theblaze--2020-03-06--Bombshell NYT report: Soviets targeted Bernie Sanders to help spread communist propaganda; Kremlin s

Bombshell NYT report: Soviets targeted Bernie Sanders to help spread communist propaganda; Kremlin saw him as ally

Bombshell NYT report : Soviets targeted Bernie Sanders to help spread communist propaganda ; Kremlin saw him as ally

It is no secret that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) admired the Soviet Union for decades, but a bombshell report by the New York Times shows that the "Evil Empire," as dubbed by President Ronald Reagan, saw him as an ideological ally and mouthpiece for their propaganda.
Reporters with the Times tracked down a Soviet archive containing previously unseen documents from the 1980s while Sanders — as mayor of Burlington, Vermont — worked to establish a sister city relationship with Yaroslavl, Russia. According to the report, the Soviets utilized sister city partnerships as propaganda opportunities and "sought to leverage Sanders' interest in their country to their advantage."
Identifies as an ideological ally
The documents were located in the Yaroslavskaya Region State Archive in Yaroslavl in a file titled "documents about the development of friendly relations of the city of Yaroslavl with the city of Burlington in 1988."
While the documents do not seem to indicate that Sanders knowingly contributed to the dissemination of Soviet propaganda, they do confirm that the Kremlin saw him as an ally.
"Nothing in the documents suggests that Mr. Sanders was the only local American official targeted for propaganda, or even that he was particularly receptive to it, though they do describe him as a socialist," reporter Anton Troianovski wrote.
'Very strange honeymoon'
The documents reviewed by the Times also show that Sanders aggressively courted the Soviets to establish a sister-city relationship with Burlington. During a May 1988 trip to the city of Yaroslavl with his wife and an American delegation (which Sanders subsequently described as a "very strange honeymoon"), the Soviets provided Sanders with a detailed itinerary that "was planned minute-by-minute" and included "tours of schools and theaters and virtually no breaks during the day."
However, the trip itself was not sufficient to establish the sister-city relationship he sought with the Soviet Union, as the partnership had to be approved by high-ranking Soviet officials in Moscow and Burlington also had to host a reciprocal trip for a Soviet delegation.
The Times report suggests that in order to carry favor with the Kremlin, upon returning to the United States, Sanders spoke glowingly about his experience in the USSR and "ratcheted up his lobbying effort in private."
"People there seemed reasonably happy and content," Sanders told American reporters about Yaroslavl at the time. "I didn't notice much deprivation."
Driven by opposition to nuclear weapons
According to multiple people interviewed by the Times, Sanders' interests in building relationships with the Soviet Union appear to have been largely driven by his strong opposition to a potential nuclear escalation with the Soviets.
When local residents and city council members grew frustrated with his focus on foreign policy as the mayor of a small city, Sanders quipped, "We cannot have a good police, fire or planning department if there is a nuclear war," according to official minutes of a city meeting. "The enormous spending on the military by both countries strangles their local economies."
In a statement to the Times, the Sanders campaign said it was "proud" of his efforts to build relationships with the Soviets. "Mayor Sanders was proud to join dozens of American cities in seeking to end the Cold War through a Sister Cities program that was encouraged by President Reagan himself," a campaign spokesman said in a statement.
"The exchange between Burlington and Yaroslavl, which continues to this day, confirmed Sanders's long held view: by meeting face to face, we can break down the barriers and stereotypes that exist between people and their governments."


theblaze--2020-03-06--VIDEO: MSNBC makes an embarrassing math error during segment about Mike Bloomberg's political spendi

VIDEO: MSNBC makes an embarrassing math error during segment about Mike Bloomberg's political spending

VIDEO : MSNBC makes an embarrassing math error during segment about Mike Bloomberg 's political spending It 's been a @ @ @ @ @ us

During a segment on "The 11th Hour," MSNBC host Brian Williams and New York Times editorial board member Mara Gay made a bit of a math oversight when discussing the impact of former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's money in the Democratic presidential primary.
Bloomberg has dropped out of the race, endorsed Joe Biden, and is starting an organization to support whoever the Democratic nominee is against President Donald Trump. To drive home just how much money Bloomberg has already poured into the primary for himself, Gay and Williams referenced a tweet.
"Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads," the tweet from Mekita Rivas reads. "The U.S. population is 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million and still have money left over. I feel like a $1 million check would be life-changing for most people. Yet he wasted it all on ads and STILL LOST."
There is some truth in that tweet. The U.S. population is around 327 million. For most Americans, a $1 million check would be life-changing. And Bloomberg did waste hundreds of millions of dollars on ads for a failure of a campaign.
The math is just a little bit off, however. Bloomberg is super rich, but his outrageous ad spending could only have given each American about $1.53. Not exactly life changing, for most.
But not only did the tweet's author not catch the math error, neither did Williams, Gay, or any number of producers or network staffers who saw the tweet and made the graphic before putting it on air. Both Williams and Gay marveled at the inaccurate illustration of Bloomberg's spending.
"It's an incredible way of putting it," Williams said.
"It's an incredible way of putting it," Gay agreed. "It's true. It's disturbing."
Gay later acknowledged the mistake on Twitter.
"Buying a calculator, brb," she wrote.
MSNBC issued a correction later in the show and removed it from later editions of the program.


theblaze--2020-03-06--Thousands of New Yorkers have been quarantined due to coronavirus concerns. Some could face fines, p

Thousands of New Yorkers have been quarantined due to coronavirus concerns. Some could face fines, prosecution if they leave home.

Thousands of New Yorkers have been quarantined due to coronavirus concerns .
Some could face fines , prosecution if they @ @ @ @ @ going to get more and more mandatory as needed '

Thousands of New York City residents have been quarantined over concerns that they may have been infected with the strain of coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19, as city officials dial up their response to the outbreak.
According to a Thursday update from Mayor Bill de Blasio's office, the city's department of health was monitoring 2,773 people in "home isolation" as of that morning, and some of those under observation could face fines and even jail time if they leave their homes, according to the New York Post.
Some of those under observation are voluntarily quarantined, while others are under mandatory quarantine orders. When it comes to enforcing mandatory quarantines, New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot explained at a Thursday news conference alongside de Blasio, "the powers that we have could include the police powers that we have; no one wants it to come to that."
So far, however, the commissioner also explained that "there hasn't been anyone on mandatory quarantine that has tried to, the term of art is 'elope,'" and added "as the Department of Health, we have taken every measure possible to make it as easy as possible for these individuals to remain in quarantine," which includes communicating with them on a daily basis.
Compliance for those mandatory quarantines are enforced by "disease detectives" performing spot checks on patients a couple of times per week, Deputy Health Commissioner Demetre Daskalakis explained at the news conference.
"And so we really are in effect case managing them from a distance and then also spot checking them to make sure that they're compliant," Daskalakis said.
According to the Post, some of the thousands of people being monitored for the virus could face fines or jail time if they leave their homes. While there is no penalty for breaking a voluntary quarantine, the newspaper explains, violating a mandatory quarantine could come with fines ranging from $200 and $2,000 per day in the city. In addition, a mandatory quarantine violation that puts public health in immediate danger could result in arrest and prosecution for a misdemeanor.
When asked how many of the current quarantines mandatory, rather than voluntary, Barbot listed a couple who recently returned from virus-hit Iran, as well as "a number that changes on a daily basis in terms of returning passengers from the five affected countries, China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, and now Japan."
A woman who returned from Iran with her husband last week marked the city's first case of COVID-19 after the wife tested positive for it, officials announced Sunday. City health officials confirmed the city's first case of community spread Tuesday after a attorney who commutes to Manhattan for work contracted the virus. De Blasio also cautioned that as the virus outbreak progresses, more stringent quarantine measures will likely be necessary.
"I think a good way to think of this is we are climbing a ladder right now," De Blasio said when asked by a reporter about the consequences of people not following the rules when instructed to quarantine. While "we do see very good results on a voluntary level and we do see overall dynamics in the city," with the prospect of more virus cases "we're going to get more and more mandatory as needed."
The news comes as the virus continues to spread through the United States and the rest of the world. On Thursday, Maryland became the latest state to announce confirmed cases of the disease. As of Friday morning, numbers from Johns Hopkins University said there were over 100,000 global cases of the disease and that there had been over 3,400 deaths.


theblaze--2020-03-06--Report: Suicide bombers set off explosion near US Embassy in Tunisia, killing one police officer, wo

Report: Suicide bombers set off explosion near US Embassy in Tunisia, killing one police officer, wounding others

Report : Suicide bombers set off explosion near US Embassy in Tunisia , killing one police officer , wounding others @ @ @ @ @ yet

Two suicide bombers set off an explosion near the United States Embassy in the capital city of Tunisia Friday, killing one police officer and wounding several more.
The bombers reportedly drove up to the embassy building on a motorcycle at around 11 a.m. local time. They approached the police patrol near the embassy as if to ask questions before they detonated the bomb.
The two bombers were killed in the explosion along with one police officer. Five more have been wounded, including four officers and one civilian, officials confirmed shortly after the attack.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed the attack in Tunis on Twitter and said that emergency personnel are responding to the incident.
A local photographer posted pictures of the attack's aftermath on Twitter, showing the police patrol vehicle destroyed and debris cluttering the street. But the accuracy of the images cannot be confirmed.
Tunisia was the birthplace of the Arab Spiring uprisings in 2011 and in recent years has been the target of numerous Islamic extremist attacks.
But the New York Times is calling the suicide bombing on Friday the most serious attack to hit the country in recent months.


theblaze--2020-03-06--Director of taxpayer-funded museum: 'I hope every single one of you pieces of s**t that votes Republ

Director of taxpayer-funded museum: 'I hope every single one of you pieces of s**t that votes Republican dies today'

