theblaze--2020-02-29--US health officials warn these are the essential 'dos and don'ts' regarding the coronavirus

US health officials warn these are the essential 'dos and don'ts ' regarding the coronavirus Do wash your hands , @ @ @

With authorities confirming that the coronavirus, also known as the COVID-19 illness, had already claimed one life in the United States, health officials are warning the country to prepare in the event it continues spreading.
According to WebMD, these are the steps the essential "dos and don'ts" when preparing for the coronavirus.
Wash your hands
DO: People should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, several times a day. This includes before eating, cooking, and after using the bathroom. Health officials recommend using soap and water or a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
People should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, several times a day. This includes before eating, cooking, and after using the bathroom. Health officials recommend using soap and water or a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. DO NOT:If you believe you have come in contact with the virus, immediately wash your hands. Do not touch your eyes, face or mouth.
Learn the symptoms, do not wear a mask
DO: Health officials are urging Americans to learn the symptoms of the coronavirus, which are similar to those of the flu. These include fever and shortness of breath.
Health officials are urging Americans to learn the symptoms of the coronavirus, which are similar to those of the flu. These include fever and shortness of breath. DO NOT: Contrary to what you may have heard, health officials are recommending Americans to avoid wearing masks unless they are sick. "Masks help protect others from catching the virus, but wearing one when you're healthy won't do much." Demand for N95 masks have boomed since the start of the outbreak, causing shortages, which is why WebMD recommends leaving the masks "for people who really need them, like the sick or health care professionals."
Avoid public places if you are over 60 or have a condition
DO: WebMD is warning people over 60 or with health conditions to avoid public places. "Note," they write, "the highest-risk groups appear to be seniors and people with preexisting conditions like heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes."
WebMD is warning people over 60 or with health conditions to avoid public places. "Note," they write, "the highest-risk groups appear to be seniors and people with preexisting conditions like heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes." DO NOT: If you have a fever or flu-like symptoms, avoid traveling. If you have to take a flight, inform a flight attendant and contact a health professional when you get home.
Rethink your travel plans and have supplies ready
DO: If your travel plans include affected countries, you may want to reconsider your itinerary. "Currently, the CDC advises against all nonessential travel to China and South Korea," says WebMD. The agency also recommends adults over 60 or who have certain health conditions to consider "postponing nonessential travel to Italy, Japan, and Iran." You can find the latest advisories here. Health officials are also recommending people to have supplies at home in case they feel sick and need to be quarantined. This would include prescription medicines, disinfectants, and a 2-week supply of food and water.
If your travel plans include affected countries, you may want to reconsider your itinerary. "Currently, the CDC advises against all nonessential travel to China and South Korea," says WebMD. The agency also recommends adults over 60 or who have certain health conditions to consider "postponing nonessential travel to Italy, Japan, and Iran." You can find the latest advisories here. Health officials are also recommending people to have supplies at home in case they feel sick and need to be quarantined. This would include prescription medicines, disinfectants, and a 2-week supply of food and water. DO NOT: There are only a few dozen cases of coronavirus in the United States, so authorities are urging Americans not to panic.
What if you already feel sick?
DO: If you suspect you may have the coronavirus and are experiencing a fever, cough, and a hard time breathing, contact your doctor.
If you suspect you may have the coronavirus and are experiencing a fever, cough, and a hard time breathing, contact your doctor. DO NOT: However, health officials recommend not to just go to your nearest urgent care clinic. Instead, call your doctor first to find out what protocols to follow and ensure you do not spread the disease to others.
Do not reach for antibiotics
DO: If you suspect you might be sick, then do wear a mask.
If you suspect you might be sick, then do wear a mask. DO NOT: That said, WebMD recommends not reaching for old antibiotics you may have lying around your house: "antibiotics work only on illnesses caused by bacteria, and the coronavirus is -- you guessed it -- a virus."
To read the full WebMD article, click here


theblaze--2020-02-29--First American has died from coronavirus, health officials confirm

First American has died from coronavirus , health officials confirm More than five dozen Americans had the diease as of @

Washington state health officials announced Saturday that a Seattle-area person who had coronavirus has died.
According to KOMO-TV, officials did not release details about the person who died, such as the age or identity, but said they would hold a press conference later in the day.
"It is a sad day in our state as we learn that a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. We will continue to work toward a day where no one dies from this virus," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said.
In addition to announcing the death. health officials revealed there are even more confirmed cases of coronavirus in King County, although they did not immediately say how many, KIRO-TV reported.
At a press conference Saturday afternoon, President Donald Trump said the person who died was a female in her 50s. Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence announced new travel restrictions to areas of the world, such as South Korea and Iran, that have been particularly hard hit by the disease.
More from NBC News:
Washington state along with Oregon and California all reported new cases on Friday. Among the new confirmed or presumptive cases, were three contracted from an unknown source, bringing the total number of what could be "community spread" cases in the United States to four.
The patients from these four cases have no known travel history or exposure to someone who had traveled or been infected. Not all four have been confirmed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention testing, but they tested positive locally.
As of Saturday morning, there were just 66 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S.
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-02-29--Media claim Trump called coronavirus a 'hoax.' But video shows that's not what Trump said at all.

Media claim Trump called coronavirus a 'hoax . '
But video shows that 's not what Trump said at all @ @ @ @ @ politicizing the coronavirus '

The media are claiming that President Donald Trump called the coronavirus a "hoax" while speaking at a campaign event in South Carolina on Friday.
But video of Trump's remarks show otherwise.
What are critics saying?
Dana Milbank, a Washington Post syndicated columnist, outright claimed Trump called the disease a "hoax."
Several media outlets then followed suit with whole stories dedicated to the claim.
Politico : Trump rallies his base to treat coronavirus as a 'hoax'
: Trump rallies his base to treat coronavirus as a 'hoax' NBC News : Trump calls coronavirus Democrats' 'new hoax'
: Trump calls coronavirus Democrats' 'new hoax' CNBC: Trump says the coronavirus is the Democrats' 'new hoax'
Joe Biden even seized on the claim as an opportunity to bash the president.
"Some of the stuff he says is so bizarre that you can laugh at it. It just so diminishes the faith that people around the world have in the United States," Biden said. "The president of the United States says it's a hoax? It's hard to believe. Even for him it's hard to believe."
What did Trump actually say?
As TheBlaze reported, Trump did not call coronavirus itself a "hoax."
Rather, he told supporters that Democrats are "politicizing" the disease and using it as another opportunity to attack him, alleging that he has somehow done something wrong in managing the U.S. response to the global outbreak.
Trump said:
Now the Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus. Coronavirus. They're politicizing it. We did one of the great jobs, you say, "How's President Trump doing?" They go, "Oh, not good, not good." They have no clue; they don't have any clue. They can't even count their votes in Iowa. They can't count their votes!
One of my people came up to me and said, "Mr. President, they tried to beat you on Russia, Russia, Russia. That didn't work out too well. They couldn't do it. They tried the impeachment hoax. That was on a perfect conversation. They tried anything, they tried it over and over. They've been doing it since you got in. It's all turning, they lost, it's all turning. Think of it. And this is their new hoax."
The transcript and video make it clear that Trump did not call coronavirus a "hoax," but rather emphasized that Democrats are using the disease — as they used Russia and impeachment — to attack him politically.


theblaze--2020-02-29--MSNBC reporter offers a fake definition of 'democratic socialism' that even socialists have debunked

MSNBC reporter offers a fake definition of 'democratic socialism ' that even socialists have debunked It 's not New Deal @

From Walter Duranty denying the horrors of Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union to another New York Times reporter, Herbert Matthews, assuring the public that Cuba's Fidel Castro was "decidedly anti-communist," leftists have historically relied on gullible American journalists to spread misinformation on their behalf. As it tends to do, history repeats itself this year.
With the strong possibility of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) becoming the nominee of the Democratic Party, liberal media personalities are already working overtime to normalize the self-described democratic socialist and his movement. The effort was kicked off by economist Paul Krugman who opined in a risible New York Times column, "Bernie Sanders Is Not a Socialist," that the septuagenarian presidential candidate's use of the label is the result of bad "personal branding" and not a reflection of his ideology — his pledge to nationalize nearly a third of the American economy and record of endorsing militant Trotskyites be damned, I guess.
Not to be outdone, on Friday MSNBC reporter Stephenie Ruhle released a video that attempted to normalize Sanders' and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's ideology with a definition of democratic socialism that is demonstrably false.
According to Ruhle, "while democratic socialists do borrow some ideas from socialism, they are not what you think of when you think traditional socialists." She then defines democratic socialism as the enactment of some socialist ideas through the democratic process.
"They are not calling for communal ownership of property," she insisted, adding "the goal of democratic socialists is to control prices of certain essential services..." Ruhle then claimed the U.S. already has democratic socialism and cites Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare as examples.
These claims are illogical and untrue. Democratic socialists are explicitly calling for collective ownership and control of property and while Ruhle is right that they seek to establish socialism through the legislative process, her baseline definition of "socialism," as harmless government programs, has no basis in the actual, and very ambitious, agenda of democratic socialists. Don't take my word for it, democratic socialist leaders say so themselves.
In fact, the very first sentence of a 2018 Voxarticle written by Jacobin's Meagan Day, titled "Democratic socialism, explained by a democratic socialist," is a direct quote from Ruhle claiming that democratic socialism does not mean "communal ownership of production," which the author then proceeds to debunk. "In the long run, democratic socialists want to end capitalism," Day wrote — point blank, without any equivocations.
Day goes even further and admits that while some political observers — like MSNBC's Ruhle — seem to equate democratic socialism with FDR's programs, the democratic socialist agenda is far more radical than that of New Deal liberals: abolishing the free enterprise system. "Our goal is not to rein in the excesses of capitalism for a few decades at a time — we want to end our society's subservience to the market."
Other democratic socialist leaders have been equally explicit. The national director of the Democratic Socialists of America said in an August 2018 radio interview that their movement seeks "a society where workers control things," including converting private businesses into employee-owned co-ops.
Democratic socialists have also rejected claims that they only want the United States to be more like Scandinavia. As Marquette University professor Michael A. McCarthy explained in a Jacobin article titled "Democratic Socialism Isn't Social Democracy," their goal is far more "public ownership of the economy than currently exists" in countries like Denmark and Sweden.
These are not just the musings of activists and intellectuals. Bernie Sanders' own "Corporate Accountability and Democracy" plan calls for collective control and ownership of corporations by forcing owners to give up 20% of their stock and 45% control of their enterprises. As British economist Ryan Bourne argued in a February 2020 article, these policies are even more radical than those proposed by the UK's Jeremy Corbyn, who no one disputes is a socialist.
Plainly stated, for Stephanie Ruhle's definition of "democratic socialism" to be true, one would also have to believe that the way prominent democratic socialists define their own ideology — both what it is and what it is not — is false. Of course, this defies common sense, but MSNBC insists on insulting the intelligence of its viewers to normalize left-wing extremism. At one point in her video, Ruhle even suggests that Karl Marx's assertion that socialism is interchangeable with communism was wrong, which is so absurd that it is laughable.
The fact is that despite the best efforts by MSNBC, the New York Times, and others to gaslight American voters, we know exactly what democratic socialism is and what it is not because, to their credit, democratic socialists are more honest than they are. To paraphrase Groucho (the better) Marx: Who are you going to believe, MSNBC or your lying eyes?


