach, "Daddy still butt-f***ing you?" and has in the past harassed her with descriptions of oral sex, sodomy, and masturbation.
That same day, Alethea Skeen pressed her body against the victim and screamed at her, "Suck it up you little bitch!" And on one occasion she advised Schanzenbach, "Stop coming to the clinic, and this all ends."
Here's a third video:
youtu.be
The law firm said that the cases will return to court in April when Schanzenbach's legal team will present substantial video evidence and live witness testimony demonstrating the ongoing abuse against her.
(H/T: PJ Media)


theblaze--2020-02-17--Nancy Pelosi interrupts CNN anchor to deny that President Trump was acquitted in impeachment trial

The talking point that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is using about President Donald Trump's impeachment acquittal sounds more like a statement of denial than something clever about the merits of the trial process.
In a Saturday interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in Germany, Pelosi basically said that the president wasn't really acquitted because the Senate didn't call for further witnesses and documents during the trial.
"What about, though, the fact that the president seems liberated, and this is about democratic politics so I'm not asking you to criticize here, but he was acquitted, his poll ratings are high—" Amanpour said before she was interrupted by Pelosi.
After stammering over Amanpour's question, Pelosi responded, "You can't have an acquittal unless you have a trial, and you can't have a trial unless you have witnesses and documents.
"So he can say he's acquitted, and the headlines can say 'acquitted,' but he's impeached forever, branded with that, and not vindicated," the speaker continued, "and even the senators were saying, 'Yes, it wasn't right,' but they didn't have the courage to act upon that."
Pelosi's comments echo similar remarks she made before the conclusion of the Senate trial during one of her weekly press briefings when she also said that a trial requires witnesses and documents in order for a proper acquittal of the accused to be possible.
The question of whether or not to call extra witnesses became one of the more contentious points of the impeachment process in the Senate. Ultimately, only Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) decided to break ranks with their party and vote to prolong the trial by calling for more witness testimony.
In reality, despite the complaints and rhetorical swipes currently to be made about the process, the Senate did in fact hold an impeachment trial of President Trump and did in fact acquit him.
During that process, the findings collected by the House impeachment probe was entered into evidence as part of that trial, per the rules of the process. A majority of the chamber decided that they didn't need further witness testimony or document subpoenas in order to make that decision and when an insufficient number of senators voted to convict on both articles of impeachment, it was subsequently "ordered and adjudged that the said Donald John Trump be, and he is hereby, acquitted of the charges in said articles."


theblaze--2020-02-17--Superstar Justin Bieber says he now understands what God’s grace really means: He ‘loves us through

Superstar Justin Bieber says he now understands what God’s grace really means: He ‘loves us through our pain … and dirt’

Superstar Justin Bieber says he now understands what God ’ s grace really means : He ‘ loves us through @ @ @ @ @ ’

A-list entertainer Justin Bieber says that he finally understands God's grace and is no longer trying to earn His love through good works.
What are the details?
During a recent interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Bieber — an unapologetic Christian — said that life experience and time have both given him perspective on God's love.
Shortly after releasing his latest album, "Changes," Bieber said that he always tried to live God's truth but didn't have the best faith role models growing up.
"My mom was really hurt growing up," he admitted. "She had so many things going on in her life, so she was navigating her faith journey. For me, it was just confusing."
After years of being a young and in-demand musician, Bieber was more ensconced in the world rather than his personal faith.
"I was really tired emotionally, physically, and I was sick and I didn't realize I was sick," he reasoned. "[I]t was just the exhaustion of just being on tour, and then it was just everything compounded, I think, to be honest."
God 'accepts us for who we are'
Following his 2018 marriage to model Hailey Baldwin, Bieber took a deep dive into his faith, realizing that through his own struggles and shortcomings, God "accepts us for who we are," and "loves us through our pain and through our dirt."
“The way I look at my relationship with God and with Jesus is, I'm not trying to earn God's love by doing good things," the 25-year-old musician added. “God has already loved me for who I am, before I did anything to earn and deserve it. It's a free gift by accepting Jesus, and just giving your life to Him."
Bieber added that he worships the Lord for who He is and what He's done.
“And what he did is the gift — the forgiveness — is the thing that we look at, and, 'I'm going to worship you, God, because you gave me something so good,'" he continued. “And so you live that life of like, 'I don't want to cheat on my wife, not because it's the right thing to do, but because I don't want to hurt her.' See the difference there?"
www.youtube.com
(H/T: Faithwire)


theblaze--2020-02-17--Chinese doctors: Coronavirus can reinfect people, and the second infection can lead to heart failure

Chinese doctors : Coronavirus can reinfect people , and the second infection can lead to heart failure Possibly worse than @ @ @ @ @ on

Doctors in China say patients who recover from coronavirus can be reinfected — and if that happens, they become significantly more likely to suffer fatal heart attacks due to the nature of the virus and the effect of the medicine used to treat it, according to the Taiwan News.
The information comes from doctors working in the Hubei province of China, where the virus originated, who spoke under the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution from the Chinese government, which has attempted to suppress information about the virus outbreak and punish those who leak info.
"It's highly possible to get infected a second time," a doctor told the Taiwan News. "A few people recovered from the first time by their own immune system, but the meds they use are damaging their heart tissue, and when they get it the second time, the antibody doesn't help but makes it worse, and they die a sudden death from heart failure."
Additionally, the true scope of the infections still may not be known, due to some complicating variables. Chinese doctors have had issues with false negatives from the coronavirus tests, with cases in which X-rays reveal significant lung infections for people who tested negative for coronavirus multiple times.
That may be part of the reason China abruptly decided last week to change the way it counted cases of the virus. At first, only confirmed positive cases were counted. Now, China is counting people who are diagnosed by way of symptoms, even if they have not tested positive. The change caused a sudden spike in the number of both cases of the virus, and resulting deaths.
A doctor also told Taiwan News that the virus can be present in a person without symptoms for up to 24 days, and that the virus has "outsmarted all of us." If true, many people could be both unknowingly infected, and potentially infecting others, creating huge problems for public health officials desperately attempting to stop the spread.
As of Monday, there are more than 70,000 cases of coronavirus in China, with the death toll nearing 1,800 people.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Vice article portrays abortion as a potential 'religious right'

Should someone 's religious beliefs give them the right to take the life of an unborn child ?
A story published at Vice last week raises the question by portraying abortion in terms of free exercise for some believers .
Further down in the piece , the reader is then confronted with three different sections discussing `` abortion as a religious right '' in Judaism , Islam , and Christianity , featuring input from two rabbis , an assistant professor of gender and Islamic bioethics at Dartmouth College , and Zeh , as well as a single line from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice . ''
`` As a follower of Christianity , as a minister of Christianity , '' Zeh told the outlet in the section about Christianity , `` to me the core message is really about , first of all , love and compassion and care for the neighbor but also really eliminating systems of oppression no matter what kind they are . ''
But that 's not all .
Following its run-through of interfaith pro-abortion apologetics , the story then turned its attention to pro-life political views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prevalence of such positions largely as a product of late 20th-century political wrangling .
`` [ A ] political — not theological — effort was made by Republicans , specifically Richard Nixon , to recruit Catholic Democratic voters by polarizing the issue of abortion , '' the story says .
`` Evangelicals and Protestants later followed as a result of targeted political campaigns hoping to unite Christians under conservative cultural issues . ''
Whether or not a religion-based pro-abortion argument would actually hold water in federal court is hard to say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the kind of response to be expected from the pro-abortion world if is ever reversed , and the never-ending stream of lawsuits against state-level pro-life laws , it 's hard to imagine that it wo n't be attempted .

Should someone's religious beliefs give them the right to take the life of an unborn child? A story published at Vice last week raises the question by portraying abortion in terms of free exercise for some believers.
Here's a sampling of the story:
[T]he success of the Christian anti-abortion movement has overshadowed another group of religious Americans: those who say that the right to abortion is part of their religion. This group includes Jews, Muslims, and even Christians who believe their faith allows — and sometimes even requires — abortion under certain circumstances. They say the right to abortion is a constitutional one, protected not only by the right to privacy, but by the freedom to exercise religion.
"There's a lot of folks who are pro-choice or support reproductive dignity and freedom because of their faith and not in spite of it," said Rev. Katey Zeh, an ordained Baptist minister and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
As Roe v. Wade is threatened by increasingly restrictive state bills and a Supreme Court stacked against reproductive rights, pro-choice Jews, Muslims, and Christians may soon be forced to come to the legal defense of abortion in a way its never been argued before: as a religious right.
Further down in the piece, the reader is then confronted with three different sections discussing "abortion as a religious right" in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, featuring input from two rabbis, an assistant professor of gender and Islamic bioethics at Dartmouth College, and Zeh, as well as a single line from a book titled "Trust Women: A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice."
"As a follower of Christianity, as a minister of Christianity," Zeh told the outlet in the section about Christianity, "to me the core message is really about, first of all, love and compassion and care for the neighbor but also really eliminating systems of oppression no matter what kind they are."
But that's not all. Following its run-through of interfaith pro-abortion apologetics, the story then turned its attention to pro-life political views held by more conservative believers, casting the prevalence of such positions largely as a product of late 20th-century political wrangling.
"[A] political — not theological — effort was made by Republicans, specifically Richard Nixon, to recruit Catholic Democratic voters by polarizing the issue of abortion," the story says. "Evangelicals and Protestants later followed as a result of targeted political campaigns hoping to unite Christians under conservative cultural issues."
Whether or not a religion-based pro-abortion argument would actually hold water in federal court is hard to say, given the number of variables. But given the kind of response to be expected from the pro-abortion world if Roe v. Wade is ever reversed, and the never-ending stream of lawsuits against state-level pro-life laws, it's hard to imagine that it won't be attempted.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Florida's red flag law has led to thousands of gun confiscations —and there's no consistency in how