Director of taxpayer-funded museum : ' I hope every single one of you pieces of s**t that votes Republican dies @ @

The director of a Texas museum partially funded by taxpayer dollars appears to be in hot water over a message she posted to Facebook on Super Tuesday, KTXS-TV reported.
"I hope every single one of you pieces of s**t that votes Republican dies today," Melonnie Hicks, executive director of the Pioneer City County Museum in Sweetwater, wrote, the station said.
After word spread about Hicks' post and controversy erupted, KTXS said she issued an apology on Facebook: "I was really mad at Republicans for voting against health care since my options today are die or go into debt to see the doctor. It was gross which is [why] I deleted it."
KTAB-TV reported that both messages were posted on Hicks' personal Facebook page — and that both have been deleted.
The station noted that Hicks hasn't responded to its request for comment.
Now what?
The museum's board of directors is scheduled to hold a 5:30 p.m. emergency meeting Friday at the Sweetwater Police Department to discuss Hicks' comment and her future with the museum, KTXS reported.
"It's regrettable and reprehensible, especially from someone who is a community leader," City Manager David Vela told the station in response to Hicks' words. "Those kind of comments should never be made on social media or anywhere else."
Vela added to KTXS that the city doesn't stand by her statement and that he hopes the board makes the "right and responsible choice" although the board "may have a different definition of 'right and responsible.' Let's just see what actions they take, and we'll go from there."
KTAB said it's unclear if Hicks is still serving as museum director, but there's no longer a Pioneer City County Museum page on Facebook, and its phone was ringing all day Thursday with no answer.
In addition, every board member declined KTAB's request for comment, saying they won't know anything until after Friday's meeting.
At least one Republican wants Hicks to stick around
Joe Hyde — publisher of San Angelo Live and a Republican — wrote an op-ed saying Hicks should keep her job despite her post.
"I don't in the least bit feel threatened by [Hicks'] off-the-cuff comment on Facebook wishing that I die," Hyde noted. "I know Facebook is driven by creating engagement that produces long visits and lots of eyeballs on its advertisements. Facebook evokes strong emotions to keep its users scrolling. The easiest emotion to incite is anger, and Facebook's algorithm is quite good at turning calm and peaceful people into raging lunatics. Hicks was spending too much time on Facebook and wrote something she regretted. She later explained her frustration and apologized."
He added that "cancel culture" so prevalent today "means good people are given just one strike and they are out ... Give Miss Hicks a break. She is a valuable contributor to the preservation of history in Nolan County. One strike doesn't mean you're out."


theblaze--2020-03-07--Tulsi Gabbard calls out Biden and Bernie after the DNC locks her out of the debate

Tulsi Gabbard calls out Biden and Bernie after the DNC locks her out of the debate She is still in @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party changed its rules just to keep her off the stage .

Despite all the accusations of misogyny and sexism in recent days over Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) dropping out of the Democratic presidential primary, there is still a woman in the race.
That woman is Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), and the Democratic National Committee announced Friday that it had changed its qualifications for the next debate in a move that solely blocks Gabbard from taking the stage against frontrunners Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Vice President Joe Biden.
On Friday night, Gabbard reacted to the DNC's maneuvering, and called on her opponents to have the "courage" to "stand up for what is right" after the party locked her out.
What are the details?
Rep. Gabbard won two delegates on Super Tuesday, which would have qualified her for the debate stage under previous DNC rules, the Daily Caller reported earlier this week. But with low polling numbers and two clear front-runners in Sanders and Biden, the DNC was expected to up the threshold for qualifying for the debate.
Sure enough, the DNC announced Friday that the only qualifying factor for the next debate would be that a candidate must hold a "at least 20 percent of the delegates awarded as of March 15," according to The Hill.
Critics have pointed to the hypocrisy of the DNC pushing Gabbard off the stage, particularly in light of the fact that she is the only veteran, the only person of color, and the only woman remaining in the race for the party that touts itself as the party of diversity.
Gabbard, however, did not mention her service or race or gender on Friday evening when she responded publicly to the DNC's rule change. But she did mention the fact that the DNC changed its rules at the end of January in favor of billionaire Mike Bloomberg solely in order to grant him access to the stage.
"To keep me off the stage, the DNC again arbitrarily changed the debate qualifications," Gabbard tweeted. "Previously they changed the qualifications in the OPPOSITE direction so Bloomberg could debate. I ask that you stand w/ me against the DNC's transparent effort to exclude me from the debates."
Gabbard also called out her remaining opponents by name, writing, "@JoeBiden @BernieSanders I'm sure you would agree that our Democratic nominee should be a person who will stand up for what is right. So I ask that you have the courage to do that now in the face of the DNC's effort to keep me from participating in the debates. #LetTulsiDebate"


theblaze--2020-03-07--Director of taxpayer-funded museum resigns after online backlash over post wishing death to Republic

Director of taxpayer-funded museum resigns after online backlash over post wishing death to Republicans She also called Republicans `` pieces @ @ @

A museum director is looking for new employment after public outrage erupted over a post she made wishing death to "piece of s**t" Republicans.
Melonnie Hicks was the executive director of the Pioneer City County Museum in Sweetwater, Texas, when she posted the offensive missive on Facebook.
"I hope every single one of you pieces of s**t that votes republican, dies today," she wrote on Super Tuesday.
The post quickly went viral on social media with many bombarding the Twitter account of the library.
The museum released a lengthy statement later on Friday about the debacle and said Hicks had resigned.
"The Pioneer County-City Museum announced today that Melonnie Hicks has submitted her resignation as Executive Director of the Museum," the statement read.
"The Board firmly believes that the Museum exists to tell the story of all people in Nolan County, regardless of identity or political belief," museum board president Matt Counts added.
"While we do not condone in any way the statements made by Ms. Hicks, we do recognize and thank her for her many years of excellent service to this Museum and to this community," he concluded.
The website for the Pioneer City County Museum says the museum is housed in the historic Rag Land house built in 1906 during Sweetwater's railroad town period.
Here's a local news report about her resignation:


theblaze--2020-03-07--A little girl with autism brought her stuffed puppy to a dog show. Watch what this judge did to make

A little girl with autism brought her stuffed puppy to a dog show. Watch what this judge did to make her day.

A little girl with autism brought her stuffed puppy to a dog show .
Watch what this judge did to @ @ @ @

An American Kennel Society judge is earning accolades across the internet after being caught on video taking the time to make the day of one adorable spectator.
According to the folks at Goodable, the judge noticed a little girl "watching from the sidelines" at a show, so he approached the child and found that she had brought her own prized pooch: a stuffed puppy.
With that, he asked the girl if she would like to show her dog. The child, who has autism, agreed, and her reaction afterward will melt your heart.
The clip has hit multiple platforms including Twitter and Reddit, racking up nearly one million views on Goodable alone as of this writing. Former NBA player Rex Chapman shared the video with his 528,000+ followers, whose reactions echoed those on other posts.
Several parents of autistic children expressed how they were touched by the video, with one noting the "pure joy" on the little girl's face. Many followers said the judge's actions brought them to tears, and a number concluded that there must be something special about a man who can rock a salmon-colored suit.
The consensus was clear: this judge won best in show.


theblaze--2020-03-07--Republican congressman dares Biden and Beto to 'come and take' his AR-15, and Democrats are really a

Republican congressman dares Biden and Beto to 'come and take' his AR-15, and Democrats are really angry about it

Republican congressman dares Biden and Beto to 'come and take ' his AR-15 , and Democrats are really angry about @ @ @ @ @ threatening and unacceptable ''

Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado posted a video snubbing his nose at presidential candidate Joe Biden and former congressman Beto O'Rourke about gun rights, and Democrats quickly responded very negatively.
"I have just one message for Joe Biden and Beto O'Rourke, if you want to take everyone's AR-15s, why don't you swing by my office in Washington, D.C. and start with this one? Come and take it," tweeted Buck on Friday.
Buck takes his AR-15 off the wall in the video and poses with it to emphasize his point.
He was responding to Biden announcing that O'Rourke was going to head up his gun control campaign on Monday. O'Rourke is well known for making extreme promises on expanding gun control.
The brazen challenge from Buck didn't fare well in the minds of Democrats, especially Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), who tweeted that she had contacted the congressional sergeant-at-arms about her colleague's gun.
"Your congressional office is not your private home. It is a public space," Stevens responded.
"This behavior is threatening and unacceptable," she added. "I feel unsafe with this in my place of work. I have been in contact with the Sergeant at Arms to express my concerns."
O'Rourke also responded in a tweet claiming that the video helped to prove that more gun control was needed.
"This guy makes the case for both an assault weapons ban and a mandatory buyback program better than I ever could. These are weapons of war that have no place in our communities, in our politics or in our public discourse," said O'Rourke.
Sen. Duckworth (D-Ill.) took a different swipe at Buck and admonished him for not practicing the proper gun safety techniques.
"Treat *every* weapon as if it is loaded and ready to fire at all times, and never orient the muzzle towards a target you do *not* intend to destroy," she tweeted.
Here's a local news report about the video:


theblaze--2020-03-07--Two attendees of AIPAC's DC conference test positive for coronavirus

Two attendees of AIPAC 's DC conference test positive for coronavirus Vice President Mike Pence and several members of Congress @ @ @ @