theblaze--2020-02-29--American with coronavirus speaks out for first time, shares advice that has everyone talking

American with coronavirus speaks out for first time , shares advice that has everyone talking 'Coronavirus does n't have to @ @ @ @ @

Carl Goldman, one of the Americans who contracted the coronavirus while quarantined on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, is speaking out about his experience with the disease.
Despite the severe stock market downturn this week over fears coronavirus could trigger an uncontrollable pandemic, Goldman said the viral disease is not really as bad as some have made it out to be — at least for him.
"I am in my late 60s, and the sickest I've ever been was when I had bronchitis several years ago. That laid me out on my back for a few days. This has been much easier: no chills, no body aches. I breathe easily, and I don't have a stuffy nose. My chest feels tight, and I have coughing spells. If I were at home with similar symptoms, I probably would have gone to work as usual," Goldman explained in an essay for the Washington Post.
Upon returning to the U.S. from Japan, after spending 14 days in quarantine on the Diamond Princess, officials with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shipped Goldman and his wife — who does not have the disease — to a biocontainment center at the University of Nebraska hospital, the same one used during the Ebola outbreak last decade.
Goldman explained:
During the first few days, the hospital staff hooked me up to an IV, mostly as a precaution, and used it to administer magnesium and potassium, just to make sure I had plenty of vitamins. Other than that, my treatment has consisted of what felt like gallons and gallons of Gatorade — and, when my fever rose just above 100 degrees, some ibuprofen. The nurses came to the room every four hours or so, to check my vitals, ask if I needed anything and to draw my blood.
I got very good at unhooking all the monitors checking my oxygen level, blood pressure and heart rate so I could go to the bathroom or just pace around the room a little, to get my blood flowing. I never quite got the hang of hooking them back up without making a tangled mess. After 10 days, I moved out of biocontainment and into the same facility as Jeri. Now we can videochat from our separate quarantines, in neighboring rooms.
"It's surreal to see everyone panic — news conferences, the stock market falling, school closures — about a disease I have. It does seem likely that coronavirus will spread in the United States, but it won't help anybody if we all panic," Goldman went on to write.
But it was Goldman's advice for the world that has many people talking about his essay.
"Based on my experience, I'd recommend that everyone get a good digital thermometer, just as a comfort tool, so they can reassure themselves if their noses start running," he said. "Coronavirus doesn't have to be a horrible calamity."
As of Saturday, people in more than 60 countries have contracted the rapidly spreading disease. There are at least 66 confirmed cases in the U.S., while South Korea, Italy, and Iran are hardest hit outside of mainland China so far.
In response, Goldman's essay generated significant discussion online.
"Damn, trying to 'both-sides' diseases now?" one person responded.
"Was this...written by the coronavirus?" another person mocked.
Another person noted, "'So far' is doing a lot of heavy lifting here."
"For a rounded perspective, I'd like to hear from a couple people who are on their third week of being on a ventilator," another person said.


theblaze--2020-02-29--'This is their new hoax!' — Trump says Democrats are spreading misinformation about the coronavirus

'This is their new hoax!' — Trump says Democrats are spreading misinformation about the coronavirus at South Carolina rally

'This is their new hoax ! '
— Trump says Democrats are spreading misinformation about the coronavirus at South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ to pounce on this one

President Donald Trump told his supporters at a South Carolina that Democrats were spreading misinformation about the coronavirus, and called it "their new hoax."
Critics instantly pounced on the comments as proof that the administration was not taking the threat seriously.
"Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus," he told his supporters.
"You know that right? Coronavirus," he added to loud boos. "They're politicizing it. We did one of the great jobs. You say 'how's President Trump doing?' they go, 'oh not good, not good.'"
The president went on to quote one of his supporters telling him about the coronavirus.
"One of my people came up to me and said, 'Mr. President, they tried to beat you on Russia Russia Russia, that didn't work out too well. They couldn't do it,'" he said.
"'They tried the impeachment hoax,'" he continued. "'That was on a perfect conversation. They tried anything. They tried it over and over, they've been doing it since you got in. It's all turning, they lost, it's all turning. Think of it. Think of it.'"
"And this is their new hoax!" he said to great applause.
He went on to tout his actions early to prevent the spread of coronavirus and compare it to the yearly deaths from influenza, which number into the tens of thousands.
The official Twitter account of the re-election campaign tweeted the video of his comments:
"Now Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus and spreading misinformation about the Trump Administration's efforts to protect the American people," they tweeted. "This is their new hoax!"
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut was among those who criticized the president over his comments.
"When I was 4 I thought that I could win hide and seek every time by sitting on the stairs with a blanket over my head," Murphy tweeted.
"This is very very cool and not at all worrying and super reassuring and normal and it is pretty much what every other president would do and besides both sides," smirked Sen. Brian Schatz (D) of Hawaii.
The coronavirus has killed more than 2,800 worldwide and infected at least 80,000, including some in the United States.


theblaze--2020-02-29--'Big mistake': Chris Matthews incorrectly ID's GOP Sen. Tim Scott as Dem running against Sen. Lindse

'Big mistake': Chris Matthews incorrectly ID's GOP Sen. Tim Scott as Dem running against Sen. Lindsey Graham

MSNBC host Chris Matthews made what he called a `` big mistake '' on air Friday evening while interviewing Democratic Senate candidate Jamie Harrison , when he played footage of GOP Sen. Tim Scott at a Trump rally and mistook the Senator for Harrison .
To make matters even more cringeworthy , Scott was seen in the footage standing next to fellow South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham — the man Harrison is hoping to unseat .
What are the details ?
In the MSNBC video shared by a Politico reporter on Twitter , Scott and Graham can be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's rally in South Carolina that night while Matthews tells his guest , `` Jamie , I see you standing next to the guy you 're going to beat right there , maybe .
Maybe , maybe .
Lindsey Graham . ''
At that point , Fox News reported , `` Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod and network correspondent Trymaine Lee both chimed in to alert Matthews that he 'd made a mistake , but it took several seconds for him to realize the mixup . ''
`` Who 's that ? ''
Matthews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` That 's Tim Scott . ''
`` Oh !
The other senator , Tim Scott , what am I saying ?
Big mistake , '' the `` Hardball '' host said before telling Harrison , `` Mistaken identity , sir , sorry .
Tell me how you 're going to beat Lindsey .
Everybody knows Lindsey . ''
Harrison took the flub in stride , smiling and laughing before answering , `` Everybody knows Lindsey , but everybody does n't like Lindsey Graham .
And that 's how I 'm going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenger added , `` This is a guy that you ca n't trust .
This is a guy that does n't have a moral compass .
And all he 's focused on is Washington , D.C. games .
And at the end of the day , the folks in South Carolina are going to give Lindsey Graham a one-way ticket , maybe not back here to South Carolina , but possibly to Mar-a-Lago .
We 're fed up . ''
According to Harrison 's campaign website , he is the first African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is running to beat Sen. Graham in this fall 's election .