Florida's red flag law has led to thousands of gun confiscations —and there's no consistency in how it is used

Florida 's red flag law has led to thousands of gun confiscations —and there 's no consistency in how it @ @

Since the infamous massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February 2018, the red flag gun law adopted shortly after that tragedy has been used more than 3,500 times — but with a troubling level of inconsistency, the Associated Press reported.
In more than 3,500 cases, the red flag gun law (adopted in spring 2018) has been used to take guns away from people deemed to be a threat to themselves or others due to allegedly troubling behavior or demonstrated mental health issues. However, while some counties are using the law quite frequently, others aren't using it at all.
The AP analysis shows that from March 2018, when the law was enacted, through December 2019, there was a wide disparity in its per capita usage in Florida's 67 counties. Twenty issued at least one for every 5,500 residents during that time period, the statewide average. Three issued at least one for every 2,000 residents, including Gualtieri's Pinellas County, which includes the Tampa Bay area, and has nearly 1 million people. Highlands County, near Lake Okeechobee, ranked No. 1, issuing one for every 850 residents.
On the other extreme, 12 counties issued one for every 30,000 residents or less. Two neighboring Panhandle counties — Escambia and Santa Rosa — issued one for every 100,000 residents or more. Another nine small, rural counties issued none.
This means that, depending on who the police and judges are in the area in which someone lives, it may be significantly more likely that a gun owner is subject to the red flag law.
Under the law, police have to cite threats or serious mental issues to a civil court, the AP reported. A judge then decides whether to approve the extreme risk protection order request. If the judge approves, then the person's guns are taken away for a year. Police can decide to seek an extension if deemed necessary.
This leads to another problem with the system — because it is a civil court proceeding and not criminal, defendants are not guaranteed a free lawyer, which can severely hurt a low-income defendant's chance to win an appeal, according to the AP story.
Although the law received bipartisan support, and such laws have grown in popularity in recent years, there are significant concerns about due process and Second Amendment violations, as well as the potential for the laws to be weaponized against legal gun owners by friends or family members who may have a grudge against them.
(H/T Hot Air)


theblaze--2020-02-17--Here's a recap of Mike Bloomberg's big weekend of cringeworthy pandering

On Monday , Pat Gray discussed presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg 's big weekend of pandering for votes .
Bloomberg started @ @ @ @ @ idea of a Bloomberg and Hillary Clinton ticket .
Next , Bloomberg delivered an embarrassing @ @ @ @ @ while dressed as a fish and Mary Poppins .
Then , Bloomberg took a shot @ @ @ @ @ rant about the economy .
Finally , Bloomberg expressed his view of how the aging @ @ @ @ @ .
Catch more episodes of `` Pat Gray Unleashed '' by downloading the podcast here @ @ @ @ @ for more on this story .
Use code PAT to save $ 10 off one @ @ @ @ @ more from Pat Gray ?
To enjoy more of Pat 's biting analysis and signature @ @ @ @ @ sense to a senseless world , subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of @ @ @ @ @ defend the Constitution and live the American dream .

On Monday, Pat Gray discussed presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg's big weekend of pandering for votes.
Bloomberg started the weekend by floating the idea of a Bloomberg and Hillary Clinton ticket. Next, Bloomberg delivered an embarrassing performance in a Broadway musical while dressed as a fish and Mary Poppins. Then, Bloomberg took a shot at farmers in an elitist rant about the economy. Finally, Bloomberg expressed his view of how the aging population should receive medical care.
Catch more episodes of "Pat Gray Unleashed" by downloading the podcast here.
Watch the clip below for more on this story.
Use code PAT to save $10 off one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Pat Gray?
To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Border Patrol released more than 375,000 illegal immigrants directly into US last year: report

Border Patrol released more than 375,000 illegal immigrants directly into US last year : report More than 850,000 immigrants illegally @ @ @ @ @

Despite propagating hardline immigration rhetoric, the Trump administration released nearly 400,000 illegal immigrants into the United States general population last year.
In fiscal year 2019, which ran from October 2018 to September 2019, Border Patrol agents detained 851,508 immigrants who illegally entered the U.S. via Mexico. Of those, more than half, 473,682, arrived with family members, Customs and Border Protection data showed.
According to the Washington Examiner, more than 375,000 immigrants who were detained as part of family units were later released directly into the U.S, including 145,000 who were released directly from Border Patrol stations between March and September.
More from the Examiner:
Border Patrol made the unusual move last March of releasing people directly from its custody rather than turning people over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE cited two issues that made it difficult to hold families: it lacked the bed space and a 2015 court ruling blocked it from detaining families more than 20 days.
Because the 145,000 family members released by Border Patrol were not transferred to ICE, they were released with a legal document known as a notice to appear. The document states when they should show up for a hearing to determine if they will be returned to the county of origin. An additional 230,000 family members were sent to ICE and then released from ICE facilities, according to an ICE spokesperson.
In total, ICE deported 267,258 illegal immigrants last year, agency data showed.
The Examiner reported that just 5,702 of those deported had arrived to the U.S. with family, showing that immigrants who illegally enter as a family unit are much less likely to be deported.
Although illegal immigration spikes every spring and summer, illegal immigration was down significantly at the end of last year, likely a result ofMexico's increased effortsto combat illegal migration.


theblaze--2020-02-17--VIDEO: Woman sneaks into towing yard, allegedly takes her truck, rams through fence, smashes company

VIDEO: Woman sneaks into towing yard, allegedly takes her truck, rams through fence, smashes company vehicle — and sends employee flying

VIDEO : Woman sneaks into towing yard , allegedly takes her truck , rams through fence , smashes company vehicle @ @ @ @ @

Surveillance video shows the shocking moment when a woman — who sneaked into a Portland, Oregon, towing yard early Wednesday morning — allegedly rammed through the lot's gate and fence with her truck, smashed a company vehicle, and sent an employee flying through the air.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
"They tried to kill him," Jack Durrett told KOIN-TV, whose son Joshua was the victim. "I mean, she knew he was there, she saw him and still ran him down and kept trying to continue to do so."
Image source: KOIN-TV video screenshot
What are the details?
Video shows a woman and a man arriving at the gate of 21st Century Towing; the timer on the video indicates it's just after 5:35 a.m. The woman hands the man a pair of lock cutters.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
After he appears to cut through the gate's padlock, she decides to crawl underneath the fence instead.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Apparently unable to open the gate, the woman walks back and allegedly gets in her truck.
At that point, employee Joshua Durrett pulled up in a company vehicle and spotted activity inside the towing yard, reportedly believing it to be a co-worker, KOIN said.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Then the clip shows the driver of the truck ramming through the gate and fence, sending Durrett flying.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Durrett quickly gets up as the driver goes into reverse and then rams into the company vehicle again. Durrett is then seen pounding on the truck's driver-side window.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
But there was no stopping the driver, who hit the gas again, caromed off the company vehicle and sped away through the opening.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Here's the video report:
Caught!
Another towing company employee on Saturday spotted the truck that smashed through the fence, after which police were called to seize the truck, which was determined to have been stolen, KOIN-TV reported in a follow-up story.
And just before 9:30 p.m. that same day an anonymous caller who had seen the surveillance video on the news told police the whereabouts of one of the suspects, and police went to the address they were given to investigate, the station said.
Nicole O. Penagos-Clare, 24, was captured after a brief chase, KOIN reported, adding that she was booked into jail and faces several charges, including first-degree robbery and second-degree assault.
Nicole O. Penagos-Clare Image source: Multnomah County (Oregon) Sheriff
Police are still searching for the man who was with Penagos-Clare, the station said, as well as a van the suspects may have used.
What happened to the victim?
Jack Durrett told KOIN that his son Joshua suffered a concussion, broken collar bone, road rash, and bruises as a result of the truck-ramming incident but has since returned home from the hospital.
But for the elder Durrett, just seeing the surveillance video "is very traumatic. As a parent, you're looking at that going, 'Holy s**t, my son should be dead,'" he told the station.
Image source: KOIN-TV video screenshot
Jack Durrett added to KOIN that the only likely reason his son survived was his quick reaction and getting out of the way so the driver couldn't run over him.
He told the station two of his sons work for 21st Century Towing and have faced danger before.
"My other son has had guns pulled on him," Durrett told KOIN, adding that Joshua was assaulted six months ago while trying to tow a vehicle and returned to full-time duties just three weeks ago.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Amy Klobuchar used to want 'order at the border.' Now she says the Obama admin went 'way too far' on

Amy Klobuchar used to want 'order at the border.' Now she says the Obama admin went 'way too far' on deportations