The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee confirmed Friday that two people who attended its Washington, D.C., conference earlier this week have tested positive for coronavirus.
What are the details?
AIPAC announced on Twitter that it emailed a statement "to Policy Conference attendees, participants, speakers, administration and Hill offices" informing them that "at least two Policy Conference attendees from New York have tested positive for the Coronavirus."
The pro-Israel group held its gathering March 1-3, hosting more than 18,000 attendees from across the country along with roughly two-thirds of the members of Congress.
USA Today reported that "attendees and speakers at the conference included Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), Sen. Tec Cruz (R-Texas), Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), former 2020 Democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg, former candidate Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and several other lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle."
The exposure reinforces the fears of conference organizers across the country amid efforts to stop the spread of infection, as major gatherings are increasingly being canceled or postponed amid outbreaks of the coronavirus known as COVID-19.
Earlier on Friday, the City of Austin, Texas, issued a local state of emergency canceling the annual South by Southwest conference that was set to begin there in a week.
Anything else?
The Daily Mail reported that the AIPAC attendees who tested positive for COVID-19 are among "the 44 who have tested positive for coronavirus in New York state, [where] at least 4,000 people have been urged to self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the disease."
According to Politico, "this is the second instance of coronavirus being reported in connection with the Washington area. Maryland declared a state of emergency Thursday after three patients had tested positive for coronavirus in Montgomery County, which borders the district."


theblaze--2020-03-07--President Trump replaces chief of staff Mick Mulvaney with Mark Meadows

Mulvaney will become the US special envoy to Northern Ireland

President Donald Trump announced that he was replacing acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney with Rep. Mark Meadows, the Republican Freedom Caucus congressman from North Carolina.
The president made the announcement via a tweet on Friday evening.
"I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one," he tweeted.
"I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well," he said in a second tweet. "He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Thank you!"
Meadows becomes the president's fourth chief of staff since he assumed the Oval Office in January 2017. He had announced in December 2019 that he was not seeking re-election to Congress, which fueled rumors that he might join the president's cabinet.
"My work with President Trump and his administration is only beginning," he said at the time.
On Friday, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) praised the appointment of Meadows from his social media account.
"Mark Meadows is smart, loyal, and a true patriot. He's a good man and my best friend! Couldn't have picked anyone better for the job," he tweeted.
Here's a news report about the tweets:


theblaze--2020-03-07--Angela Stanton-King was pardoned by President Trump, now she's running against one of his greatest f

Angela Stanton-King was pardoned by President Trump, now she's running against one of his greatest foes in Congress

Angela Stanton-King was pardoned by President Trump , now she 's running against one of his greatest foes in Congress @ @ @ @ @ the Selma bridge , and our babies are dying .
It is time for war @ @

A former reality show celebrity and author who was pardoned by President Donald Trump will face one of his loudest foes in Congress as she runs to replace Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).
Stanton-King was convicted in 2004 on charges related to a car theft ring and she spent more than two years in prison for the crime, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
The president pardoned her in February.
"Today, (Stanton-King) is a national best-selling author, widely acclaimed television personality, and proponent of criminal justice reform," read a statement from the White House.
"She works tirelessly to improve reentry outcomes for people returning to their communities upon release from prison, focusing on the critical role of families in the process. This pardon is supported by Alveda King," the statement added.
Stanton-King is the goddaughter of Alveda King, the pro-life activist.
The best-selling author said that she respects Lewis' record of fighting for Civil Rights, but she opposes the Democratic party's pro-abortion policies.
"I have the utmost respect for the contributions that he has made to black America," Stanton-King said, "However, this isn't the Selma bridge, and our babies are dying. It is time for war."
Lewis has also been an outspoken opponent of Trump, and went as far as boycotting a Civil Rights event in 2017 because the president would be in attendance as well.
"This isn't about replacing John Lewis, this is about picking up the torch and continuing the fight for Justice," she tweeted.
"I turned my life around. I have completely redeemed my life," Stanton-King said. "This race is not about me trying to beat John Lewis. It is about carrying the torch and picking up the fight. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results."
Here's a video speech by Stanton-King:


theblaze--2020-03-07--Austin cancels SXSW conference citing coronavirus fears

The move reportedly means a $ 350 million revenue loss for the city

The City of Austin, Texas, has declared a local state of disaster and imposed guidelines that led to the cancelation of the South by Southwest conference and festival held annually in the city, citing concern over the spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19.
What are the details?
"We have declared a local disaster and associated with that have issued an order that effectively cancels South by Southwest for this year," Austin Mayor Steve Adler announced Friday.
The city explained in a press release that the decision was made "in response to increasing concerns of COVID-19 across the nation," citing a number of factors including crowd density and "a significant number of travelers from areas currently experiencing person-to-person spread of COVID-19 domestically and internationally."
South by Southwest was set to run from March 13-22. It draws in presenters, performers, and attendees from all over the globe.
SXSW organizers issued a subsequent statement saying they would "faithfully follow the City's directions."
"We are devastated to share this news with you," the organizers wrote. "'The show must go on' is in our DNA, and this is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place. We are now working through the ramifications of this unprecedented situation."
CNN reported that "several of the conference's biggest names had already pulled out in the days leading up to the cancellation," including Twitter, Facebook and Intel.
Anything else?
SXSW brings thousands of people to Austin each year and serves as a huge boost to local businesses. NBC News technology correspondent Jacob Ward reported that this year's cancelation "represents about $350 million in lost revenue for the city of Austin." He added, "this is an enormous act of civic responsibility."


theblaze--2020-03-07--BREAKING: Authorities confirm an attendee at CPAC 2020 tested positive for coronavirus

BREAKING : Authorities confirm an attendee at CPAC 2020 tested positive for coronavirus

The American Conservative Union announced that one of the attendees at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, the country's largest annual gathering of conservatives, has tested positive for the coronavirus.
While the identity of the patient is unknown, the ACU confirmed the patient tested positive for the disease in a New Jersey hospital and was exposed to the virus before attending CPAC. The Hill reported that the patient is currently being quarantined.
The official statement
ACU released the following statement on Twitter Saturday afternoon:
The American Conservative Union has learned that one of our CPAC attendees has unfortunately tested positive for coronavirus. The exposure occurred previous to the conference. A New Jersey Hospital tested the person, and CDC confirmed the positive result. The individual is under the care of medical professionals in the state of New Jersey, and has been quarantined.
ACU has been in contact with the Health Department of the State of Maryland, and we will explicitly follow the guidance from government health experts.
This attendee had no interaction with the President or the Vice President and never attended the events in the main hall.
The health and safety of our attendees and participants is our top priority. Any attendee who has questions can contact ACU or the Department of Health for the State of Maryland.
Our children, spouses, extended family, and friends attended CPAC. During this time, we need to remain calm, listen to our health care professionals, and support each other. We send this message in that spirit.
The Trump Administration is aware of the situation, and we will continue regular communication with all appropriate government officials.
What else?
The 2020 CPAC took place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Fort Washington, Maryland, from Feb. 26 to Feb. 29. President Donald Trump was the conference's keynote speaker and other special guests included Vice President Mike Pence, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump.
Data from Johns Hopkins University states there have been 401 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. with 17 deaths.


theblaze--2020-03-07--Police arrest teen boys for savage street beating of 15-year-old girl; one mom forced son to turn hi

Police arrest teen boys for savage street beating of 15-year-old girl; one mom forced son to turn himself in

Police arrest teen boys for savage street beating of 15-year-old girl ; one mom forced son to turn himself in @ @ @ @ @ I literally wanted to kill him with my own hands '

Five teenage boys have been arrested and charged in the brutal street beating of a 15-year-old girl that went viral this week.
According to the New York Post, the teens ranged in age from 14 to 17 and have been charged with robbery and gang assault. However, their names were not made public, likely because they are minors.
Each boy was awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Saturday, the New York Daily News reported.
One of the mothers of the boys told the Daily News that she made her son turn himself into police.
"When I saw the video I literally wanted to kill him with my own hands. I was very, very pissed off," Donna Howell said. "He didn't want to go at first and I said, 'No you're going to go, you're going to turn yourself in.'"
The attack happened Thursday afternoon. Surveillance video showed a horde of teenage boys, more than a dozen of them, chase down the victim and then savagely beat and stomp her. The boys then stole the victim's shoes, debit card, and cellphone.
Witnesses said the victim was "bleeding like crazy." She had to be hospitalized, but is expected to make a recovery.
Police are still searching for additional suspects, the Post noted.


theblaze--2020-03-07--AOC urges illegal immigrants to participate in 2020 census — and study finds it will have huge impli

AOC urges illegal immigrants to participate in 2020 census — and study finds it will have huge implications 'So do @ @ @ @ @ having a creative living situation ... '

Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is urging illegal immigrants to participate in the 2020 census.
During an interview with "Late Night" host Seth Myers, the New York Democrat said that "every single person, no matter your documentation status" should complete the census.
"We're all going to get census forms— we're gonna get mailed a prompt to fill out the census in the next two weeks or so," Ocasio-Cortez said. "And so I think what's really important is that we all fill this out. It happens once every 10 years."
"Every single person, no matter your documentation status, no matter your housing status, income, etc., is to be counted," she explained.
She further explained that data collected in the once-per-decade census is used to determine apportionment of federal funds as well as how many members of Congress each state is allotted, which also has Electoral College implications.
"Your census data is not shared with any other federal agency at all," she said. "So don't worry if you're having a creative living situation, it's not going to be told to your landlord or anything crazy like that."
youtu.be
It is true that the Census does not collect data on citizenship. President Donald Trump attempted to re-add the question to the census, but the effort was blocked by the Supreme Court last year.
However, because congressional apportionment is based on census data, illegal immigration can have a drastic effect on power dynamics in Washington. That means states with higher illegal immigrant populations — like California, Texas, and New York — will be positively impacted by continued illegal immigration.
In fact, the Center for Immigration Studies estimates that non-citizens and their U.S. born children, which includes legal immigrants and illegal immigrants, will redistribute 10 congressional seats: California will gain four, Texas will gain three, while New York, Florida, and New Jersey each gain one.
Specifically, CIS estimates that illegal immigrants and their children will be responsible for redistributing five congressional seats: California and Texas each gain two, while New York gains one.
The U.S. Census Bureau will begin distributing census invitations next week.