MSNBC host Chris Matthews made what he called a "big mistake" on air Friday evening while interviewing Democratic Senate candidate Jamie Harrison, when he played footage of GOP Sen. Tim Scott at a Trump rally and mistook the Senator for Harrison.
To make matters even more cringeworthy, Scott was seen in the footage standing next to fellow South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham — the man Harrison is hoping to unseat.
What are the details?
In the MSNBC video shared by a Politico reporter on Twitter, Scott and Graham can be seen smiling in attendance at President Donald Trump's rally in South Carolina that night while Matthews tells his guest, "Jamie, I see you standing next to the guy you're going to beat right there, maybe. Maybe, maybe. Lindsey Graham."
At that point, Fox News reported, "Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod and network correspondent Trymaine Lee both chimed in to alert Matthews that he'd made a mistake, but it took several seconds for him to realize the mixup."
"Who's that?" Matthews asked, before Lee repeated again, "That's Tim Scott."
"Oh! The other senator, Tim Scott, what am I saying? Big mistake," the "Hardball" host said before telling Harrison, "Mistaken identity, sir, sorry. Tell me how you're going to beat Lindsey. Everybody knows Lindsey."
Harrison took the flub in stride, smiling and laughing before answering, "Everybody knows Lindsey, but everybody doesn't like Lindsey Graham. And that's how I'm going to beat him, Chris."
The challenger added, "This is a guy that you can't trust. This is a guy that doesn't have a moral compass. And all he's focused on is Washington, D.C. games. And at the end of the day, the folks in South Carolina are going to give Lindsey Graham a one-way ticket, maybe not back here to South Carolina, but possibly to Mar-a-Lago. We're fed up."
According to Harrison's campaign website, he is the first African American chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party. He is running to beat Sen. Graham in this fall's election.


theblaze--2020-02-29--Poll measuring preference for socialism or capitalism is bad news for Democrats — if they nominate B

Poll measuring preference for socialism or capitalism is bad news for Democrats — if they nominate Bernie Sanders There 's @ @ @ @ @ for capitalism

A new poll could mean that the Democrats face headwinds from the American people in trying to defeat President Donald Trump if they nominate a socialist as their presidential candidate.
That's because twice as many voters prefer capitalism than those that prefer socialism.
The Fox News poll showed that 56 percent of voters had a favorable attitude about capitalism, while only 28 percent had a favorable attitude about socialism.
Another 30 percent of voters said they saw capitalism unfavorably, while 58 percent said they found socialism unfavorably.
Democratic frontrunner Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is a longtime proponent of socialism and has been criticized for his support for despotic socialist regimes.
In one telling exchange, he said that he opposed the totalitarian state in communist Cuba, but added that it wasn't all bad while touting dictator Fidel Castro's "literacy programs."
Another question from the poll showed that 76 percent of voters were not opposed to billionaires existing, whereas only 15 percent said it was not a good thing for billionaires to exist.
The poll showed a wide age gap, with those above 76 years of age being most opposed to socialism, while those under 35 years of age being most supportive of socialism.
Advocates of capitalism say the free market system is the best way to organize society in order to reach the greatest prosperity, freedom and happiness, while critics favor the centralized power of the government to order each individual to the betterment of society.
Here's more about socialism:


theblaze--2020-02-29--California and Oregon both confirm new coronavirus cases of unknown origin

California and Oregon both confirm new coronavirus cases of unknown origin The news hit the same day the World Health @ @ @ @ @ now in over 50 countries

Health officials announced Friday that a second case of coronavirus contracted through community spread — where the patient had no apparent contact with a known case and did not travel to a region experiencing an outbreak — has been confirmed in California, 90 miles away from the state's first community transmitted case. Within hours, state officials in Oregon also reported a case of unknown origin.
The news hit as the World Health Organization confirmed that the new virus, known as COVID-19, has now spread to 54 countries.
What are the details?
Santa Clara County's Public Health Department issued a statement saying the new case in their California county "had no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected individual" and warned, "now is the time to prepare for the possibility of widespread community transmission."
California's first case of community spread COVID-19 was announced Wednesday and confirmed to be in Solano County, roughly 90 miles away from Santa Clara.
Jennifer Nuzzo, senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security reacted to news of the second case, telling The Washington Post, "I think there's a strong possibility that there's local transmission going on in California. In other words, the virus is spreading within California, and I think there's a possibility other states are in the same boat — they just haven't recognized that yet."
Sure enough, The Washington Post reported in a separate story within hours that a resident of Washington County, Oregon, had also contracted the coronavirus through community spread.
There are currently 59 known cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and according to the World Health Organization's running count, there are now more than 83,000 confirmed cases across 54 countries (after Mexico announced its first two confirmed cases on Friday, Fox News reported). More than 2,800 people have died from the new coronavirus as of this writing.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference Friday, "This is a reality check for every government on the planet," TIME reported. Ghebreyesus' message to leaders was: "Wake up, get ready. This virus may be on its way and you need to be ready. You have a duty to your citizens, you have a duty to the world to be ready."
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told Fox News' Bill Hemmer on Friday, "We have been very transparent from day one that the risk to Americans at the present time is low, that that could change rapidly and that we must be prepared."
Azar continued, "We, your government are taking this seriously, we are working with Congress, we are preparing across the federal, state and local levels, but for the everyday American, the risk to them is low and it does not result in a change to their lifestyle right now."
The HHS secretary added, "But that can change, and we want to make sure we're transparent about that."


theblaze--2020-02-29--Democrat grills Pompeo on whether coronavirus is a hoax — then Jake Tapper exposes his misleading qu

Democrat grills Pompeo on whether coronavirus is a hoax — then Jake Tapper exposes his misleading question This is how @ @ @ @ @ machine

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) made headlines when he grilled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a supposed quote from acting White House chief of staff Mike Mulvaney, but it turns out he was misleading everyone about the quote.
"Donald Trump's chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told the Conservative Political Action Conference that the coronavirus was the hoax of the day. Do you agree with Donald Trump's chief of staff that the coronavirus is the hoax of the day?" asked Lieu.
"The State Department is doing everything it can to protect American citizens from around the world," responded Pompeo.
"Do you believe coronavirus is a hoax of the day?" interrupted Lieu.
"I'm not gonna comment on what others are saying," said Pompeo, who appeared to be losing patience with the question.
"Do you believe the coronavirus is a hoax?" asked Lieu.
"It's a gotcha moment, it's not useful," Pompeo responded.
While the interaction has been used by left-wing media outlets to make it appear as if Pompeo might possibly believe the coronavirus was a hoax, CNN's Jake Tapper unraveled the false premise behind the question by Lieu.
"That's not what Mulvaney said," tweeted Tapper.
"Mulvaney said at CPAC today that 5-6 weeks ago, the admin. held coronavirus briefings on the Hill and only 5 senators & 10-15 congressmen showed up," added Tapper, and quoting Mulvaney, who said, "We were dealing with it. The press was covering their hoax of the day."
Mulvaney was in fact criticizing the media for ignoring the briefings in order to cover the impeachment, which he called the "hoax of the day."
Tapper then criticized Mulvaney for his rebuke of the media. "It's preposterous to assert that by covering an impeachment and impeachment trial of the president the media was covering our 'hoax of the day,'" he added in a third tweet.
Lieu went on to call Pompeo "shameful" for himself going to speak at CPAC on the same day that he gave only giving two hours of time to testify before Congress.
Here's the video of the exchange:


theblaze--2020-02-29--Joe Biden surges in South Carolina primary polls. Is it too late for a comeback?

Joe Biden surges in South Carolina primary polls .
Is it too late for a comeback ?

Just as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) seemed almost certain to secure the Democratic presidential nomination, former-Vice President Joe Biden might be making a major comeback.
Biden -- who has struggled early in the 2020 campaign -- is now up by double digits in recent South Carolina primary polls. Anything can happen, and if the Biden campaign clinches Saturday's primary, Super Tuesday may be his to lose.
On the radio program Friday, Glenn Beck, Pat Gray, and Stu Burguiere look at the most recent data points and weigh in on Biden's chances.
Watch the video below to catch the conversation:
Use code GLENN to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
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theblaze--2020-02-29--NFL legend Barry Sanders has the perfect reaction to confusion over Garth Brooks' 2020 'endorsement

NFL legend Barry Sanders has the perfect reaction to confusion over Garth Brooks' 2020 'endorsement'

NFL legend Barry Sanders has the perfect reaction to confusion over Garth Brooks ' 2020 'endorsement' Garth and the Detroit @ @ @ @ @ .

Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders has broken his silence after his friend and country music icon Garth Brooks sparked fervor for wearing his #20 jersey during a concert in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday.
Several folks on social media went into a frenzy this week after mistakenly assuming Brooks' "Sanders" jersey was an endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). So, the NFL great took the opportunity to jokingly capitalize on the situation with a tongue-in-cheek offer to his famous supporter.
What did Sanders say?
In reaction to a social media post that read, "Facebook forgot who Barry Sanders is and is freaking out at Garth Brooks for wearing a jersey and I'm dying," Sanders tweeted, "Hey @garthbrooks, want to be my VP?"
Brooks replied, "Hey @BarrySanders I would run any race with you! #Number20for2020 HA!!! love you pal, g"
The Detroit Lions weighed in, too, posting an image of Sanders in his jersey next to a goat mascot (signifying Greatest of All Time) and the words, "Barry 2020." The team tweeted, "He's got our vote."
Anything else?
Friday was the first time Sanders or Brooks offered public reactions after days of both supporters and critics of Bernie Sanders blowing up social media over the assumption that Brooks was a "Bernie Bro."
But no one in Detroit appeared to make that mistake, especially since Brooks made it clear to his 70,000 fans congregated at the Ford Center that he was honoring Barry Sanders. Brooks told the audience, "Can I just tell ya that you guys got the greatest player in NFL history in my opinion."


theblaze--2020-02-29--Breaking: President Trump to end Afghanistan War after 18 years in peace deal with the Taliban

Breaking : President Trump to end Afghanistan War after 18 years in peace deal with the Taliban This was one @ @ @ @ @ from 2016