Amy Klobuchar used to want 'order at the border . '
Now she says the Obama admin went 'way too @ @ @ @ @ question is what do we do going forward ? '

After some of her old immigration remarks of her advocating for stronger border security surfaced last week, presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) now says that the last administration overdid it when it came to deporting illegal immigrants.
During Klobuchar's Sunday appearance on CBS' Face the Nation, in reference to fellow candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden's recent comments about the over 3 million deportations during the Obama administration, the senator was asked whether it was a mistake for them to deport people without criminal records.
"I think that that went way too far, yes," Klobuchar told show moderator Margaret Brennan. "And I think you've seen a lot of that across our country. The question is 'What do we do going forward?' "
The senator went on to say that "the very straightforward answer" to that question "is comprehensive immigration reform." Klobuchar said that reforming the immigration system would save taxpayers over $150 billion, "And part of that money, when you talk about deportations, could be used for our asylum process, to improve that."
She also said that she "would immediately, as president, stop the heinous practice of separating kids from their parents at the border in my first one hundred days."
In a Friday interview with Univision, Biden called the last administration's deportation of people without criminal records "a big mistake" and also added "we took far too long to get it right."
Klobuchar's immigration positions have gotten some extra attention on the campaign trail since resurfaced campaign video of her 2006 Senate run shows the candidate calling for "order at the border" by putting in a border fence to curb illegal immigration, not "giving amnesty to companies that are hiring illegal immigrants," and a requirement that already present illegal immigrants learn English if they eventually want to become U.S. citizens.
Over the weekend, she also explained that she no longer believes that English should be the national language of the United States, contrary to a past vote that she took on a Republican-sponsored Senate amendment to an immigration bill over a decade ago in 2007.
While it remains to be seen how Klobuchar's past immigration stances and her subsequent shifts on the subject will play with primary voters, the contrast is quite illustrative of how the overall debate on immigration in the United States has shifted over the past two decades.
After all, Klobuchar's views weren't remotely beyond the pale for an elected Democrat at the time; don't forget that 26 Senate Democrats — including now-Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and then Sens, Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) — voted in favor of border fencing in 2006.
Furthermore, Klobuchar was one of 17 Democrats to support the English language amendment in 2007. Compare those data points to a 2020 Democratic presidential field that has seen such far-left immigration ideas as halting deportations, decriminalizing border crossings, tearing down existing portions of border wall, and providing taxpayer-backed health care benefits for illegal aliens and it becomes pretty clear just how starkly things have changed on the left side of the aisle.


theblaze--2020-02-17--AOC admits Medicare for All may not be a realistic goal even if Bernie Sanders becomes president

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), one of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' most high-profile supporters, admitted in a HuffPost interview that while Sanders wants Medicare for All, his supporters should realize how unlikely it is that such legislation could actually get through Congress.
In a move to lower expectations before Sanders has even earned the Democratic presidential nomination, Ocasio-Cortez reminded people that even her own party is not fully behind single-payer health care, so a Sanders administration may not be able to deliver on one of its signature campaign issues.
"A president can't wave a magic wand and pass any legislation they want," Ocasio-Cortez said.
Instead, Ocasio-Cortez suggested, Sanders supporters may want to get comfortable with the idea that the only thing the democratic socialist gets done on health care is a public option — something former President Barack Obama attempted to get passed before ultimately compromising to get Obamacare passed.
"The worst-case scenario? We compromise deeply and we end up getting a public option," Ocasio-Cortez said. "Is that a nightmare? I don't think so."
Addressing those who might be disappointed by such a compromise, Ocasio-Cortez attempted to still make the case for why voters should choose Sanders even if he can't get Medicare for All through.
By electing Sanders, she said, Democrats would still be able to push health care policy further left than if they elect a more moderate candidate whose starting proposal is something like "Medicare for All (who want it)" or an expansion of Obamacare.
Sanders reportedly doesn't plan to sit passively as the Senate kills his proposals, however. Axios reported that Sanders would use budget reconciliation rules to pass some proposals using only a majority vote, and using his vice president to overrule any procedural objections from senators or the senate parliamentarian.
Still, even those measures would require Democrats to take back the Senate, and would require unity within the Democratic Party— something that currently does not exist when it comes to Medicare for All.
(H/T Hot Air)


theblaze--2020-02-17--Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam suffers embarrassing loss as assault weapons ban is rejected in Virgin

Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam suffers embarrassing loss as assault weapons ban is rejected in Virginia

Democratic Gov .
Ralph Northam suffers embarrassing loss as assault weapons ban is rejected in Virginia A huge win for @ @ @

Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam's all-in push to ban the sale of assault weapons was rejected in the state's Senate after moderate Democrats joined Republican colleagues to sink the initiative Monday.
Cheers erupted in the committee room packed with gun supporters as senators voted to put the bill on hold for a year so that the state's crime commission could study the issue, the Associated Press reported.
Four Democrats decided to vote with Republicans on the issue, rejecting legislation that aimed to outlaw new sales of some semiautomatic firearms, such as the AR-15 rifle, and require current owners of such firearms to register with the government within the year. The bill would also have criminalized the possession of magazines that hold more than 12 rounds.
The bill's rejection is an embarrassing loss for Northam and Democrats in Virginia, who aimed to use their narrow and new-found majority to push a broad progressive gun control agenda in the state.
Late last month, the state's Democrat-led House, with Northam's backing, moved forward a legislative package containing seven gun control measures, among them was the assault weapons ban which eventually passed the House last week. But the measures were always destined to face a tough test in the state's Senate, where Democrats only hold a slight 21-19 majority, and thus flipping three Democrats is all that is required to sink a bill.
In response to the news, the governor's spokeswoman vowed "we will be back next year" after sharing that the governor was disappointed by the outcome.
Overwhelming opposition from gun rights supporters have so far stymied efforts by Northam and Democratic lawmakers in the state.
In December, dozens of counties in Virginia vowed to become "sanctuary counties" for gun owners to protect their citizens' Second Amendment rights should any anti-gun laws be passed. One county went a step further, passing a resolution to fund a militia, per the U.S. Constitution, to fight the efforts.
To watch the cheers erupt from gun supporters in the committee following the vote, jump to the end of this video:
youtu.be
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to clarify that the Virginia House passed the assault weapons ban in February rather than late January, and also to include video of the committee's proceedings.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Al Sharpton's failed 2004 presidential campaign still owes nearly $1 million in debt

Al Sharpton 's failed 2004 presidential campaign still owes nearly $ 1 million in debt How has this not been @ @ @ @ @ years ?

The Rev. Al Sharpton's failed 2004 presidential campaign still owes a substantial amount of debt.
Despite the unsuccessful campaign ending more than 15 years ago, Sharpton's bid to win the Democratic nomination incurred a lot of debt — more than $900,000 of which remains unpaid today, the New York Post reported.
The actual figure stands at $925,713.78 as of Jan. 31, Federal Election Commission documents showed.
"If committees are unable to pay debts, they can file a debt-settlement plan with the FEC ... committees could not just decide not to pay," an FEC spokesperson told the Post.
However, Sharpton himself is not legally responsible for the debt, according to the Post. Instead, his campaign committee — Sharpton 2004 — and its treasurer, Andrew Rivera, are the legally liable entities.
In response, Sharpton told the Post that he is good for the outstanding debt.
"I have asked Andrew Rivera, the finance chair of my 2004 campaign, to set up a meeting with the Federal Election Commission so that I can resolve any campaign debts related to Sharpton 2004," Sharpton told the Post. "I am willing to work out a settlement for all claims with my own money to the degree that I'm allowed and will raise money directly."
"Even if I am not legally liable for it, I am certainly morally responsible," he added.
Sharpton's campaign problems have not been exclusively debt-related. His campaign committee reached a settlement with the FEC in 2009 to pay $285,000 in civil penalties for numerous campaign finance violations.


theblaze--2020-02-17--'Queer' activists disrupt, protest Pete Buttigieg event in San Francisco: 'Stop using your gay card'

'Queer ' activists disrupt , protest Pete Buttigieg event in San Francisco : 'Stop using your gay card' 'He 's @ @ @ @ @ '