theblaze--2020-03-07--Latest jobs report shows Hispanics and African Americans thriving in Trump economy

As the nation 's unemployment rate dipped to a 50-year low in February , official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Hispanics and other minorities have been among the greatest beneficiaries of the booming economy of the Trump presidency .
A review of the BLS statistics shows that the Hispanic labor force participation rate , which measures the percentage of all people of working age who are employed or are actively seeking work , reached 68.1 % in February , the highest in a decade .
The last time that such a large share of Hispanics were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2010 .
As this happened , the unemployment rate among Hispanics remained at a near all-time low of 4.4 % .
This marks a significant improvement since the years under former president Barack Obama when the Hispanic labor force participation rate averaged 66.5 % over eight years and hit a low of 65.3 % in Sept. 2015 .
The labor statistics also point to black Americans flourishing under the Trump presidency .
In February , for instance , the unemployment rate among African Americans was 5.8 % , near August 's record low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black labor force participation rate hit 63.1 % , the highest since Jan. 2009 .
As with the improvements for Hispanics , the increase in the African American workforce participate was a significant improvement since the Obama presidency when it averaged 61.6 % over eight years and was as low as 60.3 % in Dec. 2013 .
President Trump has been enthusiastic in promoting his economic record as he heads to re-election in November .
At a speech before a national Hispanic business group on Thursday , the president emphasized the gains made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You 're having the best year you 've ever had .
I have to say that .
Last year was your best , and we 're beating it this year , '' Trump told the Latino Coalition , a nonpartisan pro-business organization .
`` With the hard work , love and devotion of millions of incredible Hispanic Americans , our country is thriving , our people are prospering and our future has ever — really never looked better than it does right now , '' he added , according to The Hill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would be opening field offices in 15 African American communities throughout the country .
The goal is to engage the president 's black supporters expand GOP outreach into African American communities .
`` We see the numbers coming up in the polls and the demand on the ground when we do these types of events , so it 's really important that we take this next step and really bring those voters into the party , '' Katrina Pierson , a senior Trump campaign adviser , said .

As the nation's unemployment rate dipped to a 50-year low in February, official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Hispanics and other minorities have been among the greatest beneficiaries of the booming economy of the Trump presidency.
Hispanics and African Americans are thriving
A review of the BLS statistics shows that the Hispanic labor force participation rate, which measures the percentage of all people of working age who are employed or are actively seeking work, reached 68.1% in February, the highest in a decade. The last time that such a large share of Hispanics were participating in the workforce was in March 2010. As this happened, the unemployment rate among Hispanics remained at a near all-time low of 4.4%.
This marks a significant improvement since the years under former president Barack Obama when the Hispanic labor force participation rate averaged 66.5% over eight years and hit a low of 65.3% in Sept. 2015.
The labor statistics also point to black Americans flourishing under the Trump presidency. In February, for instance, the unemployment rate among African Americans was 5.8%, near August's record low of 5.4%. Meanwhile, the black labor force participation rate hit 63.1%, the highest since Jan. 2009.
As with the improvements for Hispanics, the increase in the African American workforce participate was a significant improvement since the Obama presidency when it averaged 61.6% over eight years and was as low as 60.3% in Dec. 2013.
Trump touting successful economy
President Trump has been enthusiastic in promoting his economic record as he heads to re-election in November. At a speech before a national Hispanic business group on Thursday, the president emphasized the gains made by Latinos during his presidency.
"You're having the best year you've ever had. I have to say that. Last year was your best, and we're beating it this year," Trump told the Latino Coalition, a nonpartisan pro-business organization.
"With the hard work, love and devotion of millions of incredible Hispanic Americans, our country is thriving, our people are prospering and our future has ever — really never looked better than it does right now," he added, according to The Hill.
Last month the Trump campaign also announced that it would be opening field offices in 15 African American communities throughout the country. The goal is to engage the president's black supporters expand GOP outreach into African American communities.
"We see the numbers coming up in the polls and the demand on the ground when we do these types of events, so it's really important that we take this next step and really bring those voters into the party," Katrina Pierson, a senior Trump campaign adviser, said.


theblaze--2020-03-07--Sorry, not sorry: Hillary Clinton retracts apology for using private email server, breaking gov't ru

Sorry, not sorry: Hillary Clinton retracts apology for using private email server, breaking gov't rules

Sorry , not sorry : Hillary Clinton retracts apology for using private email server , breaking gov't rules 'It turned @ @ @ @ @ ... '

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is no longer sorry that she used a private email server during her tenure at the State Department.
As pressure mounted on Clinton in late 2015 to explain why she broke government protocol and used an unsecured server for official government business, Clinton apologized for using the private email server in hopes she could assuage critics and quell the ensuing scandal.
"As I look back at it now, even though it was allowed, I should have used two accounts. That was a mistake. I'm sorry about that. I take responsibility," she told ABC News in Sept. 2015.
However, Clinton now admits she regrets offering the apology.
In a new Hulu documentary about her life that released Friday, Clinton said she regrets the apology because it failed to quiet critics and hurt her 2016 presidential campaign.
"We'll just say what you did was a mistake. It was dumb. It's over. And that will end it. I wasn't convinced of that. But I understood the frustration of my campaign," Clinton explained. "So against my better judgment, I said, 'OK, fine.'"
"It turned out to be a mistake because look at all the oxygen it was sucking out of my campaign. But it didn't end it," she continued. "It didn't end it at all. And it never ended, it never ended."
Despite the subsequent discovery of classified documents on Clinton's server, then-FBI Director James Comey announced in July 2016 that he would not recommend charging Clinton for breaking government rules by using the private server. Instead, he merely chided her as "extremely careless."
However, the scandal has not died completely.
Just this week, a federal judge ordered Clinton to answer under oath whether she used the private email server to circumvent Freedom of Information Act requests.


theblaze--2020-03-07--Led by the socialist 'Squad,' 174 House Dems oppose anti-terrorist and sexual predator amendment

Led by the socialist 'Squad , ' 174 House Dems oppose anti-terrorist and sexual predator amendment 'The socialist wing ' @ @ @ @ @

A bipartisan coalition of House Republicans and some Democrats came together Thursday to pass an amendment to the "Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act" that would make it harder for the Transportation Security Agency to hire people who have been convicted of sexual assault, terrorism and other violent crimes, the Daily Caller reported.
However, 174 Democrats, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, voted against the common sense measure that was authored by one of their colleagues, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.).
Leading the majority of House Democrats to oppose the amendment was the socialist "Squad," including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not cast a vote.
'The socialist wing' now controls the Democratic Party
Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy blasted House Democrats for opposing the law and pointed out how it serves as another example that the Democratic Party has been hijacked by a Marxist cadre.
"[The amendment] was pulled back by leadership because the socialist wing of the party did not want to have that amendment go forward on this bill," the California congressman said, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
"When it was offered, overwhelmingly the majority of the House would like to see the TSA not hire terrorists or those who have been convicted of sexual misconduct with minors and others. But the socialist wing of the party, that controls now the Democratic Party, said that that could not be offered," he added.
The GOP was able to include the amendment in the final bill after 41 Democrats parted ways with their colleagues. A senior-level Republican staffer ripped Democrats who opposed the measure for following the extremists within their party in rejecting the law.
"It's no surprise that Democrat logic in 2020 means taking marching orders from Justice Democrats to give TSA the ability to hire the Harvey Weinsteins of the world," the staffer told the Free Beacon. "A 'second chance' for sex offenders shouldn't include patting down traveling families."
Why was this necessary?
Underwood's amendment was presented by Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Aziz.) in a motion to recommit, which is typically the final opportunity for the House to debate and amend a measure before a final vote is taken. In her support for the measure, Lesko cited multiple examples of sexual misconduct by TSA workers, including a Los Angeles screener who imprisoned and unclothed a female traveler.
"Fortunately, this offender was immediately fired by the TSA. However, under this bill … this predator could be on the federal payroll for months or even years," Lesko said. "We have two options today: Adopt the Underwood amendment and keep sexual predators off of the federal payroll, or reject it and reward sexual predators with a paycheck from the taxpayer."


theblaze--2020-03-07--Dossier author Christopher Steele smugly refuses to cooperate with key DOJ investigation

'We stand by the integrity of our work and the integrity of our sources ... '

Christopher Steele, the former British spy who authored the anti-Trump dossier, is refusing to cooperate with John Durham's probe into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation.
Steele's representatives recently told Durham's team that the former MI6 agent would neither cooperate with the investigation nor speak to Durham, Reuters reported.
Sources told Reuters that Steele believes Durham's investigation is "overly politicized" and that "he would not be treated fairly."
While speaking to students at Oxford University in England on Friday, Steele reiterated his refusal to cooperate with the investigation, claiming that he and his private investigations company, Orbis Business Intelligence, had already "done our duty," the Daily Beast reported.
"As far as I'm concerned, we've said everything we have to say on the matter," Steele said.
The development is significant because Steele is presumably a key witness in the central matters of Durham's investigation. That is because the FBI heavily relied on the dossier that Steele compiled — which was filled with unverified, salacious, and false claims about President Donald Trump — when securing FISA warrants against Carter Page.
In December, DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz revealed his investigators had found at least 17 "significant errors or omissions" in the FBI's application for surveillance warrants against Page.
Meanwhile, Steele told the Oxford University students that he stands by the validity of his largely debunked dossier.
"We stand by the integrity of our work and the integrity of our sources," he said. "Trump himself doesn't like intelligence because its ground truth is inconvenient for him."