President Donald Trump will complete a campaign promise and end America's longest war, the Afghanistan War, in a brokered peace deal with the Taliban.
US officials are set to sign the deal on Saturday.
"Nearly 19 years ago, American service members went to Afghanistan to root out the terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks. In that time, we have made great progress in Afghanistan, but at great cost to our brave service members, to the American taxpayers, and to the people of Afghanistan," said Trump in a statement on Friday.
"When I ran for office," he added, "I promised the American people I would begin to bring our troops home, and seek to end this war. We are making substantial progress on that promise."
The Afghanistan War began in 2001 when President George W. Bush ordered the assault on terrorist elements. The bombings were in response to the 9/11 attacks by al Qaeda that killed almost 3,000 Americans.
The war has cost the US more than $750 billion.
The president told reporters that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will personally witness the signing of the peace deal. It is unclear if the president will have any personal involvement with the signing with representatives of the Taliban.
In September, the president revealed in a tweet that he had called off a secret meeting with members of the Taliban at Camp David after an attack that took the lives of several US military members.
"Unfortunately, in order to build false leverage, they admitted to an attack in Kabul that killed one of our great great soldiers, and 11 other people," he tweeted. "I immediately cancelled the meeting and called off peace negotiations. What kind of people would kill so many in order to seemingly strengthen their bargaining position?"
The Taliban responded to the cancelled meeting by claiming it would lead to more US deaths. Only five months later, the president announced the peace deal.
Trump made it a campaign promise to end the United States' involvement in "endless wars" during the 2016 presidential campaign.
That promise to the American voters will be completed on Saturday.
Here's the latest on the peace deal:


theblaze--2020-02-28--Coronavirus incites irrational fears among beer consumers

On Friday 's episode of `` Pat Gray Unleashed , '' Pat discussed why some people are avoiding Corona Beer @ @ @ @ @ are struggling as a result of the Coronavirus scare .
Finally , China introduces legislation @ @ @ @ @ on the consumption of dogs .
Watch the video below for more .
Use code @ @ @ @ @ off one year of BlazeTV .
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On Friday's episode of "Pat Gray Unleashed," Pat discussed why some people are avoiding Corona Beer. Then, Chinese restaurants are struggling as a result of the Coronavirus scare. Finally, China introduces legislation that would impose a ban on the consumption of dogs.
Watch the video below for more.
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theblaze--2020-03-01--BREAKING: Pete Buttigieg drops out of Democratic race hours after vowing to push forward

BREAKING : Pete Buttigieg drops out of Democratic race hours after vowing to push forward 'He believes this is the @ @ @ @ @

Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay presidential candidate, is dropping out of the Democratic race for the White House.
Just after 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, campaign sources told multiple news outlets that Buttigieg was quitting the race.
"He believes this is the right thing to do right now for our country and the country to heal this divided nation and defeat President Trump," a campaign aide told CNN. "He decided that now was the time and, I think that is exactly why he is getting out. He believes this is the right thing to do."
Buttigieg narrowly won the Iowa Caucuses over socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, although it was essentially a toss-up. Buttigieg then placed second in the New Hampshire primary, third in the Nevada Caucus, and fourth in the South Carolina primary.
Despite the strong start, Buttigieg was unable to build a diverse base of supporters, which he would have needed to secure the Democratic nomination and be competitive on the national stage against President Donald Trump.
Buttigieg campaigned as a moderate alternative to Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the race's most progressive candidates, but Joe Biden's strong showing in South Carolina — where he won nearly 50 percent of the vote — showed that the former vice president would be moderate Democrats' preferred candidate.
The announcement came just hours after Buttigieg vowed to stay in the race, claiming that "pushing forward is the best thing we can do for the country and for the party."


theblaze--2020-03-01--Report: CNN and NY Times journalists caught at party with disgraced former congresswoman

Report : CNN and NY Times journalists caught at party with disgraced former congresswoman

It seems like life is back to normal for Katie Hill, the disgraced former member of Congress who resigned last October after it was revealed that she and her husband were involved in an intimate "throuple" with one of her staffers. In fact, Page Six reported that Hill may be "dating" Playboy's Washington, D.C., political correspondent, Alex Thomas.
The two were reportedly spotted at a posh Manhattan party last week for the launch of Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng's book, "Sinking in the Swamp." The book is said to be "a deep dive into the murky underworld of President Trump's Washington" that exposes the "charlatans" and "run-of-the-mill con artists" who have "infected" the nation's capital.
Hill denies the two are dating
Hill and Thomas were spotted at the party by at least two attendees who spoke to Page Six on background.
"They arrived together, they were together all night, and they left together," an attendee of the Upper East Side party said. Another anonymous source noted the two "kept going outside to smoke together."
Page Six contacted Thomas for comment; he denied that he and Hill, who is currently going through a divorce, are in a relationship.
Guess who else was in attendance?
CNN's Brian Stelter, Oliver Darcy, and Vicky Ward were also said to be at the party, along with New York Times Styles reporter Taylor Lorenz. Stelter's attendance is notable since he, as the host of "Reliable Sources," frequently calls out his industry colleagues for biased reporting. It is unclear if any of the journalists interacted with Hill or Thomas at the event.
Page Six also noted that when the scandal surrounding Hill first broke and nude photos of the former House member were leaked online, Thomas defended her. The Playboy reporter accused the National Republican Congressional Committee of "shopping around" the pictures of Hill. The NRCC denied this.
Hill said the photos were part of a smear campaign by media conservatives. She has also attributed her resignation, in part, to "biphobia" on Capitol Hill.


theblaze--2020-03-01--Liberals target, harass Trump-supporting Mexican restaurant owners — but it backfires big time

' I 'm going to drive the 2 hours to Tucson w/ my family just to eat here to show @ @ @

Jorge and Betty Rivas, owners of Sammy's Mexican Grill near Tucson, Arizona, have faced a barrage of harassment for attending a President Donald Trump rally in Phoenix last month.
But now it appears the Rivases will get the last laugh.
What happened?
After attending the Trump rally, where Jorge and Betty were spotted directly behind the president, the restaurant owners began receiving a wave of backlash, including negative social media messages, falsely negative restaurant reviews, harassing phone calls, and threats.
"Just yesterday I had a few guys say 'you guys are — you're racists, you're evil, you're the worst of the worst,'" Jorge told KOLD-TV.
The Rivases are both naturalized citizens — Jorge is from El Salvador and Betty is from Mexico — and they have been staunch Trump supporters since Trump entered politics.
"We have supported the president pretty much from day one," Jorge told KOLD. "Every single rally he has had in Phoenix she goes or I go or sometimes we both go, this time we decided we both wanted to go.
"We fel[t] that [it] is very important for every person to say 'this is what I stand for,' and in our case, we are Republicans, we are behind the president."
On Sunday, Jorge and Betty even appeared on "Fox and Friends" after their story gained traction online.
What was the response?
The online hate did not work. In response, Trump supporters have flooded Sammy's Mexican Grill with support online. Even the president himself has responded.
"The food is GREAT at Sammy's Mexican Grill in Phoenix, Arizona. Congratulations to Betty & Jorge Rivas on doing such a wonderful job. I will try hard to stop by the next time I am in Phoenix. Support Sammy's!" Trump said.
"I'm going to drive the 2 hours to Tucson w/ my family just to eat here to show them support," another supporter said.
"I'm going to retweet this repeatedly in hopes that Trump supporters in that area flock to that restaurant and keep them so busy they won't have time to think about the haters!!!" another supporter said.
"I just gave them a call and paid $50.00 for food to feed police officers," yet another supporter responded.
"Just saw they give free meals to law enforcement....can't wait to give them my $!" another person said.
This is not the first time that the Rivases' restaurant has been targeted. In 2016, after Betty appeared onstage during a Trump campaign rally, Trump opponents also lashed out at them — triggering a similar wave of support that caused a food shortage at their restaurant.


theblaze--2020-03-01--Biden slams Trump's handling of coronavirus in rant filled with lies and hypocrisy

Biden slams Trump 's handling of coronavirus in rant filled with lies and hypocrisy Biden and Obama named a political @ @ @ @ @ Ebola response

Following his victory in the South Carolina primary, former Vice President Joe Biden did a Sunday morning political talk show blitz in an effort to continue building momentum behind his candidacy as he and the Democratic field head into the "Super Tuesday" election on March 3. One way that Biden is working to position himself as his party's front-runner is by attacking President Donald Trump.
Asked by ABC host George Stephanopoulos how his administration would have handled the federal response to the coronavirus differently, Biden went on a rant that was riddled with falsehoods and hypocrisy.
Obama and Biden named a political operative as 'Ebola Czar'
Biden began his answer by stating that his response to the coronavirus would have been "fundamentally different" from Trump's handling of the matter. He then cited the Obama administration's handling of the Ebola virus as an example of his own experience handling virus outbreaks and attacked Trump for "putting someone in charge [Vice President Mike Pence] who is not a scientist."
There's only one problem: The person whom Biden and former president Barack Obama named as the country's "Ebola Czar" in 2014 was Ron Klain, the former vice president's chief of staff. Klain was also not a scientist. In fact, he is a longtime Democratic political operative.
Trump is not "muzzling scientists"
In his diatribe, Biden also accused President Trump of "muzzling scientists." This is not true.
As TheBlaze reported Saturday, the scientist that Biden is referring to, Dr. Anthony Fauci, expressly denied that he or anyone is being "muzzled" at a White House press briefing on the coronavirus.
"I have never been muzzled — never — and I've been doing this since the administration of Ronald Reagan," he said. "I'm not being muzzled by this administration."
In fact, Dr. Fauci explained the White House has cleared his requests to speak to the media about the coronavirus situation.
The CDC's funding was not cut
Biden also claimed the Trump administration "cut the funding for the CDC," a charge that has been debunked by the Associated Press, which analyzed the claim Biden made and determined no such cuts ever took place. In fact, at least one independent expert has applauded the administration's response to the coronavirus.
"The CDC's response has been excellent, as it has been in the past," John Auerbach, president of the nonpartisan Trust for America's Health, which works closely with officials at the local, state, and federal levels to enhance the nation's readiness for health-related crises, said.


theblaze--2020-03-01--Coronavirus has officially made its way to east coast, health officials confirm