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg may be the first openly gay candidate behind a major presidential campaign, but some gay activists who interrupted and protested his fundraiser on Friday say they expect more out of his policy positions.
According to a story at The Guardian published on Friday, Buttigieg was answering a question about his husband at an event in San Francisco when he was interrupted by "two queer activists" who stood up in the audience. Video of the event from the same outlet shows the duo's shouts quickly being drowned out by boos and chants of "boot-edge-edge" from the surrounding sea of supporters.
www.youtube.com
"I respect your activism, but this is a gathering for supporters of our campaign and I just got a question about my husband and I'm really excited to answer it," the candidate says in response to the disturbance on video. The two were later taken out of the event.
One of the demonstrators said that the candidate's problems is his supposed moderate stances and the kind of voters to which he's supposedly trying to appeal.
"I'm definitely proud of the fact that a gay candidate has made it thus far," Celi Tamayo-Lee, one of the activists booted from the event, told the newspaper outside the event, "but it's hard to enjoy or appreciate when his stances are so middle of the road and speak to a predominantly white, upper class audience."
According to the story, the two were part of a larger group protesting outside the event, one of whom also raised race-and-class-based complaints about it.
"We need better, we deserve better," Adiel Pollydore, a 26-year-old protester who is black and "queer," told the newspaper. "There's a level of irony that this event costs hundreds of dollars to attend in the Mission, a historically Latinx and immigrant neighborhood. What does it say that this event is not accessible to the folks that live in the neighborhood where it's being held?"
According to the story, one of Buttigieg's supporters called the protesters "homophobes" after the event, to which one responded, "We're all gay!"
According to PinkNews, the group behind the protest and the disruption is called "Queers Against Pete," which takes issue with the candidate for "claiming to be in community with us" while being "out of touch."
An open letter from the group says that the former college town mayor "simply falls short" and is "not fit to be President of the United States" for a list of reasons including his stances on "free" college, ending cash bail, creating an "alternative to police," his opposition to Medicare for All, and the fact that he hasn't pledged to halt deportations or decriminalize border crossings.
"He's not representative of our community. He may be representative of part, but not all," gay San Francisco filmmaker Jethro Patalinghug, who attended the protest, told Mercury News. He added, "Pete has a record of dismantling houses in the South Bend and Indiana for black and latino communities. Pete: Stop using your gay card because you're not representative of our community."


theblaze--2020-02-17--Porn film was shot inside a public library during business hours — and included a woman exposing her

Porn film was shot inside a public library during business hours — and included a woman exposing herself outside a grade school. Now people are furious.

Porn film was shot inside a public library during business hours — and included a woman exposing herself outside a @ @ @ @ @ are furious .
'Children do n't need to be exposed to this . '

Residents in Santa Monica, California, are outraged after a pornography film was shot inside a local public library during business hours.
According to KCBS-TV, scenes for the purportedly amateur video were shot in the library, on the city's streets, and more. The outlet reported that footage from the film also features a female exposing herself outside of a local elementary school.
What are the details?
KCBS reported that the film — about 10 minutes in length — features a woman exposing herself in various public places and also engaging in sex acts in the library during business hours.
The woman in the video, according to those at KCBS who have seen it, boasts about not getting caught during the illicit behaviors.
Janet McLaughlin, one of the library's neighbors, expressed her disgust to the station.
"God forbid a child walked in the library and walked right in on the middle of it. That's my biggest concern," she insisted. "Children don't need to be exposed to this. If you want to do porn, stick to the hotels."
McLaughlin said that Santa Monica officials were made aware of the video. She added that authorities told her that the act was simply a "misdemeanor."
"[U]nless they witness it themselves, there is nothing they can do about it," McLaughlin stated.
She later added that things of this nature should never happen — especially when it comes to children.
“We have to have laws to stop them from doing things that puts children in harm's way," she insisted.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Joe Biden says Democrats have been taking the black vote for granted — but can't afford to this year

Joe Biden says Democrats have been taking the black vote for granted — but ca n't afford to this year

Former Vice President Joe Biden said Democrats can't afford to take the black vote for granted in 2020 the way they have in the past, as the Trump campaign ramps up its efforts to earn a larger share of voters in that demographic, according to The Hill.
Biden's campaign is struggling in recent weeks after poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire — two states with relatively small black populations. The last potential claim Biden has to being the most electable candidate in the Democratic primary field is his popularity among black voters.
"You can't win — you can't take it for granted," Biden said of black support during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Last time we ran it was basically taken for granted. I'm the only one who has the record and has the background and has the support. They know me. They know who I am."
After finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses and fifth in the New Hampshire primary, Biden has tried to convince supporters and donors to stick with him long enough for him to show his strength in more racially diverse states like South Carolina and Nevada.
Biden has held a significant lead in polls among black voters for most of the primary, but there is evidence that he's losing some of that support to other contenders, including frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
A Quinnipiac poll last week showed Bloomberg closing the gap with black voters, with 22% support compared to Biden's 27%. Sanders was at 19% with black voters.
President Donald Trump earned only 8% of the black vote in 2016, but is making a push to increase that support by highlighting criminal justice reform and a record-low black unemployment rate.
It may be unrealistic to expect a significant increase in black support for Trump. Black voters overwhelmingly default to Democrats in a normal year, and President Trump presents some unique challenges for the GOP in terms of reaching that group. But if the campaign is able to push that support into double figures, it could severely handicap the Democratic nominee's chances of victory.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Pro-abortion advocates pounce on Ted Cruz’s response to Alabama vasectomy bill, then miss the point

Pro-abortion advocates pounce on Ted Cruz’s response to Alabama vasectomy bill, then miss the point about rights of the unborn

Pro-abortion advocates pounce on Ted Cruz ’ s response to Alabama vasectomy bill , then miss the point about rights @ @ @ @ @ times have pro-lifers heard this worn-out argument ?

Abortion proponents on social media are criticizing Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for his response to an anti-pro-life messaging bill out of Alabama, but the whole pro-abortion side of this story is missing the point about the rights of the unborn.
This story started last week, when Alabama state Rep. Rolanda Hollis (D) introduced a bill to force men in the Yellowhammer State to have a vasectomy at their own expense.
"Under existing law, there are no restrictions on the reproductive rights of men," the bill's synopsis reads. "This bill would require a man to undergo a vasectomy within one month of his 50th birthday or the birth of his third biological child, whichever comes first."
The bill seems to be more about making a statement about abortion policy than it is about creating a new law. In fact, Hollis told AL.com that the legislation was put forward in response to the state's ban on abortions, which was signed into law last year.
"The vasectomy bill is to help with the reproductive system, and yes, it is to neutralize the abortion ban bill ... it always takes two to tango," Hollis told the outlet about her proposal. "We can't put all the responsibility on women. Men need to be responsible also."
In a tweet over the weekend, Cruz responded to the bill, tweeting, "Yikes. A government big enough to give you everything is big enough to take everything...literally!"
Abortion proponents on Twitter pounced on the opportunity to call out the senator and imply that his pro-life views are really just stem from a one-sided desire to use the force of government to take control of women's reproductive systems.
"Ted thinks the government becomes [too] big when it tries to seize control *HIS* body," wrote NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue. "Never mind that he's been a politician voting to do that to women for...checks notes...EVER."
"I never thought I'd say this, but I agree w Sen Cruz that the idea of governments attempting to control our most intimate body parts and reproductive rights is abhor...wait," archeologist Sarah Parcak wrote.
"Oh so tell me more about your positions on government making reproductive decision... For women," Democratic House candidate Shannon Freshour tweeted.
"That awkward moment Ted Cruz realizes the government has no business legislating reproductive health care between a patient and a doctor," Democratic House candidate Brianna Wu wrote.
"After years of advocating for government control of citizens' reproductive choices, the senator is suddenly shocked by the idea," Washington Post book critic Ron Charles sneered. "What could have inspired such a stark reversal?"
But while mocking responses such as these may get some retweets and fill abortion advocates with a certain sense of satisfaction that comes from having their worldview validated, they — as well as the bill that precipitated this discussion — failed to address the crux of the pro-life argument: That abortion unjustly takes the life of an unborn child.
Pro-lifers hold that, from the point of conception, every unborn child — regardless of the terms of conception or the child's stage of development — is a unique, living member of the human race with the inherent right to life. The central pro-life argument against abortion is that the willful taking of that life via chemical or surgical means is a grave violation of that right. It has nothing to do with an alleged desire to merely control the functions people's reproductive organs or arbitrarily limit their choices in that regard.
This writer's perspective
In a case like this one, abortion boosters can allege sex-based hypocrisy all they wish. But at the end of the day, a vasectomy may prevent an unborn life from being created but it doesn't take them away once they're created.
In contrast, an abortion does that every single time by its very nature.
If "pro-choice" advocates ever want to change any pro-life minds on the subject — or even argue about the points that their opponents are actually making — that's the reality that has to be addressed.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Man kicks in back door of house, charges at homeowner — who has a gun and fires. It proves to be sus

Man kicks in back door of house, charges at homeowner — who has a gun and fires. It proves to be suspect's final home invasion.

Man kicks in back door of house , charges at homeowner — who has a gun and fires .
It @ @ @ @ @ final home invasion .