theblaze--2020-03-07--Uh, oh: Joe Biden confuses name of 'hardcore' Bernie Sanders supporters

Uh , oh : Joe Biden confuses name of 'hardcore ' Bernie Sanders supporters 'Bernie brothers ' was even trending @ @ @

Joe Biden: Bernie Bros meet the Doobie Brothers.
Not really. Well, sort of.
During a phone call with supporters on Friday, the former vice president referred to hardcore Bernie Sanders supporters as "Bernie Brothers," rather than Bernie Bros as they are commonly known.
As Politico reported, "Bernie Bros" is the term often used to describe mostly-male Sanders supporters who are known to viciously attack the democratic socialist's opponents online.
#BernieBrothers was trending on social media
Biden made the reference while warning his supporters against allowing the primary to get nasty in the coming weeks.
"What we can't let happen is let this primary become a negative bloodbath," he told a group of donors. "I know I'm going to get a lot of suggestions on how to respond to what I suspect will be an increasingly negative campaign that the Bernie brothers will run. But we can't tear this party apart and reelect Trump. We have to keep our eyes on the ball, in my view."
The gaffe set off a social media firestorm that resulted in "Bernie Brothers" trending on Twitter Saturday morning with over 7,000 tweets invoking the term and its variation, "#bernardbrothers."
Politico noted that Twitter users poked fun at the "formality behind Biden's description," with some even joking to trademark the term and print t-shirts with it.
"Sounds like a 50s folk band," wrote one Twitter user. "Bernie Brothers sounds like an artisanal bath products made in Bushwick," said one tweet. "I used to get all my new suits from Bernie Brothers," said another.
'Some really ugly stuff'
The so-called "Bernie Bros" are notorious for their aggressive online campaign tactics. During a Thursday night interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) alleged they perpetrated "some really ugly stuff" against her during the primary.
Warren claimed the "Bernie Bros" went as far as posting the phone numbers and home addresses of minority women who worked for third party groups that endorsed her and not Sanders. The former presidential candidate said this led to an "onslaught of online threats."
"[The Bernie Bros] actually published the phone numbers and home addresses of the two women, the executive director and the communications director [of the UNITE HERE labor union in Nevada]…and really put them in fear for their families," she said.
The New York Post also reported that before Warren decided to drop out from the Democratic primary, Sanders supporters "sent thousands of hateful messages toward the senator." The messages included snake emojis and calls for far-left Democrats to launch a primary challenge against her for staying in the race and not endorsing Sanders.


theblaze--2020-03-07--That Texas man lauded in media for waiting almost 7 hours at end of line to cast Super Tuesday ballo

That Texas man lauded in media for waiting almost 7 hours at end of line to cast Super Tuesday ballot? Officials say he's not eligible to vote.

That Texas man lauded in media for waiting almost 7 hours at end of line to cast Super Tuesday ballot @ @ @ @ @ not eligible to vote .
The Harris County Voter Registrar 's office told TheBlaze it @ @ @ @ @ to Hervis Rogers

Media outlets from coast to coast trumpeted the tenacity of one man for waiting almost seven hours at the end of a massively long line to vote on Super Tuesday at a Texas Southern University polling place — and he didn't cast his ballot until 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
"I wanted to get my vote in to voice my opinion," Hervis Rogers told KTRK-TV. "I wasn't going to let anything stop me, so I waited it out."
He added that it seemed as though the long line "was set up for me to walk away." But Rogers said he told himself, "No, don't do that." Rogers also said "every vote counts" and that he'd endure it all over again if necessary.
'My hero'
CNN said Rogers was lauded on social media for his commitment to the democratic process: "I don't know many people who would wait more than an hour or two," one user wrote, according to the cable network. "Great respect."
Another wrote that "Hervis Rogers is my hero. This is a guy who remembered what it took for black Americans to gain the right to vote. I applaud him," CNN said.
The NAACP tweeted that "Texas closed hundreds of polling places, and we didn't have the Voting Rights Act to stop it. No one should have to wait this long to participate in democracy! Thank you Hervis Rogers for your commitment to being counted!"
Uh oh
But according to a report by the Texan, records show Rogers isn't eligible to vote under state law.
The outlet indicated that Texas Department of Public Safety records show Rogers is on parole for a 1995 second-degree felony offense conviction for burglary — and that under Texas Election Law (Sec. 11.002), a convicted felon can't vote until the individual's sentence has been "fully discharged ... including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court."
The Texan reported that Rogers' parole doesn't end until June 13, 2020 — and yet he had a Harris County voter registration card when he arrived at the polling location Tuesday.
The outlet said that while the Harris County Clerk's office administers elections, the office of Ann Harris Bennett (D) — the county's Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar — is responsible for verification of eligible voter registrations.
What did the county Voter Registrar have to say?
The Harris County Voter Registrar's office on Friday told TheBlaze that "Rogers registered to vote in 2016 under another administration" and that an "office investigation" found exactly what the Texan found: Rogers "is not eligible to register to vote until his parole expires on June 13, 2020."
The Voter Registrar's office added to TheBlaze that "a challenge notification will be issued to Rogers requiring him to submit evidence of eligibility within 30 days. The registration will be cancelled if Rogers does not supply such evidence within that 30-day period."
Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt — also former county Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar — told the Texan that verifying registrations requires resources and personnel to access data in the Justice Management System.
"You have to allocate resources for this; you have to get this right," he added to the outlet.
'Attack on the voting rights of American citizens'
Meanwhile, some notable left-wing names called Rogers' lengthy wait in line at the polls a Republican attempt at voter suppression.
"A seven-hour wait to vote is a poll tax," Hillary Clinton tweeted. "We need to restore the Voting Rights Act and stop Republican elected officials from shutting down polling sites."
"This is unacceptable — and a result of continued GOP attacks on the voting rights of American citizens," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, tweeted.
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-03-08--GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik harassed in a 'vicious, vile, sick attack' while visiting grocery store

Rep. Elise Stefanik ( R-N.Y. ) , whose robust defense of President Donald Trump during the House impeachment inquiry helped make her a household name , was harassed at a grocery store on Saturday .
The congresswoman for New York 's 21st district posted a hateful note that was posted on her car 's windshield , presumably written by a left-winger who recognized her .
`` Rot in hell FASCIST PIG , '' the note read , according to a photo shared by Stefanik on Twitter .
“ My husband and I went grocery shopping this morning before district events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store , '' Stefanik wrote .
“ This vile anonymous note was left on our car . ''
The incident happened after Republicans have warned Democratic politicians and personalities against encouraging their supporters to target GOP officials in public .
In July 2018 , Rep. Maxine Waters ( D-Calif. ) told her supporters at a rally to confront Trump officials when they were out in public .
`` Let 's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up .
And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gasoline station , you get out and you create a crowd .
And you push back on them .
And you tell them they 're not welcome anymore , anywhere .
We 've got to get the children connected to their parents , '' Waters said at the time .
Opponent does not condemn the author As Townhall noted , Stefanik asked her Democratic opponent , Tedra Cobb , to denounce the `` hatred '' directed at her .
`` As an elected official , I understand that respectful & passionate policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But this note is just sad hatred , '' she wrote .
`` We are praying for the author , '' Stefanik added .
`` This hateful rhetoric should be publicly condemned by my opponent immediately . ''
Cobb responded to Stefanik and while she described the note as `` damaging and wrong , '' she stopped short of condemning the anonymous author .
`` I think it 's time you joined me in pledging not to name call in this campaign .
I 'd love to work with you to set a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cobb said .
The back-and-forth between Stefanik and Cobb continued with the congresswoman replying and noting her Democratic opponent failed to condemn the harassment targeting her .
`` One is a policy difference ( you have voted numerous times to raise taxes ) the other is a vicious , vile , sick attack , '' she said .
`` They are not the same and voters know it . ''
As Townhall 's Beth Baumann explained , the message targeting Stefanik may even point to the congresswoman facing a possible security risk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's also scary .
Clearly the person who left the note watched Stefanik , noticed what car was hers and waited for her and her husband to go into the store .
That 's a safety and security risk . ''

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), whose robust defense of President Donald Trump during the House impeachment inquiry helped make her a household name, was harassed at a grocery store on Saturday. The congresswoman for New York's 21st district posted a hateful note that was posted on her car's windshield, presumably written by a left-winger who recognized her.
"Rot in hell FASCIST PIG," the note read, according to a photo shared by Stefanik on Twitter.
“My husband and I went grocery shopping this morning before district events and enjoyed chatting with constituents throughout the store," Stefanik wrote. “This vile anonymous note was left on our car."
The incident happened after Republicans have warned Democratic politicians and personalities against encouraging their supporters to target GOP officials in public. In July 2018, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) told her supporters at a rally to confront Trump officials when they were out in public.
"Let's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere. We've got to get the children connected to their parents," Waters said at the time.
Opponent does not condemn the author
As Townhall noted, Stefanik asked her Democratic opponent, Tedra Cobb, to denounce the "hatred" directed at her.
"As an elected official, I understand that respectful & passionate policy disagreements are foundational to our democracy. But this note is just sad hatred," she wrote.
"We are praying for the author," Stefanik added. "This hateful rhetoric should be publicly condemned by my opponent immediately."
Cobb responded to Stefanik and while she described the note as "damaging and wrong," she stopped short of condemning the anonymous author.
"I think it's time you joined me in pledging not to name call in this campaign. I'd love to work with you to set a better example for #NY21,” Cobb said.
A 'vicious, vile, sick attack'
The back-and-forth between Stefanik and Cobb continued with the congresswoman replying and noting her Democratic opponent failed to condemn the harassment targeting her.
"One is a policy difference (you have voted numerous times to raise taxes) the other is a vicious, vile, sick attack," she said. "They are not the same and voters know it."
As Townhall's Beth Baumann explained, the message targeting Stefanik may even point to the congresswoman facing a possible security risk.
"Not only is it rude but it's also scary. Clearly the person who left the note watched Stefanik, noticed what car was hers and waited for her and her husband to go into the store. That's a safety and security risk."