Coronavirus has officially made its way to east coast , health officials confirm

The coronavirus has officially made its way to the east coast.
The Rhode Island Department of Health announced Sunday that it has confirmed a "presumptive positive" case of COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus.
Health officials said the patient is a 40-year-old man who traveled to Italy in mid-February, an area of the world that has since become a hotbed for coronavirus diagnoses. The patient's location was not released. However, officials said the person has had "limited travel" since returning to the U.S.
More from the Providence Journal:
Outreach has begun to people who were in direct contact with the person, the Health Department says, and there are "extensive efforts underway to ensure that they undergo a period of 14 days of self-monitoring for symptoms at home with public health supervision (quarantine). As long as anyone exposed to the individual does not have symptoms outside of their home setting, the virus cannot spread to other people in the community."
The person's immediate family members have been self-quarantining at home since it was determined that the person met the criteria, based on travel history, to be evaluated for coronavirus, the Health Department says.
The Rhode Island Department of Health said it is monitoring 40 people who have had contact with the patient.
However, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) said at a news conference Sunday that there is no reason to panic.
"The general level of risk for Rhode Islanders is low," she said. "There's no need for panic. There's no need to be frightened."
As of Sunday, there are now more than 70 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S., mostly on the west coast. However, a third person in Illinois was also diagnosed with coronavirus on Saturday.
Unfortunately, a Seattle-area man in his 50s was the first confirmed American to die from coronavirus, Washington state health officials announced Saturday.


theblaze--2020-03-01--VIDEO: Joe Biden confuses Fox News' Chris Wallace with NBC's Chuck Todd during interview

After cruising to victory during Saturday 's South Carolina primary , former Vice President Joe Biden took a celebratory lap around the Sunday morning political talk shows .
While wrapping up his interview with `` Fox News Sunday '' host Chris Wallace , the gaffe-prone Biden seems to have confused Wallace with NBC 's Chuck Todd .
`` Mr. Vice President , thank you .
Thanks for your time .
Please come back in less than 13 years , sir , '' Wallace told Biden to wrap up the interview .
A chucking Biden responded : `` Alright , Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace quickly corrected him , `` Alright .
It 's Chris , '' which seems to have confused Biden even more .
`` I just did Chris .
No , no , I just did Chuck .
I 'll tell you what man , these are back-to-back , '' Biden added , referring to an interview he just completed with `` Meet the Press '' host Chuck Todd .
The momentary confusion is not Biden 's first , but then again , he also had a long night after a decisive victory in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders .
According to the final vote tally reported by the Associated Press , Biden defeated Sanders by nearly 30 points , 48 percent to 19 percent , and was quickly declared the winner of the race shortly after the polls closed Saturday .
It was the first time that Biden has ever won a democratic primary in his three attempts at the presidency .
The former vice president 's strong support from African American voters , combined with an endorsement by Rep. James Clyburn ( D-S.C. ) are said to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading up to the election .
The Democratic primary will now turn to the Super Tuesday election on March 3 when voters in Alabama , Arkansas , California , Colorado , Maine , Massachusetts , Minnesota , North Carolina , Oklahoma , Tennessee , Texas , Utah , Vermont , and Virginia will cast their ballots .
Despite Biden 's strong victory in South Carolina , Sanders continues to be regarded as the Democratic frontrunner given his lead in most national polls .

After cruising to victory during Saturday's South Carolina primary, former Vice President Joe Biden took a celebratory lap around the Sunday morning political talk shows.
While wrapping up his interview with "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace, the gaffe-prone Biden seems to have confused Wallace with NBC's Chuck Todd.
"Mr. Vice President, thank you. Thanks for your time. Please come back in less than 13 years, sir," Wallace told Biden to wrap up the interview.
A chucking Biden responded: "Alright, Chuck. Thank you very much."
Wallace quickly corrected him, "Alright. It's Chris," which seems to have confused Biden even more.
"I just did Chris. No, no, I just did Chuck. I'll tell you what man, these are back-to-back," Biden added, referring to an interview he just completed with "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd.
Big win for Biden on Saturday night
The momentary confusion is not Biden's first, but then again, he also had a long night after a decisive victory in South Carolina over democratic socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
According to the final vote tally reported by the Associated Press, Biden defeated Sanders by nearly 30 points, 48 percent to 19 percent, and was quickly declared the winner of the race shortly after the polls closed Saturday.
It was the first time that Biden has ever won a democratic primary in his three attempts at the presidency. The former vice president's strong support from African American voters, combined with an endorsement by Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) are said to have propelled Biden's campaign in the days leading up to the election.
The Associated Press reported:
African American voters in South Carolina backed Biden over any other candidate by a significant margin, according to AP VoteCast, a wide-ranging survey of the electorate. Close to half of black voters supported him, compared with 2 in 10 supporting Sanders and about the same for businessman Tom Steyer.
There was also evidence that Biden's status as former President Barack Obama's two-term vice president helped him win over African Americans.
Up next: Super Tuesday
The Democratic primary will now turn to the Super Tuesday election on March 3 when voters in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia will cast their ballots.
Despite Biden's strong victory in South Carolina, Sanders continues to be regarded as the Democratic frontrunner given his lead in most national polls.


theblaze--2020-03-02--VIDEO: Reporter shuts down Bloomberg after he falsely claims Trump called coronavirus 'a hoax'

VIDEO : Reporter shuts down Bloomberg after he falsely claims Trump called coronavirus ' a hoax' A Politico article has @ @ @

For the second time in less than a week, a reporter has shut down former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg for making false claims regarding President Trump's handling of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
When asked by CBS' Scott Pelley how he views the coronavirus emergency, Bloomberg responded by saying that Trump called the coronavirus "a hoax."
"I find it incomprehensible that the president would do something as inane as calling it a hoax," he told Pelley, who immediately stopped him.
"He said the Democrats making so much of it is a Democratic hoax, not that the virus was a hoax," the reporter pointed out.
Bloomberg did not acknowledge he had made a mistake and continued with his diatribe.
Not the first time Bloomberg gets called out
This is not the first time that the billionaire businessman has made a false claim regarding the Trump administration's management of the coronavirus.
As TheBlaze recently reported, the Associated Press analyzed statements that Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden made during Tuesday's Democratic debate in South Carolina, where the two claimed that Trump had carried out funding cuts for federal health agencies.
"There's nobody here to figure out what the hell we should be doing. And he's defunded — he's defunded Centers for Disease Control, CDC, so we don't have the organization we need. This is a very serious thing," Bloomberg said at the time.
However, the AP looked into the charges and found that no such budget cuts ever took place. In fact, funding to fight the spread of the virus came from a congressional fund dedicated to health emergencies.
Politico also gets debunked
Bloomberg is not alone in leveling false charges against the nation's 45th president. Even media outlets have falsely accused Trump of calling the coronavirus "a hoax," prompting fact-checking by watchdogs.
As Washington Free Beacon executive editor Brent Scher noted on Saturday, a recent Politico article claiming that the president "tried to cast the global outbreak of the coronavirus as a liberal conspiracy" was analyzed by independent fact-checkers with social media giant Facebook and rated as containing "false information."
"The primary claims in the information are factually inaccurate," stated a Facebook warning regarding the article.


theblaze--2020-03-02--Covington Catholic student will sue New York Times, CBS, ABC, other outlets for publishing falsehood

Covington Catholic student will sue New York Times, CBS, ABC, other outlets for publishing falsehoods

Covington Catholic student will sue New York Times , CBS , ABC , other outlets for publishing falsehoods Sandmann has @ @ @ @ @ , and NBC

Nick Sandmann, the Covington Catholic student who became the center of a national controversy last January, has announced he is suing five additional media outlets.
Last week, Sandmann's attorneys filed a report with the U.S. District Court in Covington that stated their intention to file lawsuits against the New York Times, CBS, ABC, Gannett, and Rolling Stone, WXIX-TV reported.
The lawsuits will be filed sometime before March 9.
The report said:
All of the future defendants listed above have published or republished statements made by Nathan Phillips and others that Nicholas blocked or otherwise restricted Phillips' free movement and would not allow Phillips to retreat at the National Mall on January 18, 2019. Nicholas reserves his right to file complaints in this is Court or any other court against any other potential defendant not listed above, subject to the applicable statute of limitations.
Sandmann has so far filed lawsuits against CNN, the Washington Post, and NBC Universal, all for publishing falsehoods about him in stories related to last year's March for Life controversy.
The lawsuits against the Post and NBC are outstanding, while CNN settled its lawsuit on undisclosed terms in January.
It is not yet clear how much in monetary damages Sandmann will seek in this newest round of lawsuits.


theblaze--2020-03-01--Pete Buttigieg drops out of Democratic race hours after vowing to push forward

Pete Buttigieg drops out of Democratic race hours after vowing to push forward 'He believes this is the right thing @ @ @


theblaze--2020-03-02--Husband of Los Angeles DA pulled a gun on 'Black Lives Matter' protesters, threatened to shoot — and

Husband of Los Angeles DA pulled a gun on 'Black Lives Matter' protesters, threatened to shoot — and it was caught on video

Husband of Los Angeles DA pulled a gun on 'Black Lives Matter ' protesters , threatened to shoot — and @ @ @ @ @ '' I will shoot you !
Get off of my porch ! ''