The homeowner told KATU-TV that after his Vancouver, Washington, residence was broken into two years ago, he had security cameras and an alarm installed.
And it was that alarm that gave him the head's up that his home was being broken into again Thursday night, the station said.
What are the details?
Police told KATU that the suspect kicked open a back door of the home after 10 p.m. and was inside when the homeowner confronted him.
Then the burglary suspect charged the homeowner, investigators told the station.
But in addition to security cameras and an alarm, the homeowner also had a gun. Police said the homeowner fired it and hit the suspect, who fled out the door, KATU reported.
The suspect, who has not been identified, was found dead where he collapsed outside in the back of the property, police told the station.
Police said the homeowner and his family were not injured, KATU noted.
Criminal defense attorney weighs in
The station spoke with criminal defense attorney Kris Carrasco, who said homeowners have a right to protect themselves. Washington is a Stand Your Ground state, KATU said.
"In a self-defense situation you do not have a duty to retreat," Carrasco told the station. "You don't have to run away before asserting your right to self-defense."
Image source: KATU-TV video screenshot
But he also warned homeowners that there is such a thing as using too much force when defending themselves, KATU noted.
"You can't bring a gun to a fist fight," Carrasco told the station, adding that "for a mere trespass to property, you can't use a gun and shoot to kill if someone is just doing a crime against your property. There has to be actual threat to your life."
The attorney also noted to KATU, "The question is, 'What's the severity of the assault?' Is there a reasonable belief of serious injury or just a normal assault?"
'Homeowners have a right to protect themselves'
Mike Murphy lives nearby and told KOIN-TV that "homeowners have a right to protect themselves. You can't just expect to break into somebody's home and there's not going to be repercussions to their actions."
A woman who lives in the neighborhood agreed, telling KOIN she's sorry someone died "for trinkets or whatever. It wasn't worth it. But I totally support the homeowner's desire to protect themselves."


theblaze--2020-02-17--Climate change alarmist John Legend, wife Chrissy Teigen use a private jet to snag a quick Valentine

Climate change alarmist John Legend, wife Chrissy Teigen use a private jet to snag a quick Valentine’s Day dinner

Grammy-winning singer and climate change alarmist John Legend used a private jet to take his activist wife Chrissy Teigen out for a quick Valentine 's Day dinner over the weekend .
The local restaurants must have been completely booked up , as the climate conscious couple elected to hire a private jet to fly them 500 miles from their Beverly Hills home to a French Laundry restaurant in Yountville , California .
There , the two dined on caviar , the Daily Mail reported .
Teigen shared clips of the experience on her Instagram story , which showed her relaxing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband on the way to dinner .
The Daily Mail captured the clips and produced a video : Legend later shared a photo of his wife on Instagram while they were at the restaurant .
The private jet excursion does n't quite match up with Legend 's alarmism about climate change , to say the least .
He recently took to Twitter to express support for teenage climate activists like Greta Thunberg , while joining in on Thunberg 's global climate strike .
The strike 's website calls 2020 a `` critical year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` refuse to participate in a society and economy that is actively destroying our generation 's chance at a livable future . ''
Legend 's support for climate consciousness goes back to at least 2015 , when he characterized climate change as a make-or-break issue in the upcoming presidential election .
Followers quickly pointed out the couple 's insincerity on social media calling the move , `` hypocrisy at its finest . ''
Others added : `` Global warming lifestyle changes are for the peasants ! ''
and `` it does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It only counts for common folk . ''

Grammy-winning singer and climate change alarmist John Legend used a private jet to take his activist wife Chrissy Teigen out for a quick Valentine's Day dinner over the weekend.
The local restaurants must have been completely booked up, as the climate conscious couple elected to hire a private jet to fly them 500 miles from their Beverly Hills home to a French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, California.
There, the two dined on caviar, the Daily Mail reported.
Teigen shared clips of the experience on her Instagram story, which showed her relaxing in the private jet across from her husband on the way to dinner.
The Daily Mail captured the clips and produced a video:
Legend later shared a photo of his wife on Instagram while they were at the restaurant.
The private jet excursion doesn't quite match up with Legend's alarmism about climate change, to say the least.
He recently took to Twitter to express support for teenage climate activists like Greta Thunberg, while joining in on Thunberg's global climate strike.
The strike's website calls 2020 a "critical year for climate action" and asked supporters to "refuse to participate in a society and economy that is actively destroying our generation's chance at a livable future."
Legend's support for climate consciousness goes back to at least 2015, when he characterized climate change as a make-or-break issue in the upcoming presidential election.
Followers quickly pointed out the couple's insincerity on social media calling the move, "hypocrisy at its finest."
Others added: "Global warming lifestyle changes are for the peasants!" and "it doesn't count for them as they are celebrities. It only counts for common folk."


theblaze--2020-02-17--Bloomberg triggers bipartisan backlash for condescending remarks about farmers

Surging Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is facing bipartisan backlash for condescending comments about farming that resurfaced over the weekend .
While speaking at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School in 2016 , Bloomberg was asked if Americans living on the coasts — who are generally more liberal — could be unified with those who live in middle America , who are generally more conservative .
In response , Bloomberg implied that anyone could be a farmer because it requires a low-level of intelligence to be successful .
In response , Bloomberg was condemned by the left and right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter account for Sen. Bernie Sanders ' supporters , said , `` Time and time again we see Bloomberg insulting the middle class and the working class ... '' New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof said , `` Hm .
And farmers in Oregon can teach anyone to be a financier ... '' Donald Trump Jr. said , `` Bloomberg would n't last 3 seconds as a farmer ... but like his comments on minorities , you can tell he really hates regular hardworking Americans . ''
Journalist Selana Zito pointed out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant amount of technology and advanced intelligence to be successful .
`` This 'can teach anyone ' quip is ignorant .
Farmers are electricians plumbers , mechanics , scientists , vets , engineers & H2O/soil conservationists ; they take care of the crops that fill our cupboards & care for the animals who provide dairy & meat for our feasts .
But Ok GreyMatter , '' she said .
Meanwhile , popular Twitter user David Burge simply mocked Bloomberg in response , quipping , `` I guess he 's so short because somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on his campaign , has surged to third place in the Democratic race , according to RealClearPolitics .

Surging Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is facing bipartisan backlash for condescending comments about farming that resurfaced over the weekend.
While speaking at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School in 2016, Bloomberg was asked if Americans living on the coasts — who are generally more liberal — could be unified with those who live in middle America, who are generally more conservative.
In response, Bloomberg implied that anyone could be a farmer because it requires a low-level of intelligence to be successful.
I could teach anybody, even people in this room, no offense intended, to be a farmer.
It's a process. You dig a hole, you put a seed in, you put dirt on top, add water, up comes the corn. You could learn that. Then we had 300 years of the industrial society. You put the piece of metal on the lathe, you turn the crank in the direction of the arrow and you can have a job. And we created a lot of jobs. At one point, 98 percent of the world worked in agriculture; today it's 2 percent in the United States.
Now comes the information economy. And the information economy is fundamentally different because it's built around replacing people with technology and the skill sets that you have to learn are how to think and analyze, and that is a whole degree level different. You have to have a different skill set, you have to have a lot more gray matter.
In response, Bloomberg was condemned by the left and right.
People for Bernie, the official Twitter account for Sen. Bernie Sanders' supporters, said, "Time and time again we see Bloomberg insulting the middle class and the working class..."
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof said, "Hm. And farmers in Oregon can teach anyone to be a financier..."
Donald Trump Jr. said, "Bloomberg wouldn't last 3 seconds as a farmer... but like his comments on minorities, you can tell he really hates regular hardworking Americans."
Journalist Selana Zito pointed out that farming, in fact, requires a significant amount of technology and advanced intelligence to be successful.
"This 'can teach anyone' quip is ignorant. Farmers are electricians plumbers, mechanics, scientists, vets, engineers & H2O/soil conservationists; they take care of the crops that fill our cupboards & care for the animals who provide dairy & meat for our feasts. But Ok GreyMatter," she said.
Meanwhile, popular Twitter user David Burge simply mocked Bloomberg in response, quipping, "I guess he's so short because somebody forgot to water him."
Bloomberg, who has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on his campaign, has surged to third place in the Democratic race, according to RealClearPolitics.


theblaze--2020-02-17--Mountain lion mauls 6-year-old girl. Adult saves the day — by punching the deadly animal in the ribs

Mountain lion mauls 6-year-old girl. Adult saves the day — by punching the deadly animal in the ribs.

Mountain lion mauls 6-year-old girl .
Adult saves the day — by punching the deadly animal in the ribs .

A 6-year-old girl is still alive today likely thanks to an adult who stopped a 160-pound mountain lion from carrying out an attack on the child.
What are the details?
According to ABC News, the incident took place at the Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve in Cupertino, California, on Sunday morning.
The young girl, who was walking through the park with her parents and a group of other adults and children, encountered the mountain lion on a trail. The lion began mauling the child, but one of the adults intervened and began punching the lion in its ribs and stopped the attack.
Brad Pennington, Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District ranger, said that the large cat emerged from the bushes when it "grabbed a hold of the girl."
The child came away from the attack with just minor injuries, Pennington said.
"A couple puncture wounds to her calf," he said. "She was also treated for minor first aid and then her parents took her to the hospital."
The outlet reports that the unnamed child is expected to make a full recovery.
The nature preserve has been closed until further notice while officials seek out the mountain lion in question.
What else?
Cpt. Todd Tognazzini with the Department of Fish and Wildlife said that the department is planning to capture the cat.
"We will immobilize the cat and put it in a large trap," Tognazzini said, adding, that they would "take DNA samples from it so we can make sure we have the correct cat. I know that we wouldn't leave the cat here."
According to KNTV-TV, the rescuer was a friend of the child's father. Local authorities ask the public to avoid the area in order to let officials work safely and without distraction or intervention.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed at least 17 mountain lion attacks on humans since 1986.


theblaze--2020-02-18--'We know your agenda!' — Lindsey Graham blasts Democrats calling for Barr to resign

'We know your agenda ! '
— Lindsey Graham blasts Democrats calling for Barr to resign '' You 're not @ @ @ @ @ of law ... ''