theblaze--2020-03-08--Elizabeth Warren staffers tells reporter to 'eat s**t' for not 'actively' supporting Warren's campai

Elizabeth Warren staffers tells reporter to 'eat s**t' for not 'actively' supporting Warren's campaign

Elizabeth Warren staffers tells reporter to 'eat s**t ' for not 'actively ' supporting Warren 's campaign

Disgruntled campaign staffers for Sen. Elizabeth Warren's failed presidential run lashed out at a reporter because he did not "actively" cheerlead Warren's campaign.
Politico reporter Alex Thompson, who was assigned by his editor to cover Warren's campaign, posted screenshots of messages that Warren staffers have been sending him.
One of the staffers chided him for not "actively supporting" Warren's campaign while others told him to "eat s**t."
Thompson explained, "Some Warren campaign staffers don't have a good understanding of campaign journalism. Not my job to 'actively support the candidate that you were assigned' It is my job to contact as many ppl as possible rather than just rely on what the campaign wants to give me."
Other Warren supporters similarly bashed Thompson, while others compared Warren's supporters to "Bernie Bros," supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) who are often accused of harassing people online.
In response, Warren campaign communications director Kristen Orthman chided the staffers.
"Reminder to @TeamWarren - I understand being upset. I am too. But inappropriate language toward other campaigns or the press is never what our campaign or @ewarren is about. Let's keep the fight focused on the issues," Orthman said.
Meanwhile, Politico defended its reporter.
"Alex has established himself as a top-notch reporter on the trail this election cycle. His coverage of Elizabeth Warren's campaign, and the 2020 race at large, was sharp, illuminating and accurate. We stand by his reporting," a Politico spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.


theblaze--2020-03-07--Authorities confirm an attendee at CPAC 2020 tested positive for coronavirus


theblaze--2020-03-08--Top GOP lawmaker accuses Democrats of intentionally delaying coronavirus bill to score political poi

Top GOP lawmaker accuses Democrats of intentionally delaying coronavirus bill to score political points

'We should have had this bill a week earlier '

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) alleged Sunday that Democrats intentionally delayed the coronavirus relief bill in order to run Super Tuesday ads.
On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an emergency bill providing $8.3 billion for the government's response to the coronavirus. But McCarthy said Trump could have signed the bill one week earlier.
"We should have had this bill a week earlier. The Democrats actually held this bill, so Congresswoman Bustos, who runs the DCCC, could run ads against Republicans," McCarthy told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures."
"There should be no politics in this, because, as you said, Maria, this is very serious, and we should take it for the seriousness that it should be, $8.3 billion," he added.
YouTube www.youtube.com
McCarthy made similar allegations against Democratic leadership last week.
Speaking to Fox News host Laura Ingraham last Tuesday, McCarthy accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of withholding the bill to benefit Democrats on Super Tuesday.
"Look how much politics they want to play. The dirty little secret. We have the coronavirus. We need to fund this. You know what Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker, did? She withheld the bill last week. You know why? So the DCCC could run ads against seven Republicans," he said.
"I don't know how many ran, but they actually took the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, spent money, went into these seven Republican seats to campaign against them about the coronavirus when she's the Speaker of the House. Instead of putting America first, she put her politics first and kept the bill from coming to the floor," McCarthy explained.


theblaze--2020-03-08--Hillary Clinton predicts bad news for Dem Party if Bernie wins nomination, good news for Trump

Hillary Clinton predicts bad news for Dem Party if Bernie wins nomination , good news for Trump 'As I 've @ @ @ @ @

Hillary Clinton implied in a candid interview Sunday that Democrats may regret nominating Sen. Bernie Sanders to run against President Donald Trump.
Speaking with CNN host Fareed Zakaria, Clinton refused to endorse either Sanders or Joe Biden, but said that Biden is a stronger candidate who would better represent the Democratic Party in a general election.
"As I've said many times, I do not think he's our strongest nominee against Donald Trump," Clinton said, according to Axios. "I think what Joe's victories on Super Tuesday showed is that he is building the kind of coalition that I have, basically. It's a broad-based coalition. ... putting together a coalition of voters who are energized."
"People are turning out," she continued. "And they're turning out to try to pick the person they think would be the best president, but also the person, as our nominee, who would most likely be able to beat Trump."
The former secretary of state then implied that Trump wants to run against Sanders — not Biden — indicating that a Sanders nomination would be good news for Trump.
"Clearly, the Trump campaign, and Trump himself, know who they don't want to run against and know who they do want to run against," she said.
However, Clinton did say that she will support Sanders if he wins the Democratic nomination, though she said she would only campaign for him if he asked her to do so.
Clinton made it clear in a new Hulu documentary on her life that she does not like Sanders, calling him a "career politician" and claiming that "nobody likes him."


theblaze--2020-03-08--Alan Dershowitz says Barack Obama 'conned' him and he would now reconsider his 2012 vote for him

Alan Dershowitz says Barack Obama 'conned ' him and he would now reconsider his 2012 vote for him Obama stabbed @ @ @ @ @ he says

Renowned liberal Democratic lawyer and civil liberties advocate Alan Dershowitz accused former President Barack Obama of betraying the state of Israel and personally deceiving him in a recent interview with Ben Shapiro that aired on Sunday.
Dershowitz explained to Shapiro that Obama assured him in a private meeting that he would vigorously defend Israel, but then did the opposite.
Obama stabbed Israel in the back, Dershowitz says
"I think President Obama, for whom I voted twice, and would now reconsider my second vote for him, he conned me," he said. "He called me into the Oval Office and he said 'I have Israel's back' and I didn't realize what he meant is to put a target on it and stab them," Dershowitz said, referring to former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power's abstention vote during a December 2016 vote condemning Israel.
"As he was leaving office, he ordered his representative to the U.N. to not veto a resolution which declared...the Western Wall, the holiest place in Judaism to be occupied territory," he continued.
"It was outrageous," the Harvard Law School professor added while explaining how Obama's decision "legitimized" anti-Israel activism among the political center-left and the Democratic Party.
It is not the first time that Dershowitz has blasted Obama.
In February, Dershowitz claimed he had information that indicated Obama directed the FBI to investigate someone at the request of billionaire philanthropist and left-wing donor George Soros.
"I have some information as well about the Obama administration — which will be disclosed in a lawsuit at some point, but I'm not prepared to disclose it now — about how President Obama personally asked the FBI to investigate somebody on behalf of George Soros, who was a close ally of his," Dershowitz claimed.
'Guilt by Association'
Dershowitz made the comments regarding Obama's Israel policy on Shapiro's "Sunday Special" show where he promoted his most recent book "Guilt by Association" and discussed his work as an expert witness in Trump's impeachment trial.
The criminal defense and constitutional lawyer also used the opportunity to blast "idiots" who misrepresented the arguments he made as to what constituted an "impeachable offense."
"When I did my argument in front of the Senate, no one ever took it on based on the merits," he said. "If I had been on Hillary Clinton's side, if she had been impeached, I'd be the greatest scholar in the history of constitutional law, according to the left. But they don't like where I came down on this case, so they attacked me personally."


theblaze--2020-03-08--Former DNC chair Howard Dean suggests Elise Stefanik deserved note telling her to 'rot in hell'

Former DNC chair Howard Dean suggests Elise Stefanik deserved note telling her to 'rot in hell' 'You are a shame @ @ @ @ @ a democratic United States '

Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, suggests Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) deserved a note telling her to "rot in hell."
While grocery shopping with her husband on Saturday, Stefanik said that someone left a "vile" note on her car. The note read, "Rot in hell fascist pig."
"It is truly sad that the radical Far-Left cannot see beyond their vicious hate," Stefanik said. "But this note is just sad hatred. We are praying for the author."
In response, Dean said late Saturday that Stefanik should not be surprised to receive hateful messages and called her a "shame."
"I don't condone this, but 'as ye sow, so shall ye reap'. There is no excuse for the note writer or for you. You are a shame to your district and to a democratic United States," Dean said.
Stefanik became the youngest Republican woman ever elected to Congress in 2014 at age 30. She gained national notoriety last year during President Donald Trump's impeachment when she became one of Trump's staunchest defenders.
In January, Stafanik was named an honorary chairwoman for Trump's re-election campaign.


theblaze--2020-03-08--Report: 'Marxist pig' Carlos Maza linked to luxury yacht, $11M mansion, and 'chic' NYC apartment