Black Lives Matter protesters were angered and shocked when the husband of the district attorney for Los Angeles County pulled a gun on them and threatened to shoot if they didn't leave them alone.
The stunning altercation was caught on video when Melina Abdullah, a protest leader, rang the doorbell of the home of District Attorney Jackie Lacey on Monday.
"Good morning!" said Abdullah on the video.
"Get off of my porch!" said a man who was identified as David Lacey, Jackie Lacey's husband.
"Are you going to shoot me?" she asked.
"I will shoot you! Get off of my porch!" he answered angrily. "We're calling the police right now!"
Abdullah posted the video on her Twitter account, where it quickly went viral:
There were about 30 protesters outside the Lacey home.
The police did not take action against the BLM protesters, who were demanding a meeting with Lacey. They later escorted the district attorney as she left her home and went to work.
Abdullah, who is also a Cal State Los Angeles professor, said that the protesters were angry that Lacey had not met with them. Among their grievances is the controversy around the delayed arrest of wealthy Democrat donor Ed Buck, who was charged in the overdose deaths of two black males in his home.
Lacey later said in a statement to the media that her husband was "profoundly sorry" for the tense exchange between her husband and the protesters.
"I do not believe it is fair or right for protesters to show up at the homes of people who dedicate their lives to public service," Lacey said. "It was just him and I in that house and we really didn't know what was about to happen."
Here's a local news video about the tense interaction:


theblaze--2020-03-02--Wall Street roars back with record-breaking point gains

The Dow , S & P 500 , and Nasdaq all saw their biggest one-day gains in history on Monday

Wall Street experienced a soaring rebound on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq all experiencing their highest one-day point gains in history.
The surge follows last week's losses, which occurred amid uncertainty over the impact of the spread of the coronavirus.
What are the details?
Fox Business reported that the Dow "rose over 1,294 points or 5 percent in what is the biggest point gain ever. Ditto for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq from a point gain of 136 and 384 points respectively."
The outlet noted that the Dow took a hit of more 3,500 points last week "amid coronavirus fears."
Investor fears appeared to subside Monday, as evidenced by the rally. CNN reported that "hopes for stimulus action from the world's central banks are keeping investors from further selling," pointing out, "The Bank of Japan said it would provide 'ample liquidity' to keep financial markets stable and the Bank of England also pledged to do what's necessary for the British economy's stability."
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Monday met with pharmaceutical executives at the White House, taking what ABC News called an "aggressive public posture" in addressing the spread of the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
"We've asked them to accelerate whatever they're doing in terms of the vaccine, absolutely," the president told reporters of the meeting in the Oval Office.
Anything else?
Charles Payne, an analyst for Fox Business, said last week that the market drop could also be partially blamed on fears that presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) might win the Democratic nomination after the famous socialist took hold as front-runner while touting the implementation of his anti-Wall Street agenda.
Monday was also the first day the markets were opened after former Vice President Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina on Saturday, breaking Sanders' winning streak in the race.


theblaze--2020-03-02--AOC claims Congress has a history of using Scripture to justify bigotry

On Friday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) delivered a "sermon" about religious freedom. But in her attempt to preach a message of holiness, she ended up speaking out against religion.
"And sometimes, especially in this body, I feel as though if Christ himself walked through these doors and said what he said thousands of years ago, that we should love our neighbor and our enemy, that we should welcome the stranger, fight for the least of us, that it is easier for a rich man — it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into a kingdom of heaven, he would be maligned as a radical and rejected from these doors," Ocasio-Cortez said.
On "Pat Gray Unleashed," Pat asserted his opinion of Ocasio-Cortez, calling her a moron. Watch the video below for details.
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theblaze--2020-03-02--NASA satellite images of China air pollution offer glimpse into coronavirus’ impact on the country

NASA satellite images of China air pollution offer glimpse into coronavirus ’ impact on the country 'This is the first @ @ @ @ @ a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event '

Recent satellite images of China released by the National Aeronautic and Space Administration illustrate just how heavy an impact the coronavirus outbreak is having on the country.
NASA and European Space Agency pollution tracking satellites captured the recently released images, which show "significant decreases in nitrogen dioxide" over the Asian country, according to a recent post from NASA's Earth Observatory. The post described nitrogen dioxide as "a noxious gas emitted by motor vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities."
This change in pollution levels, the federal agency said "is at least partly related to the economic slowdown following the outbreak of coronavirus" and coincides with the country's efforts to control the viral outbreak.
The satellite images revealed a contrast in nitrogen dioxide levels over China from the beginning of the year with those after the government implemented a series of quarantines that began in virus' epicenter of Wuhan, the latter of which showed a considerable decline in the gas' presence.
NASA also said the pollution reduction was first noted around Wuhan but then spread elsewhere in the country.
And while there is usually a drop in pollution around this time of year because of the lunar new year, the Earth Observatory post noted, the agency's researchers believe this year's decrease is different in both severity of the decrease and the lack of a rebound afterward.
"This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event," Fei Liu, an air quality researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement. "This year, the reduction rate is more significant than in past years and it has lasted longer."
In addition to the quarantines, the decrease in air pollution also coincides with a sharp decline in manufacturing activity as a result of the virus. Reuters reported Friday that China's factory activity dropped in February at its fastest pace since the global financial crisis over a decade ago.
The recent outbreak of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, began in China in mid-December. There have been over 80,000 confirmed cases of the disease in the country and at least 2,912 deaths resulting from it.


theblaze--2020-03-02--Former cop pleads guilty to killing his colleague in a Russian roulette-style game

Former cop pleads guilty to killing his colleague in a Russian roulette-style game Now he will serve seven years in @

A former St. Louis police officer changed his plea to guilty on charges that he killed his colleague Kaitlyn Alix in a Russian roulette-style game last year.
Nathanial Hendren, 30, who had previously entered a not guilty plea in the case, agreed Friday to serve seven years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, KSDK-TV reported.
Hendren was emotional in the courtroom as he accepted responsibility and apologized to Alix's mother for his role in her death.
"I hope in some small way it can help heal the brokenness I've caused," Hendren reportedly said through tears.
What happened?
On Jan. 24, Hendren and his partner, Officer Patrick Riordan, were on duty and supposed to be patrolling a different district, but instead, they were at Hendren's home in the early hours of the morning. Officer Kaitlyn Alix, 24, had stopped by for unknown reasons.
According to a probable cause statement, Hendren and Alix were "playing with [their] firearms" when Hendren pulled out a revolver. He allegedly emptied the cylinder, put one cartridge back in, pointed the gun away from the other officers and pulled the trigger. The gun didn't fire.
Alix took the gun and pointed it at Hendren and pulled the trigger. Again, the gun didn't fire. Then, Hendren took then gun, pointed it at Alix, and pulled the trigger. This time, the gun fired and the bullet struck Alix in the chest.
She was rushed to the hospital but later died from her injuries.
Riordan had allegedly chastised Hendren and Alix for their behavior and began to exit the apartment when he heard the shot go off. He has not been charged in the case.
Anything else?
Hendren resigned from the police department soon after the incident and had his state peace officer license suspended, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. He was set to go on trial next month when he decided to change his plea to guilty.
Several of Alix's relatives were in the courtroom Friday to read letters and share thoughts about her.
"I was not ready to say goodbye," her mother, Aimee Lyn Wahlers, said. "Having to deal with the loss of my daughter and how she was killed, it plays over in my head every day. Katie was my whole life. She wasn't just my daughter, she was my best friend."
Last October, Wahlers filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hendren, his partner, the on-duty police sergeant, and the city of St. Louis.
The lawsuit claims Hendren had a "complicated psychiatric history, including but not limited to anxiety and depression, PTSD, suicidal ideations and gestures" before being hired as a police officer.
He also "had a history of acting recklessly with firearms, forcing previous girlfriends to play 'Russian roulette' and engage in other sexual activity that involved firearms," the lawsuit alleges.
Hendren's attorney said at the time that the lawsuit contained "all sorts of inaccuracies and misstatements," but did not go into details about what was inaccurate.
Both Hendren, a former Marine, and Alix, a former U.S. Army reservist, had military backgrounds and extensive firearm training.


theblaze--2020-03-02--Washington announces 4 more coronavirus deaths — bringing death toll to 6 — as disease surges in US

Washington state has announced four new coronavirus-related deaths on Monday, bringing the United States' death total to six at the time of this writing.
All six deaths from coronavirus in the U.S. have occurred in Washington state.
The global total of coronavirus-related deaths has surpassed 3,000.
What are the details?
The Washington Post on Monday reported that the coronavirus — or COVID-19 — has killed four more people at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, Washington. There are at least 18 confirmed cases in Washington state.
On Monday, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced an emergency declaration in response to the illnesses.
The outlet reported that Constantine's declaration "gives him expanded powers to authorize overtime work for county employees and take other extraordinary measures," including "buying out a motel where patients with mild symptoms who do not need emergency medical care can recover."
Workers, according to Constantine, will also be erecting modular buildings in several locations around the county in order to facilitate emergency services.
"We continue to plan for all contingencies," he added.
Kathy Lofy, who is a state health officer, added that officials have not yet detected cases outside of King or Snohomish counties, but "given movement of people around the state, it is possible the virus is spreading in other counties, too."
At least 90 cases confirmed in U.S.
As of Monday, there were at least 90 confirmed cases of coronavirus within the U.S, according to CNN.
CNN reported that U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams advises the U.S. public to avoid panicking.
"I want folks to understand that we knew this was coming, we told folks that this was going to happen and it is why we've been preaching preparedness from the very start," Adams said. "Caution is appropriate. Preparedness is appropriate. Panic is not."
The outlet reported that the disease is active in at least 10 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.
On Monday, U.S. officials announced that the disease officially made it to the country's east coast, and has sickened at least one person in Rhode Island.
The Rhode Island Department of Health added that it is monitoring 40 people who have had contact with the unnamed male patient who recently traveled to Italy.
What else?
On Monday, South Korea announced 599 new cases to raise the total to at least 4,335 confirmed illnesses thus far. Italy has reportedly confirmed more than 1,600 cases. Iran's official has surpassed 1,500 at the time of this writing, according to the Post.
In China, where the disease originated, there have been at least 2,912 deaths and over 80,000 confirmed cases of the virus.


theblaze--2020-03-02--Group of men kick in front door in middle of night. But homeowner fires his gun, and they flee — exc

Group of men kick in front door in middle of night. But homeowner fires his gun, and they flee — except for one who gets shot, hospitalized.