Sen. Lindsey Graham (D-S.C.) denounced Democrats who called for the resignation of Attorney General William Barr after a controversy over the Department of Justice recommendation of punishment against one of the president's friends.
Graham was speaking to Sean Hannity on his Fox News show Monday when he made the comments.
"The thousand people who want Barr to resign are doing a political hit job on him," Graham said.
He went on to explain that the sentencing request from prosecutors against Roger Stone, a longtime friend of President Donald Trump, was excessive.
The DOJ called for the sentencing to be reduced after the president tweeted that it was unjust. Four prosecutors on the case stepped down in protest against the change in the sentencing suggestion.
Critics of the president called for the resignation of Barr because they claimed he was acting according to the whim of the president, something that he denies.
"Bill Barr stepped in and stopped what I thought was an unjust sentence enhancement, and to the people who want Barr to resign, we know your agenda!" Graham said later in the interview.
"You're not trying to uphold the rule of law, you're trying to take a good man down because you hate Trump," he concluded.
Former congressman Trey Gowdy agreed with that assessment when he called the demand for Barr to resign, "the dumbest damn thing I have ever heard!"
Here are the comments from Graham:


theblaze--2020-02-18--'You'll love chapter 14': John Bolton hypes upcoming book while accusing White House of 'censorship'

The former national security advisor made his first public appearance since the impeachment trial

Former national security adviser John Bolton made his first public appearance since the impeachment trial of his former boss, President Donald Trump, on Monday, but he did not disclose many details during his speaking engagement at Duke University.
Instead, Bolton hyped the contents of his book, insisting to the audience, "You'll love chapter 14," and said he hopes his memoir is not "suppressed" under the Trump administration's "censorship."
What are the details?
Bolton's book, titled, "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir," is still undergoing analysis by the Trump administration, after the former national security adviser submitted the manuscript for a standard prepublication review.
Last month, the National Security Council notified an attorney for Bolton that an initial review found the manuscript "appears to contain significant amounts of classified information" that must be removed prior to publishing or any other kind of disclosure.
"I hope it's not suppressed," Bolton said of his book to the crowd in Durham, North Carolina, on Monday, according to Bloomberg News. "This is an effort to write history, and I did it the best I can. We'll have to see what comes out of the censorship."
Details from the unpublished draft of Bolton's book were already reported by the New York Times, where the outlet claimed President Trump told Bolton "in August that [the president] wanted to continue freezing $392 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including [Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden]."
The New York Times report led Democrats to call for Bolton's testimony during the impeachment trial of President Trump in the Senate, as the president's conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prompted House Democrats to launch the probe against President Trump in the first place.
When asked on Monday whether Bolton considered President Trump's call with Zelensky to be "perfect," Bolton simply replied, "You'll love chapter 14."
Anything else?
The Department of Justice has disputed assertions made by Bolton in his book, and President Trump blasted the memoir as "nasty and untrue."


theblaze--2020-02-18--Judge rules against Christian professor who sued college over transgender pronouns

Judge rules against Christian professor who sued college over transgender pronouns The professor said the college was forcing him to @ @ @ @

An Ohio professor lost his lawsuit alleging that a college was infringing on his right to free expression of religion after the administration rebuked him for not using a transgender student's preferred pronouns.
Nicholas Meriwether said that using the transgender pronouns was against his Christian faith and the demand from the college was violating his rights. He has taught religion and philosophy at the school since 1996.
Shawnee State University responded that using the student's preferred pronouns was a reasonable request of Meriwether's employment as a professor and not in violation of his civil rights.
On Wednesday, a judge ruled against Meriwether and dismissed his lawsuit.
The transgender student was born a male but preferred being referred to as a female. Meriwether refused and referred to the student with male pronouns.
Asaf Orr, an attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights praised the ruling, saying that transgender students would have greater access to "educational opportunities available to all students without fear of discrimination."
"Since this lawsuit began, transgender students have been worried that they would have to start skipping classes or avoid particular professors because Shawnee State would no longer be able to effectively address bullying, harassment, and mistreatment of transgender students," said Jae Keniston, president of SAGA.
Meriwether's attorney, Travis Barham of the Alliance Defending Freedom, said they are considering taking further steps to defend his client's rights.
"This is wrong," Barham said. "Public universities have no business compelling people to express ideological beliefs that they don't hold."
Here's an interview with Meriwether:


theblaze--2020-02-18--Driver Ryan Newman in serious condition after terrifying wreck at Daytona 500

Driver Ryan Newman in serious condition after terrifying wreck at Daytona 500 Prayers for Newman and his family

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman was rushed to a local hospital after he was involved in a fiery crash in the final lap of the Daytona 500 on Monday night, prompting prayers across the sports world as observers awaited updates on his "serious" condition.
What are the details?
The Daily Mail reported that Newman was leading the race "when his car was nudged up against a wall and flipped over" before "it was struck by a trailing vehicle and flipped again."
Newman was cut from the wreckage by medics, and WFTV-TV's Joe Kepner reported that crews on site used "black screens to keep fans from seeing."
Driver Denny Hamlin ended up winning the race, but told ESPN afterward, "The finish, the history, that's all great. One day it will all sink in. But right now all I'm thinking about is Ryan Newman."
After more than an hour, NASCAR released a statement saying, "Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect the privacy of Ryan and his family during this time. We appreciate your patience and cooperation and we will provide more information as it becomes available."
President Donald Trump also sent his good wishes for Newman, tweeting out, "Praying for Ryan Newman, a great and brave @NASCAR driver! #PrayingForRyan."
The race concluded on Monday after a rain delay on Sunday caused the finish to be postponed. At the start of the race on Sunday, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump made a grand entrance and kicked off the event with a lap around the speedway in the presidential limousine.
President Trump told the crowd, "NASCAR fans never forget that no matter who wins the race, what matters most is God, family, and country."


theblaze--2020-02-18--President Trump castigates Obama's 'latest con job' over the economy

Who deserves more credit for the economy ?

President Donald Trump lashed out at former President Barack Obama after Obama took credit for the economy in a tweet sent on Presidents' Day.
Obama used the holiday to send a tweet in praise of his own efforts to help the economy on the eleventh anniversary of his signing of the economic Recovery Act.
"Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history," he tweeted.
Trump responded with his own tweets, calling the claims from Obama his "latest con job."
"Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place under the Trump Administration. He had the WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression, despite Zero Fed Rate & MASSIVE quantitative easing," he tweeted.
"NOW, best jobs numbers ever. Had to rebuild our military, which was totally depleted," he said in a second tweet. "Fed Rate UP, taxes and regulations WAY DOWN. If Dems won in 2016, the USA would be in big economic (Depression?) & military trouble right now. THE BEST IS YET TO COME. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!"
The online feud led to a debate about who can take credit for the economy, with defenders of Obama saying the Trump economy depended on Obama's prior success. Trump supporters noted that wages had increased under the latter in a way they did not under the former president.
"We could play fast and loose on the numbers from either side," noted Neil Cavuto on Fox News, adding that perhaps "both men can take a bow" for the economy in the last decade.
Others noted that Obama's claims undermined the Democratic election campaign strategy trying to paint the economy under Trump as struggling from his fiscal policies.
Here's more about Obama's economy claims:


theblaze--2020-02-18--Book of crude, sexist remarks allegedly made by Michael Bloomberg resurfaces amid presidential bid

In 1990 Michael Bloomberg 's employees created a short book full of crude , sexist , and shocking quotes he allegedly said at work , including one story that has him telling a female employee to `` kill it '' after she announced she was pregnant .
Sadly , that story has him fitting right in with the Democratic party in 2020 .
The booklet , titled , 'Wit & Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg , ' has resurfaced to haunt the Democratic presidential candidate after `` The Washington Post '' published the full text on Saturday .
On the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pat Gray and Stu Burguiere ( filling in for Glenn ) shared some of the less colorful ( many were too lewd to be repeated on radio , ) but no less disgusting quotes .
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Use code GLENN to save $ 10 on @ @ @ @ @

In 1990 Michael Bloomberg's employees created a short book full of crude, sexist, and shocking quotes he allegedly said at work, including one story that has him telling a female employee to "kill it" after she announced she was pregnant. Sadly, that story has him fitting right in with the Democratic party in 2020.
The booklet, titled, "Wit & Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg," has resurfaced to haunt the Democratic presidential candidate after "The Washington Post" published the full text on Saturday.
On the "Glenn Beck Radio Program" Monday, Pat Gray and Stu Burguiere (filling in for Glenn) shared some of the less colorful (many were too lewd to be repeated on radio) but no less disgusting quotes.
Watch the video below:
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To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream. Use code GLENN to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.


theblaze--2020-02-18--Plymouth Rock vandalized with red spray paint ahead of 400th anniversary celebration