Friends told the NY Post his family helps cover his rent

Carlos Maza, a millennial political commentator who goes by the Twitter handle @gaywonk, spends much of his time on social media attacking wealth and smearing rich people, but an investigation by the New York Post found that the self-described "Marxist pig" lives a life of immense luxury.
Readers of TheBlaze may remember Maza for his 2019 spat with Steven Crowder when he orchestrated an online campaign to have the conservative comedian banned from YouTube. At one point, the former Vox journalist even encouraged his followers to physically confront, humiliate, and attack political detractors.
A First-Class Commie
According to the Post, Maza — who in February shared a photo of himself with his hand over his heart and "Sorry grandma, we're communists now" written around him — "is connected to multiple Florida mega-mansions, a $7.1 million pad on the Upper West Side purchased under an LLC — and a yacht by luxury maker boat-maker Donzi."
In fact, when Maza registered to vote, he listed his family's five-bedroom, eight-bathroom waterfront mansion in Boca Raton, Florida, worth $11.7 million as his home address.
Maza's friends told the Post that his family helps pay for his "chic East Village pad" where rents can go upward from $3,000 per month. In a tweet, Maza explained that his extravagant lifestyle is thanks to his mother and his fiancé who "are very wealthy thanks to a software company they started together" in the 1990s.
"I am aware that I am advocating for a system that would shift power away from members of my family," he added while acknowledging he enjoys "tremendous privilege."
'Eat them when they're getting too rich'
Of course, none of this would be an issue if Maza did not spend so much of his time singing the praises of Marxism and attacking others for the "crime" of being rich. The Post shared a collection of his his most recent smears:
"Just found out James Carville — who spends his time lecturing Democrats for being 'too far left' — lives in an absolutely obscene four-story mansion," Maza said in one such example from February — blasting the longtime Democratic strategist and posting a photo of Carville's old home to his Twitter account.
"Dear god can we STOP taking political advice from the ultra-wealthy," he bemoaned. "You really have to respect this guy's grift. Constantly dressing in normal clothes on TV to feign relatability [sic] while living like this. Masterful con artist"
"We should treat gay people the SAME WAY we treat straight people: Eating them when they get too rich," he said in another post.
Twitter deletes tweets by journalist who exposed Maza
For exposing Maza's hypocrisy, Post reporter Jon Levine said social media giant Twitter took down several tweets related to the story and temporarily locked him out of his account.
"Twitter locked me out of my account last night over some of the Carlos Maza reporting," Levine wrote. "A rep for the company tells me that their action against me was 'an error.'"


theblaze--2020-03-08--Republican lawmakers sound alarm over death of DHS whistleblower Philip Haney: 'He was murdered'

Republican lawmakers sound alarm over death of DHS whistleblower Philip Haney : 'He was murdered' ' I 'm standing on @ @ @ @ @ Madame Speaker , I do n't believe that Phil Haney committed suicide '

Two Republican lawmakers — Reps. Louie Gohmert (Texas) and Steve King (Iowa) — are sounding the alarm over the death of Philip Haney, the former Homeland Security official turned whistleblower during the Obama administration.
In little-noticed speeches on the House floor on Feb. 28, both congressmen bucked claims that Haney died by suicide.
"I'm standing on the floor here saying, Madame Speaker, I don't believe that Phil Haney committed suicide," King said. "I expect that we're going to get a thorough investigation. The evidence that is coming to me indicates that he was murdered."
"Phil often said, 'I would never commit suicide,'" King explained, adding that he was a good friend of Haney's.
Meanwhile, Gohmert explained in a lengthy speech that he, too, was good friends with Haney, so much so, in fact, that he and Haney had made a "mutual pact."
"I'd been concerned about his safety, with all the information he knew and people who could've gotten in trouble." Gohmert said. "We had a mutual pact. It said: Either one of us ended up committing suicide, then the other is going to make sure that the truth wins out."
King and Gohmert both explained that Haney always kept a thumb-drive around his neck containing a cache of highly sensitive documents related to allegations that the government could have prevented domestic terrorist attacks by Islamic extremist perpetrators. It is not clear what happened to the thumb-drive.
Haney was a DHS whistleblower who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in June 2016 that he was forced to delete a trove of documents on people connected to Islamic terrorism.
Police revealed on Feb. 21 that Haney had been discovered dead on the side of the road 40 miles east of Sacramento.
Police initially said that Haney died from a "a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound," but later called the statement "misinformation."
"Unfortunately, there was misinformation immediately put out that we have determined Mr. Haney's death to be a suicide. This is not the case. We are currently in the beginning phase of our investigation and any final determination as to the cause and manner of Mr. Haney's death would be extremely premature and inappropriate," the Amador County Sheriff's Office said in an updated statement.


theblaze--2020-03-08--Illinois Supreme Court has some bad news for Jussie Smollett

Illinois Supreme Court has some bad news for Jussie Smollett The six-count indictment against the former `` Empire '' actor @

The Illinois Supreme Court delivered some bad news to former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett on Friday: The court refused to throw out a felony indictment charging him with falsely claiming to have been the victim of a hate crime last year.
The Illinois high court published a pair of terse notices stating that Smollett's motions to dismiss the case and disqualify its special prosecutor have been denied and provided no explanation. In February, Smollett pleaded not guilty to six counts that were filed in a grand jury indictment.
Smollett faces several counts, including disorderly conduct for lying to police in Jan. 2019 when he claimed two men wearing MAGA hats attacked him near his apartment in Chicago and yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him.
Smollett's attorney fires back
The former "Empire" actor's attorney fired back at the Illinois Supreme Court after it denied his motion.
"Motions for supervisory orders are extraordinary remedies and not usually granted," lawyer William Quinlan said. "We believed the unique circumstances of this case warranted filing the motion. We will now follow the standard appellate procedure."
As TheBlaze reported in February, the charges against Smollett came after Dan Webb, a Chicago special prosecutor, formally charged him when "a Cook County grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Jussie Smollett with making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers related to his false claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, knowing that he was not the victim of a crime."
Webb added, "the grand jury's investigation revealed that Jussie Smollett planned and participated in a staged hate crime attack, and thereafter made numerous false statements to Chicago Police Department officers on multiple occasions, reporting a heinous hate crime that he, in fact, knew had not occurred."
Original charges mysteriously dropped
Smollett was first charged with 16 felonies by a grand jury in March 2019 in connection with his allegedly false allegations, but Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx mysteriously all the charges against him just a few weeks later. Foxx later recused herself from the case.
Now the original investigation into Smollett is being examined by the special prosecutor assigned to the case.
In his press release, Webb noted that they have an investigation into the Cook County State's Attorney's Office is ongoing, but that the Office of the Special Prosecutor "has obtained sufficient factual evidence to determine that it disagrees with how the CCSAO resolved the Smollett case."


theblaze--2020-03-08--VIDEO: MSNBC panel is excited to speculate whether coronavirus outbreak is 'Trump's Katrina'

VIDEO : MSNBC panel is excited to speculate whether coronavirus outbreak is 'Trump 's Katrina '

As coronavirus infections explode in the Western world, an MSNBC panel speculated on Friday whether the disease would damage President Donald Trump politically.
In fact, panel guest Eddie Glaude Jr., a Princeton University professor, wondered if coronavirus is "Trump's Katrina," a reference to the Bush administration's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina that resulted in vehement criticism.
"I was thinking about this in terms of politics, the business community, kinda finally not sticking with Donald Trump. This may be, you know Nicolle, I should mention this with a little trepidation, but this may be Donald Trump's Katrina," Glaude said.
MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace was downright giddy at the prospect.
"Let's just lean into that for a minute. Katrina was the moment when all of the things that felt incredibly incompetent about the Bush presidency ... were realized," she responded.
Wallace — who was the White House communications director when Hurricane Katrina made landfall — went on to claim Bush's response to Katrina gave his critics a "proof point" that he was "incompetent."
"And also people died," Wallace continued. "This has the makings, structurally, for the same kind of moment for President Trump."
Later, Glaude claimed that coronavirus "is an event that could take down a president."


theblaze--2020-03-08--Dead-beat Biden? Hunter fails to turn over financial documents in child support case

Dead-beat Biden ?
Hunter fails to turn over financial documents in child support case He 'has no respect for this @ @

Dead-beat Biden?
The mother of Hunter Biden's Arkansas son has filed a motion asking the state to hold him in contempt of court after the son of the former vice president failed to turn over documents detailing the nature of his finances in a child support law suit. Hunter Biden — who is renting a $12,000 per month 2000-square-foot house in Beverly Hills where he has been seen driving around a Porsche Panamera — has previously said he has no source of income.
According to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Alexis Lunden Roberts claims that Hunter Biden has defied court orders by not submitting a copy of his 2017 and 2018 personal tax returns which detail his sources of income, among other items.
Hunter Biden 'has no respect for this Court'
"[T]he defendant continues to act as though he has no respect for this Court, its orders, the legal process in this state, or the needs of his child for support,"the motion filed by Robert's attorney stated. "This Court should take some action that will make the defendant follow court orders and a believer in the rule of law.
This is not he first time that the former vice president's son has ignored court mandates in the paternity case.
In a December hearing, Circuit Judge Don McSpadden warned Biden that he could not withhold financial records. "He's going to have to provide at least the last three years of tax returns," McSpadden told lawyers for both sides. Later that month, McSpadden ordered both sides to provide their opposing counsels with copies of "A. their personal tax returns for the past five years; and B. any and ALL financial documents and information showing money or monies they received in the past five years." The deadline to comply was December 19.
Through his lawyers, Biden petitioned to postpone a court appearance scheduled for this month, but a new judge on the case ordered him to appear in her courtroom "and show cause, if any exists, as to why he should not be held in contempt for any of the alleged violations of this Court's orders."
"He needs to make himself available and unless his hair is on fire, he needs to be in Arkansas and he needs to be in a deposition," Circuit Judge Holly Meyer told lawyers in the case during a Feb. 26 call.
What's Hunter hiding?
Some Democrats fear that Hunter Biden testifying in court could open a can of worms and jeopardize his father's campaign. By providing the court with his financial records for the past five years, the former vice president's son would disclose the nature and sources of his business dealings with Ukrainian energy company Burisma, which came under scrutiny during the Democratic-led impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump.
Hunter Biden has denied any allegations of wrongdoing.


theblaze--2020-03-09--Cruz says he interacted with CPAC attendee with coronavirus, has undergone self-quarantine

Cruz says he interacted with CPAC attendee with coronavirus , has undergone self-quarantine He has no symptoms of the illness