Group of men kick in front door in middle of night .
But homeowner fires his gun , and they @ @ @ @ @ who gets shot , hospitalized .

A suspected home intruder is recovering in the hospital after the owner of a Katy, Texas, residence shot him early Friday morning, KTRK-TV reported.
But the Harris County Sheriff's Office on Monday told TheBlaze the suspect didn't act alone.
Image source: KTRK-TV video screenshot
What happened?
The sheriff's office said a group of men kicked in the front door of the home in the 18700 block Sandelford Drive around 3:35 a.m.
The homeowner — who didn't know the men — fired a handgun at one of the suspects who exchanged gunfire with the homeowner, the sheriff's office told TheBlaze.
While two or three of the suspects fled the scene in an unknown vehicle, cops arriving to the house said they found a 21-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the arm.
Emergency medical services transported the man to a hospital. KTRK said he was in stable condition.
The sheriff's office told TheBlaze that charges are pending against the wounded suspect and that the names of his accomplices also are under investigation.
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-03-02--Charlie Kirk: President Trump's 'MAGA Doctrine' is restoring American patriotism

Loving your country does n't mean hating others

Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder and author of "The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas That Will Win the Future," sat down with Glenn Beck on the TV show Friday to lay out exactly how President Donald Trump's "doctrine" is changing America and restoring the patriotism of our nation.
Enjoy this short clip from the full-length episode below:
Subscribers can watch the full interview on BlazeTV.com.
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theblaze--2020-03-02--Outrage ensues after Kanye West's Sunday Service bumps trans performer’s booked show — but West's se

Outrage ensues after Kanye West's Sunday Service bumps trans performer’s booked show — but West's service has a powerful message for all

Outrage ensues after Kanye West 's Sunday Service bumps trans performer ’ s booked show — but West 's service @ @ @ @ @ all The famed French theater was on fire

Some of the French public was outraged after a surprise performance of Kanye West's Sunday Service bumped a transgender artist's previously scheduled show.
West is visiting France for the annual Paris Fashion Week and plans to debut his new Yeezy Season 8 shoes on Monday.
What are the details?
In a report from Agence France-Presse, West — who appeared at the Bouffes du Nord theater in Paris — and his gospel-themed Sunday Service show bumped trans performer Phia Menard's "Maison Mere" with just one day's notice.
The theatre reportedly announced that Menard's show was canceled for technical reasons. However, on the day Menard was to perform, West showed up with his posse in tow to hold a Sunday Service.
The outlet reported that Menard blasted West as an imposter, and said that the theater sold out so they could "cash in on a religious ceremony and the money the Donald Trump-supporting rapper" would bring in.
"I am an artist, a trans woman, the director of a company, and I refuse to accept this denial and contempt," the performer wrote in a Facebook post, according to the news agency.
In a statement, the Bouffes du Nord theater revealed that the show was canceled due to the "technical incompatibility" of the two events.
"The 98 people who had bought tickets were contacted and most came to her show the night before while the rest were reimbursed," the theater's management noted in the statement.
The seating capacity for the famed theater — which opened its doors in 1876 — is 530 people.
What about the Sunday Service?
According to Fox News, West kicked off his most recent Sunday Service with "Jesus Is King" and concluded with "Balm in Gilead." The outlet reported that the service's sermon "challenged those gathered in the fashion industry."
According to Vogue, the preacher said, "A lot of time we put our faith and trust in people, we put our faith and trust in material things. A lot of times those things fail us."


theblaze--2020-03-02--Apple, Nike, and other major companies allegedly using labor linked to Muslim Uighur slave trade in

Apple, Nike, and other major companies allegedly using labor linked to Muslim Uighur slave trade in China: Report

The posters on the wall alongside the Qingdao Taekwang Shoes Co. factory -- the side where the Uighur workers enter @ @ @ @ @ in dorms -- which feature Communist Party propaganda posters extolling Xis China dream .
`` @ @ @ @ @ and make all of China strong . ''
Another says : All ethnicities are united @ @ @ @ @ Anna Fifield/The Washington Post via Getty Images )

Dozens of companies, including major American corporations like Apple and Nike, are using workers and factories tied to the slave trade of Muslim Uighur people who are held in concentration camps in northwest China, according to a report by Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
Between 2017 and 2019, an estimated 80,000 Uighurs were transferred from the autonomous Chinese province of Xinjiang to work in factories in other parts of China, while living in segregated dormitories and continuing to be subject to indoctrination efforts by the communist Chinese government.
More than one million Muslim Uighurs have been detained in what the Chinese government calls "vocational education centers," but which really amount to detention or concentration camps, where they are forced to renounce their religion and submit in all ways to the Chinese government.
According to the ASPI report, the indoctrination effort is moving to a new phase in which most of the detainees have "graduated" and are now being sent to work in factories throughout China, sometimes producing goods sold by some of the most prominent American companies:
The Chinese government has facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens from the far west region of Xinjiang to factories across the country. Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 83 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including Apple, BMW, Gap, Huawei, Nike, Samsung, Sony and Volkswagen.
The ASPI report alleges that local government officials and private brokers are paid on a per-head basis by the Xinjiang provincial government for facilitating the transfer of workers from detention camps to factories for forced-labor assignments.
Apple addressed the report in a statement to ABC News:
"Apple is dedicated to ensuring that everyone in our supply chain is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve," the statement said, "We have not seen this report but we work closely with all our suppliers to ensure our high standards are upheld."


theblaze--2020-03-02--Amy Klobuchar to end presidential bid and endorse Joe Biden; Pete Buttigieg rumored to be backing fo

Amy Klobuchar to end presidential bid and endorse Joe Biden; Pete Buttigieg rumored to be backing former VP, too

Amy Klobuchar to end presidential bid and endorse Joe Biden ; Pete Buttigieg rumored to be backing former VP , @ @ @ @ @ vs. Sanders

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) plans to exit the race for president and endorse former Vice President Joe Biden, various outlets reported Monday.
Klobuchar's decision to drop out of the nominating contest comes just one day before voters cast ballots in her home state of Minnesota as a part of Super Tuesday, the largest delegate handout of the primary season.
According to CNN, Klobuchar will officially announce her decision to suspend her campaign and endorse Biden at a rally for the former vice president in Dallas Monday night.
Klobuchar joins a growing number of candidates who have dropped out in the days following Biden's decisive win in South Carolina, including former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer.
The senator was unable to capitalize on momentum following her surprisingly strong third-place finish in New Hampshire last month. In the South Carolina primary over the weekend, Klobuchar finished a distant sixth with just over 3% of the vote.
On Sunday, Klobuchar was forced to cancel a rally in her home state after Black Lives Matters protesters seized the stage.
Mayor Pete is also rumored to endorse Biden
With the Democratic Primary increasingly becoming a two-man race between Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — and with the prospects of a Sanders nomination alarming the less-radical wing of the party — more endorsements for Biden may continue to roll in.
As such, an endorsement from Buttigieg is "likely," CNN's Jeff Zeleny reported Monday, though the timing of the possible endorsement remains unclear.
Interestingly, despite the boost that an endorsement from Klobuchar (and potentially Buttigieg) might give, Zeleny is also reporting that Biden's team desired that other candidates would stay in the race to cut into Sanders' amassing of delegates. Specifically, Biden's team was hoping that Klobuchar and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) would stay in the race to deny Sanders delegates in Minnesota and Massachusetts.
On Tuesday, 1,357 delegates, or about one-third of the total delegates, will be at stake as 14 states hold nominating contests.


theblaze--2020-03-02--GOP Senate chairman readies first congressional subpoena for Biden-Burisma probe

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson ( R-Wis. ) is gearing up to issue the panel 's first subpoena in its efforts to investigate corruption questions surrounding Burisma , the Ukrainian energy company that formerly employed Hunter Biden as a board member .
In a letter to his colleagues Sunday , Johnson said he planned to hold a committee meeting to issue a subpoena to Andrii Telizhenko , a former Ukrainian diplomat who also used to work for the public firm , Blue Star Strategies , as a consultant .
Johnson noted that committee ranking member Gary Peters ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Blue Star , a U.S.-based government and public affairs firm founded by Karen Tramontano ( former deputy chief of staff to President Clinton ) and Sally Painter ( a former senior adviser for the Clinton administration ) , was a U.S. representative for a Ukrainian gas company , Burisma Holdings , '' the letter explained .
`` As part of the Committee 's ongoing investigation , it has received U.S. government records indicating that Blue Star sought to leverage Hunter Biden 's role as a board member of Burisma to gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at , the State Department . ''
Blaze Media obtained a copy of the letter , which was first reported by CBS on Monday .
In November , Johnson — along with GOP Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley ( Iowa ) — sent a letter to the State Department requesting records in an effort to `` better understand what actions , if any , the Obama administration took to ensure that policy decisions relating to Ukraine and Burisma were not improperly influenced by the employment and financial interests of family members . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Tramontano tried to set up a meeting with an Obama State Department official in March 2016 .
While the joint November letter says it was `` unclear '' if the 2016 meeting ever happened , the senators added that `` later that month Tramontano and other members of Burisma 's legal team reportedly met with Ukrainian prosecutors . ''
In his Sunday letter , Johnson said that the committee has received some records from Blue Star and from Telizhenko , but that the supplied information is not enough .
`` Although Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' with our investigation , he identified a limited subset of relevant records from his work with Blue Star that are responsive , but subject to a nondisclosure agreement ( NDA ) in his employment contract , '' Johnson 's letter said .
`` In other words , he can not provide this responsive information unless he is compelled to do so by subpoena . ''
Johnson also told his colleagues that Blue Star has not provided the relevant information and has told the committee `` that they will not be producing any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the committee considers their response incomplete .
`` In fact , although the Committee asked Blue Star twice to identify its employees and contractors who worked on the Burisma matter , it never identified Mr. Telizhenko , '' the letter continued .
`` Because Mr. Telizhenko 's records and information would be responsive to the Committee 's requests , and Blue Star has refused to produce them , a subpoena to Mr. Telizhenko for these records is appropriate at this time . ''
It is n't clear precisely what kind of work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would have known about the company 's efforts on behalf of Burisma .
However , his name has also come up in other Ukraine-related stories .
He helped President Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani with efforts to look into the Bidens and Burisma ; he also told Politico in 2017 that — while working at the Ukrianian Embassy during the 2016 campaign — he was instructed to assist then-DNC contractor Alexandra Chalupa with efforts to dig up dirt on the Trump campaign .
In order to issue the subpoena , Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority from the Republican-controlled committee .
He is one of a trio of Senate committee chairman who have been looking into questions surrounding Hunter Biden 's Ukrainian Business dealings since last year .
The other two include Grassley and Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) .