Police are investigating after a number of landmarks were defaced

Police are investigating after numerous landmarks in Plymouth, Massachusetts, were vandalized with spray paint overnight, including Plymouth Rock, the boulder etched with the year 1620 to recognize the arrival of the Pilgrims on American land.
The monuments were defaced as the town prepares to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower.
What are the details?
WBZ-TV reported that in addition to Plymouth Rock, vandals "targeted a seashell-shaped sign celebrating the upcoming 400th anniversary, the Pilgrim Maiden statue and the National Monument to the Forefathers."
Melissa Arrighi, Plymouth town manager, tweeted pictures of the damage with the message, "We are saddened and sickened by the recent vandalism in our historic town. This is just one of our historic monuments that was hit. We will begin clean up as soon as possible and the police are investigating."
The Boston Globe reported that the anniversary celebrations are scheduled to begin in April.
Plymouth native Jake Mowles, who owns East Coast Powerwashing, volunteered to restore the defaced landmarks, saying, "The town spent a lot of money beautifying the area for the anniversary. So we decided to volunteer our time to clean it up. I own the company so it won't cost much out of pocket, and we love our town."
The town wasted no time in removing the graffiti. By Monday afternoon, Arrighi posted updated pictures on Twitter with the message, "I am pleased to report that cleanup efforts on the vandalism have been remarkable. Thank you so much to the Public Works crews, superintendent Nick Faiella, assistant DPW director Denny Wood, and volunteer Jake Mowles."
Lea Filson, executive director of See Plymouth tourism organization, issued a statement on the vandalism, saying, "Seeing this type of disrespect for the historic reminders of the Mayflower story is both sad and unsettling. The outpouring of concern and anger over the incident has been a positive ending to a thoughtless gesture."


theblaze--2020-02-18--Peter Schweizer: Here's how Bernie Sanders turned 'public service' into a personal money-making rack

Peter Schweizer: Here's how Bernie Sanders turned 'public service' into a personal money-making racket

Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) may say he's all about advocating for the common good, but during his more than 30 years in "public service," the socialist senator has been more adept at promoting his own bottom line.
Investigative journalist and best-selling author Peter Schweizer joined Glenn Beck in the studio Friday to discuss his new book, "Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America's Political Elite," and to break down how Sanders has become the very model of the corrupt socialist leader who becomes wealthy at the expense of the citizens he is elected to serve.
"It's a major problem for Bernie Sanders," Schweizer said. "He's turned socialism into a profession that has generated a lot of money to his family."
"Isn't that what happens?" Glenn asked. "I mean, everybody in charge of a socialist country, they walk away with billions, in some cases, and the people are left starving."
"That's exactly right," agreed Schweizer.
"It is a racket for Bernie Sanders. And the sort of austere image that he presents — kind of the John the Baptist of the progressive movement — is simply not true."
Watch the video below for more details:
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theblaze--2020-02-18--Kentucky forbid man's license plate about God for being vulgar — so he sued and now the taxpayer has

Kentucky forbid man's license plate about God for being vulgar — so he sued and now the taxpayer has to pay up

Kentucky forbid man 's license plate about God for being vulgar — so he sued and now the taxpayer has @ @ @ @ @ that the state was infringing on his rights .

A man fought the state for the right to call himself "God" on his license plate, and he won in court.
Bennie Hart says he's a constitutional activist and that he was standing up against the government to protect his rights.
"I tell people, 'Stand up.' The government will run all over you if you let them. You know if you roll over and play dead, they'll roll over you," said Hart.
The right he defended was his ability to declare "I'm God" on his license plate.
"I've been an atheist since I was 15," said Hart. "I can prove I'm God. You can't prove that I'm not. I've got a $100 bill I've carried for 20 years for the first person that can prove I'm not God, and I still got it."
Hart had the theologically questionable message on his license plate for 12 years before he moved to Northern Kentucky and had it rejected by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
The governing agency said that the message was contrary to its rule against "vulgar or obscene" phrases.
Hart sued the state with the support of the ACLU and the Freedom from Religion Foundation. A federal judge agreed with Hart, and now the commonwealth of Kentucky is on the hook for $150,000 of his legal fees.
"I think the Constitution is the most sacred thing that's ever been written. It guarantees your right to religion, speech, your right to assemble," said Hart.
"It's just a beautiful document," he concluded.
Here's more about the lawsuit:


theblaze--2020-02-18--Report: America's most progressive cities — like San Francisco and Seattle — have the largest racial

Report: America's most progressive cities — like San Francisco and Seattle — have the largest racial gaps in student achievement

Report : America 's most progressive cities — like San Francisco and Seattle — have the largest racial gaps in @ @ @ @ @ failing to prepare students for their future '

A new study has found that America's most progressive cities — like San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. — have the largest racial gaps in student achievement and graduation rates, while some of America's most conservative cities are leading the way in racial educational equity.
The study, "The Secret Shame: How America's Most Progressive Cities Betray Their Commitment to Educational Opportunity for All," was conducted by Brightbeam, a nonprofit network of education activists. It set out to analyze the conundrum experienced in many of America's cities; which is that despite economic prosperity, the problem gaps in educational outcomes come along racial lines.
What researchers found was that "students in America's most progressive cities face greater racial inequity in achievement and graduation rates than students living in the nation's most conservative cities." The study even says that they "tried to explain [the findings] away, but [they] couldn't."
Here are some findings highlighted in the study that came as a shock to researchers:
Progressive cities, on average, have achievement gaps in math and reading that are 15 and 13 percentage points higher than in conservative cities, respectively.
In San Francisco, for example, 70% of white students are proficient in math, compared to only 12% of black students reaching proficiency — a 58-point gap.
In Washington, D.C., 83% of white students scored proficient in reading compared to 23 percent of black students — a 60-point gap.
In contrast, three of the 12 most conservative cities — Virginia Beach, Anaheim and Fort Worth — have effectively closed or even erased the gap in at least one of the academic categories we examined.
In order to come to these data points, researchers relied on criteria developed independently by political scientists to rank America's biggest cities in terms of conservatism. Then they selected the 12 most progressive and the 12 most conservative cities from the list, and analyzed each city's publicly available achievement and graduation data.
Speaking with NBC News, Brightbeam CEO Chris Stewart said the results are hard to believe.
"In the cities that have the most resources, and frankly the most places where the kids really need help, we have done outstandingly bad. Not just bad results, but results that defy the imagination of what you'd expect for a place like San Francisco, where they have so many resources it boggles the mind," Stewart said.
"Places like San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis — which boast a very strong economy and very strong levels of education for white kids — are doing so poorly for kids at the bottom of the well," he added.
"D.C. shocked me," he said, noting that the U.S. capital has a 62-point gap between black and white students in math proficiency rates, the highest disparity among the cities analyzed.
"It was the most shocking of all. l always considered D.C. a good black city with strong black political power. But it's changed. The gaps between education, wealth, home ownership ... are outstanding."
San Francisco (58 points difference), Minneapolis (53) and Oakland, California (51) round out the top four progressive cities with the largest gaps, NBC News noted, and the achievement disparity between Latino and white students was not much better.


theblaze--2020-02-18--Former MLB player excluded from World Series team reunion — allegedly over support of Trump

The San Francisco Giants have declined to invite former player Aubrey Huff to a planned reunion of the 2010 World Series championship squad over Huff's past social media posts, a move Huff believes is politically motivated.
The official statement from the team about the decision did not refer to political views.
"Earlier this month, we reached out to Aubrey Huff to let him know that he will not be included in the upcoming 2010 World Series Championship reunion. Aubrey has made multiple comments on social media that are unacceptable and run counter to the values of our organization," the Giants said in a statement, according to ESPN. "While we appreciate the many contributions that Aubrey made to the 2010 championship season, we stand by our decision."
However, Huff said that in a call with team CEO Larry Baer several weeks ago, Huff's support for President Donald Trump was cited as a factor.
"[Baer] took me by surprise when he told me I was unanimously voted against attending the 2010 Giants World Series Championship reunion," Huff wrote in a statement Tuesday. "When I asked why I wasn't invited he told [me] that the board didn't approve of my Twitter posts, and my political support of Donald Trump."
ESPN's report cited a post by Huff in which he said he was teaching his children how to shoot in case Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was elected president, and a since-deleted tweet Huff authored about bringing Iranian women to the U.S. to "fan us and feed us grapes."
Huff, 43, said his social media humor is not to be taken seriously and that his teammates appreciated it when they won the World Series. He also said despite the San Francisco location, not all Giants fans are liberal.
"Quite frankly, shocked. Disappointed," Huff said of the decision, according to the Athletic. "If it wasn't for me, they wouldn't be having a reunion. But if they want to stick with their politically correct, progressive bulls**t, that's fine."
The reunion is scheduled for Aug. 16.
Huff, who played first base and outfield, played in 157 games, hitting .290 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs in 2010. He retired after the 2012 season, spending the final three seasons of his 13-year career with the Giants.


theblaze--2020-02-18--Elizabeth Warren slams Michael Bloomberg as an ‘egomaniac billionaire’ ahead of Democratic debate

Elizabeth Warren slams Michael Bloomberg as an ‘ egomaniac billionaire ’ ahead of Democratic debate