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) announced on Sunday evening that he came in contact with the Conservative Political Action Conference attendee who tested positive for the coronavirus. The individual is believed to have been carrying the illness while at CPAC 2020.
In a statement, Cruz explained that he learned on Saturday night he came in contact with the COVID-19-positive person during the convention. However, the senator said he has no symptoms indicating that he, too, is ill.
The Statement
Sen. Cruz shared the following statement on Twitter:
Last night I was informed that 10 days ago at CPAC I briefly interacted with an individual who is currently symptomatic and has tested positive for COVID-19. The interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake.
I have consulted with medical authorities from the Houston Health Department, the Harris County Public Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as my personal physician. I have also spoken with Vice President Pence, Leader McConnell, and Mark Meadows.
I'm not experiencing any symptoms, and I feel fine and healthy. Given that the interaction was 10 days ago, that the average incubation period is 5-6 days, that the interaction was for less than a minute, and that I have no current symptoms, the medical authorities have advised me that the odds of transmission from the other individual to me were extremely low.
The physicians further advised that testing is not effective before symptoms manifest, and my brief interaction with the individual does not meet the CDC criteria for self-quarantine.
The medical authorities explicitly advised me that, given the above criteria, the people who have interacted with me in the 10 days since CPAC should not be concerned about potential transmission.
Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, and because of how frequently I interact with my constituents as a part of my job and to give everyone peace of mind, I have decided to remain at my home in Texas this week, until a full 14 days have passed since the CPAC interaction.
Everyone should continue to treat this outbreak seriously and be driven by facts and medical science. We need to continue to be proactive in mobilizing resources to combat this outbreak—including the $8.3 billion in emergency funding we provided last week—and I encourage everyone to follow the recommendations of the CDC and other health professionals in protecting their own health and welfare, as well as the health and welfare of those around them.
CPAC attendee being treated in New Jersey
As TheBlaze reported on Saturday, while the identity of the coronavirus patient is unknown, the American Conservative Union confirmed the individual tested positive for the disease in a New Jersey hospital and was exposed to the virus before attending CPAC. The Hill also reported that the patient is currently being quarantined.
The 2020 CPAC took place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Fort Washington, Maryland, from Feb. 26 to Feb. 29 and included a roster of high-level political leaders in addition to Cruz. Among them were President Donald Trump, who was the conference's keynote speaker, as well as Vice President Mike Pence, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump.
It is unclear if any other speakers or notable attendees besides Cruz came in contact with the New Jersey patient. However, the ACU declared in a statement Saturday that the attendee "had no interaction with the President or the Vice President and never attended the events in the main hall."
As of Sunday night, there have been 21 confirmed deaths linked to the virus in the U.S.


theblaze--2020-03-09--Matt Gaetz self-quarantines after coronavirus exposure — and he was just on Air Force One with Presi

Matt Gaetz self-quarantines after coronavirus exposure — and he was just on Air Force One with President Trump The spread @ @ @ @ @ panic in some circles

Four Republican members of Congress announced on Monday that they were in self-quarantine after being informed of their contact with a person who was diagnosed with the coronavirus.
One of those, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), got onto Air Force One with President Donald Trump just prior to making his announcement.
The coronavirus has been causing global disruption for weeks, but it has spurred serious alarm after a participant in the Conservative Political Action Conference was diagnosed, possibly exposing political figures to the virus.
On Sunday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) announced that he was in self-quarantine because had been in contact with the coronavirus-infected person at CPAC.
In addition to Gaetz, three other members also said they were placing themselves in quarantine: Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, Republican Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, and Democrat Julia Brownley of California.
Gaetz tweeted about his self-quarantine, saying that he had not yet exhibited symptoms.
"Congressman Gaetz was informed today that he came into contact with a CPAC attendee 11 days ago who tested positive for COVID-19," his Twitter account said.
"While the Congressman is not experiencing symptoms, he received testing today and expects results soon. Under doctor's usual precautionary recommendations, he'll remain self-quarantined until the 14-day period expires this week," the account said in a second tweet.
Gaetz was notified of his contact after he got onto Air Force One with the president. He told reporters that he was isolated on the president's plane when notified of his exposure to the virus. He also said the president didn't appear to be overly alarmed about the incident.
"He was not hyper cautious about being in the same space that I was in," said Gaetz to Ben Terris of the Washington Post.
Some critics mocked Gaetz for wearing an oversized gas mask on the floor of Congress the week prior to his announcement. His account claimed that he had done so in order to demonstrate "his concern" for the risk of the virus hitting members of Congress.
Here's Gaetz talking about his mask:


theblaze--2020-03-09--Hundreds of DC churchgoers urged to self-quarantine after Episcopal priest who served communion test

Hundreds of DC churchgoers urged to self-quarantine after Episcopal priest who served communion tests positive for coronavirus 'There is no @ @ @ @

The new coronavirus — formally known as COVID-19 — officially came the nation's capital over the weekend with news that an Episcopal priest had tested positive for the disease, and now hundreds people who attended services at his church are being urged to self-quarantine.
"DC Health was notified of a confirmed case of COVID-19 at Christ Church, Georgetown Episcopal," a Monday statement from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's office said. "Through DC Health's investigation, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all visitors to Christ Church, Georgetown Episcopal on February 24th, and between February 28th and March 3rd could have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, and DC Health is recommending that anyone who visited Christ Church, Georgetown Episcopal on those dates isolate themselves at home for 14 days from the last time they visited the church."
The statement added, "Isolating at home includes not going to work or school, and not attending any large or public gatherings, or using public transportation or ride-sharing."
According to a report from WUSA-TV, the first confirmed case of coronavirus in the District of Columbia was the church's rector, the Rev. Timothy Cole, who was diagnosed with the virus on Saturday. The station explained that Cole started feeling bad on Feb. 24 after coming back from a trip to a conference in Kentucky and that doctors diagnosed him with the flu and pneumonia before he tested positive for coronavirus.
A Christ Church spokesman said that Cole attended three services on the Sunday before he was diagnosed, which were attended by more than 550 people, according to WUSA. The church told the Washington Post that he provided communion at one of those services.
In response to the diagnosis, the church announced via a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon that it would suspend "all activities including church services until further notice," and noted that the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution."
"I can now confirm that I am the individual who tested positive for the Coronavirus," Cole said in a statement to parishioners on Sunday. "First, I want to assure you that I will be OK. I am receiving excellent care and am in good spirits under the circumstances." The rector explained that both he and his family would remain under quarantine for the next 14 days.
"There is no need to panic," Cole said elsewhere in the statement. "Following sensible precautions provided by the CDC will go a long way toward insuring the good health of our community."
Christ Church Georgetown was founded in 1817, according to the church website. At a press conference Sunday, a church official said that the canceled services mark the first time the church had been closed since a fire in the 1800s, CBS News reported.


theblaze--2020-03-09--Homeowner: Intruder scaled fence after midnight, tried to break in. Also homeowner: So I introduced

Homeowner: Intruder scaled fence after midnight, tried to break in. Also homeowner: So I introduced him to my gun.

Homeowner : Intruder scaled fence after midnight , tried to break in .
Also homeowner : So I introduced him @ @ @ @ @ was shot once in each leg

Some folks just can't seem to get it through their heads that there's an armed populace in America, and when gun owners are threatened, they're more than willing to pull the trigger.
Yet another case in point occurred over the weekend in the Lone Star State.
You see, a Houston homeowner told authorities he heard an individual scaling his six-foot fence at his residence on West Mount Houston Road around 1:45 a.m. Sunday, KTRK-TV reported.
With that, Harris County Sheriff's deputies said the homeowner grabbed a gun, the station added.
What happened next?
When the homeowner said he heard the intruder trying to break in, he opened fire, KTRK reported.
The suspect was shot once in each leg and is expected to survive, the station said — all thanks to the quick thinking of one law enforcement official.
Capt. John Shannon told KTRK that "Deputy Salgado put a tourniquet onto his legs" after which the suspect was taken to Northwest Memorial Hospital.
What happened to the homeowner?
The station said that deputies were speaking with the homeowner but that the investigation into any possible charges is pending..


theblaze--2020-03-09--The French government actually had to tell people that cocaine isn't a cure for coronavirus after th

The French government actually had to tell people that cocaine isn't a cure for coronavirus after the fake claim spread online

The French government actually had to tell people that cocaine is n't a cure for coronavirus after the fake claim @ @ @ @ @ does NOT protect against COVID-19 . '

The French government was forced to combat the claim that cocaine cures the coronavirus Sunday after a misinformation campaign recently began circulating widely online.
"No, cocaine does NOT protect against COVID-19. It is an addictive drug that causes serious side effects and is harmful to people's health," the French health ministry tweeted in response to doctored images being spread on the internet suggesting that the drug "kills" the virus.
The images, which were posted to Twitter by profiles boasting hundreds of thousands of followers, appeared to show news headlines about the new miracle cure, Business Insider reported. "Cocaine kills coronavirus," the headlines read in the images, which were retweeted and liked thousands of times on Twitter.
Most users who reacted to the tweets seemed to know that they were fake and treated the information as a joke. But, nonetheless, given the panic and hysteria over the international outbreak, the French government felt that they had to quash the misinformation.
Politifact also stepped in to debunk the claims over the weekend.
Numerous conspiracy theories have circulated online since the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan, China, late last year. Such theories range from the suggestion that the virus originated in a lab as a biological weapon to theories suggesting that the virus can be spread through pets, mosquito bites, and goods manufactured in China.
In response to the misinformation spread, the World Health Organization has set up a website page aimed at debunking myths and conspiracies about the virus.
France has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. At the time of this article's publication, over 1,400 had tested positive for the virus in the country, resulting in 30 deaths.