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is gearing up to issue the panel's first subpoena in its efforts to investigate corruption questions surrounding Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that formerly employed Hunter Biden as a board member.
In a letter to his colleagues Sunday, Johnson said he planned to hold a committee meeting to issue a subpoena to Andrii Telizhenko, a former Ukrainian diplomat who also used to work for the public firm, Blue Star Strategies, as a consultant. Johnson noted that committee ranking member Gary Peters (D-Mich.) disapproved of issuing the subpoena.
"Blue Star, a U.S.-based government and public affairs firm founded by Karen Tramontano (former deputy chief of staff to President Clinton) and Sally Painter (a former senior adviser for the Clinton administration), was a U.S. representative for a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma Holdings," the letter explained. "As part of the Committee's ongoing investigation, it has received U.S. government records indicating that Blue Star sought to leverage Hunter Biden's role as a board member of Burisma to gain access to, and potentially influence matters at, the State Department."
Blaze Media obtained a copy of the letter, which was first reported by CBS on Monday.
In November, Johnson — along with GOP Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley (Iowa) — sent a letter to the State Department requesting records in an effort to "better understand what actions, if any, the Obama administration took to ensure that policy decisions relating to Ukraine and Burisma were not improperly influenced by the employment and financial interests of family members." That letter pointed to a news report that Tramontano tried to set up a meeting with an Obama State Department official in March 2016.
While the joint November letter says it was "unclear" if the 2016 meeting ever happened, the senators added that "later that month Tramontano and other members of Burisma's legal team reportedly met with Ukrainian prosecutors."
In his Sunday letter, Johnson said that the committee has received some records from Blue Star and from Telizhenko, but that the supplied information is not enough.
"Although Mr. Telizhenko expressed his willingness to 'cooperate fully' with our investigation, he identified a limited subset of relevant records from his work with Blue Star that are responsive, but subject to a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) in his employment contract," Johnson's letter said. "In other words, he cannot provide this responsive information unless he is compelled to do so by subpoena."
Johnson also told his colleagues that Blue Star has not provided the relevant information and has told the committee "that they will not be producing any more documents," despite being informed that the committee considers their response incomplete.
"In fact, although the Committee asked Blue Star twice to identify its employees and contractors who worked on the Burisma matter, it never identified Mr. Telizhenko," the letter continued. "Because Mr. Telizhenko's records and information would be responsive to the Committee's requests, and Blue Star has refused to produce them, a subpoena to Mr. Telizhenko for these records is appropriate at this time."
It isn't clear precisely what kind of work Telizhenko did for Blue Star or what he would have known about the company's efforts on behalf of Burisma. However, his name has also come up in other Ukraine-related stories. He helped President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani with efforts to look into the Bidens and Burisma; he also told Politico in 2017 that — while working at the Ukrianian Embassy during the 2016 campaign — he was instructed to assist then-DNC contractor Alexandra Chalupa with efforts to dig up dirt on the Trump campaign.
In order to issue the subpoena, Johnson would need the support of a simple majority from the Republican-controlled committee. He is one of a trio of Senate committee chairman who have been looking into questions surrounding Hunter Biden's Ukrainian Business dealings since last year. The other two include Grassley and Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).


theblaze--2020-03-02--Cops arrest two — one charged with hate crime — after elderly Asian man threatened, attacked, mocked

Cops arrest two — one charged with hate crime — after elderly Asian man threatened, attacked, mocked on video while collecting cans

Cops arrest two — one charged with hate crime — after elderly Asian man threatened , attacked , mocked on @ @ @ @ @ victim makes his living collecting cans rather than accepting benefits or social services

San Francisco police have made two arrests in connection with an elderly Asian man who was threatened, attacked, and mocked on video while he was collecting cans for recycling.
What's the background?
A disturbing viral video showed an attacker chasing an elderly man in San Francisco and taking a swing at him with a stick or pole while observers stood by, laughed, and recorded the incident on their cellphones. The clip also showed the victim crying as his attacker stole his cans and others mocked the victim. At one point a voice cried out, "I hate Asians."
Here's video of the incident (content warning: language, racial slurs):
Police said the incident took place about 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 on Osceola Lane in the Bayview District. The victim, a 68-year-old man, was struck on the back of the head, police said, adding that while he complained of pain, he had no visible injury. Police said a cart full of recyclables was stolen.
Arrests made
Dwayne Grayson, 20, was arrested on charges of robbery, elder abuse, probation violation for a prior robbery conviction, and a hate crime enhancement, police said. Grayson recorded and posted video of the incident on social media, police said, adding that his mug shot is from a 2019 arrest.
Dwayne Grayson Image source: San Francisco Police Department
TheBlaze asked police why Grayson was charged with robbery if he recorded the incident on video, and police replied that investigators "would have probable cause to believe he committed" robbery but provided no further explanation.
Jonathan Amerson, 56, surrendered himself at Bayview Police Station around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, police said, adding that he was charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of elder abuse. The second set of charges stem from an incident about two months ago in which Amerson reportedly robbed the same victim of his recycling materials in the same area, police said.
Jonathan Amerson Image source: San Francisco Police Department
'He's a very proud old man'
The victim in the attack was described as a "very proud old man" who came to the United States from China less than six years ago, speaks no English, and earns a living collecting cans rather than accepting benefits or social services, KPIX-TV reported.
"He's a very proud old man," Michael Wong of the Community Youth Center of San Francisco told the station. "He's been doing it for several years. Going out every day. He said he went around to the place where the incident happened, and he knows the African-American people living there. He said they are very kind to him. Some neighbors collect cans and give them to him."
When the CYCSF asked the victim if he applied to any agencies for benefits, welfare, housing, Wong told KPIX that man answered, "'No, no, no.' He has stopped working so he makes a living just picking up cans. And his wife is a part time IHSS worker. Home health supportive work services, taking care of seniors. So, very low income. Living in the Bayview."
Wong added to the station that the victim believes in being independent.
"He keeps saying, 'I don't need benefits. I just want to go out and pick up cans and make a living,'" Wong said.
However, the youth center started a GoFundMe page for the victim and collected over $40,000 as of Monday afternoon — and the page noted that "after discussions with the family and relaying the community's messages of support, the family has decided to graciously accept donations through CYC. The funds raised through this campaign will go to help the family financially with rent, utilities, and other bills."


theblaze--2020-03-02--Author, teacher Beth Moore explains how Bible Scriptures got her through childhood sexual abuse

Author , teacher Beth Moore explains how Bible Scriptures got her through childhood sexual abuse

Prominent evangelical teacher and author Beth Moore appeared on Fox Nation's "Ainsley's Bible Study" and revealed that leaning on the Word of God helped her cope with childhood sexual abuse.
What are the details?
Speaking with co-host Ainsley Earhardt and other Bible study guests, Moore discussed her experience overcoming childhood sex abuse trauma.
"I had the great blessing of being raised in church three times a week in those days, Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night —minimum — we were always there," she began. "I do not remember a time of my life that I was not hearing the name of Jesus."
"However," she added, "my family was very, very broken. ... It's just that sort of the combination of the good and the bad and the ugly that can all take place under one roof."
Moore pointed out that while she was loved, she also lived in a home that was "extremely unstable."
“While there were certainly people that loved me and met a lot of my needs ... our home was extremely unstable, extremely unstable," she admitted. "I also fell victim to a childhood sexual abuse within my own home."
Moore said that she will not publicly identify her alleged abuser, but revealed that the culprit was in a "protective role."
"I don't identify publicly who it was, but I will simply say that when anyone that should be in a protective role around you becomes not the protector, but the perpetrator, I cannot tell you how that will mess with you," she added.
Moore pointed out that it took her decades of relying on God's Word to leave the abyss.
“No one would ever have known from the outside," she explained. "But I was going to absolutely implode. I was 40 years old by the time I would tell you that my mind was completely out from under the influence of my victimization."
Finally breaking free
Moore said that she was able to finally break free through memorizing Bible Scriptures.
"I put those truths on index cards and I would take those things with me everywhere I went," she said. "I would walk around the grocery store … I was just saying those Scriptures over and over."
Moore said that she would receive validation through God as her creator.
"I'd make statements of 'This is who God says you are,' and 'This is what you have to believe,'" she added. "And I don't care how you feel — this is the truth."
(H/T: Faithwire)