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) unleashed a scathing attack on fellow candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ahead of Wednesday's Democratic debate, calling him an "egomaniac" who bought his way into the event.
Responding to Tuesday's news that the former mayor had made his first Democratic debate since announcing his candidacy in November, Warren tweeted, "It's a shame Mike Bloomberg can buy his way into the debate. But at least now primary voters curious about how each candidate will take on Donald Trump can get a live demonstration of how we each take on an egomaniac billionaire."
Bloomberg qualified for the event thanks to the findings of an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll that was released early Tuesday morning that places his support at 19 percentage points nationally. In order to make Wednesday night's debate in Las Vegas, candidates either had to garner one convention delegate from either the Iowa caucuses or New Hampshire primary or clear 10% support in four recognized polls or 12% support in two recognized single-state polls in South Carolina or Nevada. Tuesday's poll was Bloomberg's fourth with over 10%.
In qualifying, Bloomberg also benefits from a rule change for the debates that the Democratic National Committee announced last month, in which the committee eliminated the individual donor requirements that kept other candidates from meeting the threshold for previous debates. The decision drew criticism because it appeared to specifically benefit the former mayor, who has been self-funding his own bid and not taking outside campaign donations.
Warren's harsh criticism is likely a preview of the kind of treatment that Bloomberg can expect on Wednesday night's debate stage. Alongside his recent rise in the polls, the New York billionaire has also been facing a great deal of controversy over some of his pastremarks as well as increasedattacks from his Democratic 2020 rivals.
Bloomberg's RealClear polling average currently places him at third place nationally in the 2020 Democratic primary with 14.6 percentage points; he's behind Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Vice President Joe Biden who have 24.8 points and 17.8 points, respectively. Warren's average is at fourth place with 12.6 points.


theblaze--2020-02-18--Bernie Sanders tries to make sense of his Medicare for All plan

Poor Bernie Sanders. His campaign is now pushing a propaganda video designed to convince voters to believe a simple tax hike on the wealthy, reduction in paperwork, and reduced costs for drugs will somehow be enough to pay for the dream that socialists call Medicare for All.
Makes sense, right?
Wrong. It makes as much sense as a grown man voluntarily crushing his manhood wearing skinny jeans.
Here's Steven Crowder to break down the facts.
youtu.be
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theblaze--2020-02-18--Climate extremists Extinction Rebellion descend to ironic new low — digging up lawn at UK college ov

Climate extremists Extinction Rebellion descend to ironic new low — digging up lawn at UK college over 'destruction of nature' @ @ @ @ @ an apple tree on Trinity 's front lawn

Climate extremists Extinction Rebellion — not content with halting working peoples' commutes and getting their tails yanked from the top of train cars or dressing up like broccoli in front of Piers Morgan or being told by a judge to get a job to pay a fine for vandalizing a World War II memorial — just can't seem to help themselves.
For their umpteenth encore, the left-wing activists decided to spend part of their day recently digging up a lawn outside Trinity College over its role in a major development in the Suffolk countryside in the United Kingdom, BBC News reported.
Their reason was more than a bit ironic: Extinction Rebellion, you see, was fighting back against "destruction of nature," the outlet said.
Here's a clip of the lads and lasses hard at work:
youtu.be
Ere's mud in yer eye, luv
While the outlet said a Cambridgeshire police spokeswoman indicated officers were working with the college and that "a crime has been recorded for criminal damage," Extinction Rebellion seemed unfazed.
Which is to say the activists transported excavated mud to a local Barclays Bank branch, BBC News said — and made a deposit, of sorts.
Indeed a Barclays Bank spokeswoman confirmed the activists spread wheelbarrows full of mud across the banking hall of its St. Andrew's Street branch, BBC News said.
Keeping a stiff upper lip, the staff made sure customers stayed safe while keeping the bank open for business, the outlet said.
But wait, there's more!
The BBC added that Extinction Rebellion activists also chained themselves to an apple tree on Trinity's front lawn and insisted they "were careful to ensure that the digging took place a safe distance from the tree so as not to cause any damage to it."
Not that it matters, but the activists claimed on Twitter that the college invested more money in oil and gas companies than any other Oxbridge college, the outlet said.
"The idea that a rich institution like Trinity College, which tells the world it is serious about tackling this crisis, is looking for profit from environmental destruction is quite simply astonishing," Derek Langley of Extinction Rebellion Cambridge told BBC News.
Local businessman Tim Norman told the outlet the stunt was "counterproductive vandalism."
What did Trinity have to say?
A Trinity spokeswoman told BBC News that the school "respects the right to freedom of speech and non-violent protest but draws the line at criminal damage and asked the protesters to leave."
What about the bank?
After the mud-spreading incident, a Barclays spokeswoman was nothing if not cordial, telling the outlet "we recognize that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and are determined to do all we can to support the transition to a low-carbon economy, while also ensuring that global energy needs continue to be met."
Anything else?
Extinction Rebellion members presumably have been raising their bodies earlier from their mothers' basement couches this week, as the group members teamed up with Antifa to make life difficult for Londoners:


theblaze--2020-02-18--ABC hosts gush over Dwyane Wade’s 12-year-old trans child: ‘She seems wise beyond her 12 years!’

ABC hosts gush over Dwyane Wade ’ s 12-year-old trans child : ‘ She seems wise beyond her 12 years @ @

"Good Morning America" co-anchors George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts gushed over former NBA player Dwayne Wade's 12-year-old transgender daughter.
Wade, 38, and his wife, 47-year-old actress Gabrielle Union, made the decision to allow their pre-teen biological son to transition into a female.
What are the details?
During a clip of the interview featuring Wade and his family, Stephanopoulos lauded the former basketball star's parenting skills.
"NBA legend Dwayne Wade here live talking about his daughter Zaya's courage coming out as transgender, and his new documentary," Stephanopoulos said.
According to Newsbusters, the athlete told Roberts that the child was "leader" of the family who "educated" the rest of their family on what it meant to be a transgender child.
"You said that she helped you and the family have a better understanding and helped you with this," Roberts said to Wade in the clip. "How was she able to do that?"
Wade responded, "Well, she's our leader. ... It was a process for us to sit down with our daughter and find out who she is and what she likes and not put something on her, because, as parents, we put our hopes and we put our fears on our kids."
Wade revealed that his daughter knew she was transgender from the tender young age of 3.
Roberts later added, "Wade says he and his wife actress Gabrielle Union didn't have all the answers when Zaya first approached them and became educating themselves to support their daughter. ... She seems wise beyond her 12 years!"
What else?
Wade also said he knew that his daughter was different "early on," and said that he had to educate himself and remain open-minded in order to be a successful parent of a transgender child.
"I knew early on that I had to check myself," he admitted. "That's what I knew. I knew early on that I had to ask myself questions. ... I've been a person in a locker room that has been a part of the conversation that has said the wrong phrases and the wrong words myself.
"As I got older and I watched my daughter grow, I had to go and look at myself in the mirror and say, 'Who are you? What are you going to do if your child comes home and says, 'Dad, I'm not a boy — I'm a trans girl.' What are you going to do?"
Wade is also father to 18-year-old son Zaire, 6-year-old son Xavier, and 1-year-old daughter Kaavia. Wade's ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches is Zaya's mother.


theblaze--2020-02-18--Apple, other major US companies starting to feel the effect of coronavirus spread in China

Apple , other major US companies starting to feel the effect of coronavirus spread in China Consumers may feel it @ @ @

As coronavirus continues to spread and disrupt daily life and business in China, American companies that rely heavily on China for production are starting to feel the impact, Axios reported.
Perhaps most notably, Apple reported Monday that it would not meet quarterly revenue expectations because coronavirus has limited both production of its products, and the demand for those products in China.
In a statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook detailed the factors leading to the revenue dip:
The first is that worldwide iPhone supply will be temporarily constrained. While our iPhone manufacturing partner sites are located outside the Hubei province — and while all of these facilities have reopened — they are ramping up more slowly than we had anticipated. The health and well-being of every person who helps make these products possible is our paramount priority, and we are working in close consultation with our suppliers and public health experts as this ramp continues. These iPhone supply shortages will temporarily affect revenues worldwide.
The second is that demand for our products within China has been affected. All of our stores in China and many of our partner stores have been closed. Additionally, stores that are open have been operating at reduced hours and with very low customer traffic. We are gradually reopening our retail stores and will continue to do so as steadily and safely as we can. Our corporate offices and contact centers in China are open, and our online stores have remained open throughout.
Apple isn't the only company starting to feel the worldwide effect of coronavirus. MarketWatch reported that, of 364 earnings calls that occurred between Jan. 1 and Feb. 13, 38% of them mentioned coronavirus although many of them were yet unwilling to issue negative guidance based on the outbreak.
The Chinese market accounts for about 10% of Coca-Cola's global volume, and CEO James Quincey is concerned about how this blow to China's large and influential economy will impact his and other businesses.
"China's economy was in a different place when SARS happened," Quincey said. "It's worth noting that China's economy is [now] much bigger, and this could become more connected to the rest of the world."
China is responsible for about two-thirds of global sourcing for Hasbro, and uncertainty about the speed with which factories will be able to reopen and resume production presents significant issues for the company's outlook.
Roughly half of Nike stores in China are closed, and those that are open aren't getting the usual amount of traffic. Ralph Lauren Corp. could take a hit of at least $70 million, as two-thirds of its Chinese stores have been closed for a week.
Still, the U.S. markets have not shown a downturn despite these issues, although some economists warn that could change abruptly if business doesn't pick back up in China soon.
"This will eventually end badly," Guggenheim Investments global CIO Scott Minerd said, according to Axios. "I have never in my career seen anything as crazy as what's going on right now. The cognitive dissonance in the credit market is stunning."