thestream--2020-12-09--“We Have People at the Top.” Video from China Admits Wide Conspiracy of American Elites

Maybe don ’ t boycott Tucker Carlson just yet .
Yes , he got it wrong about Sidney Powell , dismissing her case against the election of Joe Biden too easily — apparently because she wouldn ’ t give him an exclusive .
But let ’ s not be people who demand “ What have you done for me lately ?
” Remember that Carlson ’ s show aired Tony Bobulinski ’ s explosive revelations of Biden family corruption and influence-peddling .
And now Carlson ’ s digging deeper .
Recently , Carlson aired a clip from Chinese TV that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information for foreigners like us .
So it banned the clip from all social media in China .
But a brave soul quietly leaked the clip , and Carlson got hold of it .
He aired it .
The clip confirms what President Trump and his supporters have long claimed — and before them populist critics of China such as Patrick Buchanan and Ross Perot .
Namely that China leverages its enormous wealth to purchase the allegiance of influential Americans at every level of U.S. government and business .
But especially the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crank , or even a Chinese dissident embittered by the totalitarian government ’ s religious repression , forced abortions , and concentration camps .
No , it ’ s Di Dongsheng , Vice Dean of the School of International Relations , Renmin University of China .
He serves as Vice Director and Secretary of the Center for Foreign Strategic Studies of China .
So , a loyal appointee and servant of China ’ s national socialist regime .
He doesn ’ t speak as if he were spilling any state secrets .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow members of the Chinese Communist elite how China has outfoxed the U.S. for decades — and why President Trump constituted such a problem .
Dongsheng brags : “ We have people at the top ” of American institutions across the board , including government .
The audience doesn ’ t scoff or act surprised .
Instead , most of them laugh , acknowledging an open secret widely accepted and lauded in China — but dismissed by American media as a crackpot “ conspiracy theory.
” He goes on to explain : [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street had a very strong influence on the domestic and foreign affairs of the United States .
So we had a channel to rely on .
But the problem is that after 2008 , the status of Wall Street has declined , and more importantly , after 2016 , Wall Street can ’ t fix Trump .
It ’ s very awkward.
” Why ?
Trump had a previous soft default issue with Wall Street , so there was a conflict between them , but I won ’ t go into details , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So during the US-China trade war , they ( Wall Street ) tried to help , and I know that my friends on the US side told me that they tried to help , but they couldn ’ t do much .
Trump has been saying that Biden ’ s son has some sort of global foundation .
Have you noticed that ?
Who helped him ( Biden ’ s son ) build the foundations ?
Trump Was the Problem .
Was Biden the Solution ?
After a pregnant pause , the audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course — a fact which the Hunter Biden laptop revealed , but U.S. media mostly censored .
Got it ?
There are a lot of deals inside all these .
[ W ] e know that the Trump administration is in a trade war with us , so why can ’ t we fix the Trump administration ?
Why did China and the U.S. use to be able to settle all kinds of issues between 1992 and 2016 ?
No matter what kind of crises we encountered , be it the Yinhe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or the crashing of the plane , things were all solved in no time , like ( a couple ) do with their quarrels… .
We fixed everything in two months .
What is the reason ?
I ’ m going to throw out something maybe a little bit explosive here .
It ’ s just because we have people at the top .
We have our old friends who are at the top of America ’ s core inner circle of power & influence .
[ emphasis added ] In case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is true , or doubt the translation of Dongsheng ’ s remarks , consult the headlines .
John Ratcliffe , the U.S. director of national intelligence wrote in The Wall Street Journal that China has conducted a “ massive ” campaign of influence and espionage against U.S. members of Congress .
As The Daily Caller News Foundation reports : ‘ This year China engaged in a massive influence campaign that included targeting several dozen members of Congress and congressional aides , ’ Ratcliffe wrote in the op-ed , entitled ‘ China Is National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanded on his op-ed during an interview with CBS News .
‘ They want laws and policies out of the United States that are favorable to China , ’ Ratcliffe said of Chinese agents targeting U.S. lawmakers .
‘ And what they ’ re really trying to do is through blackmail , through bribery , through overt and covert influence , trying to make sure that only laws that are favorable to China are passed.
’ One lawmaker caught up in the Chinese espionage operation was firebrand liberal California Congressman Eric Swallwell .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and coming ” politicians , Swallwell got personally and professionally close to a now-exposed Chinese female agent , Axios reports .
COVID Hit the West Thanks to Chinese Biowarfare On the eve of the election , I pointed out that in every way , the COVID crisis has proven to be a massively successful biowarfare attack against the United States ( and other countries ) by China .
China ’ s decision to quarantine Wuhan province and the rest of China last winter , while sending one million potentially infected Chinese on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Chinese Pearl Harbor attack.
” And American politicians who opposed Trump ’ s ban on that travel to the U.S. , such as Joe Biden , were aiding that attack , consciously or not .
Democrats who favored massive lockdowns that crippled Trump ’ s booming economy were serving their own political interests , and China ’ s strategic plan for replacing the U.S. as a global hegemon .
Keep all this in mind as you ponder whether vote-counting software linked to foreign , hostile governments , such as Dominion , played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparent victory in the 2020 election .
Let your state legislators who could decertify electors know what you think .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
He is co-author with Jason Jones of “ God , Guns , & the Government .
”

Maybe don’t boycott Tucker Carlson just yet. Yes, he got it wrong about Sidney Powell, dismissing her case against the election of Joe Biden too easily — apparently because she wouldn’t give him an exclusive. But let’s not be people who demand “What have you done for me lately?” Remember that Carlson’s show aired Tony Bobulinski’s explosive revelations of Biden family corruption and influence-peddling. And now Carlson’s digging deeper.
Recently, Carlson aired a clip from Chinese TV that the Communist government flagged as too much information for foreigners like us. So it banned the clip from all social media in China. But a brave soul quietly leaked the clip, and Carlson got hold of it. He aired it. The clip confirms what President Trump and his supporters have long claimed — and before them populist critics of China such as Patrick Buchanan and Ross Perot. Namely that China leverages its enormous wealth to purchase the allegiance of influential Americans at every level of U.S. government and business. But especially the top.
Not a Crank, But a Chinese Regime Executive
The speaker is not some fevered crank, or even a Chinese dissident embittered by the totalitarian government’s religious repression, forced abortions, and concentration camps. No, it’s Di Dongsheng, Vice Dean of the School of International Relations, Renmin University of China. He serves as Vice Director and Secretary of the Center for Foreign Strategic Studies of China.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So, a loyal appointee and servant of China’s national socialist regime. He doesn’t speak as if he were spilling any state secrets. Instead, he’s explaining to his fellow members of the Chinese Communist elite how China has outfoxed the U.S. for decades — and why President Trump constituted such a problem.
Dongsheng brags: “We have people at the top” of American institutions across the board, including government. The audience doesn’t scoff or act surprised. Instead, most of them laugh, acknowledging an open secret widely accepted and lauded in China — but dismissed by American media as a crackpot “conspiracy theory.” He goes on to explain:
[S]ince the 1970s, Wall Street had a very strong influence on the domestic and foreign affairs of the United States. So we had a channel to rely on. But the problem is that after 2008, the status of Wall Street has declined, and more importantly, after 2016, Wall Street can’t fix Trump. It’s very awkward. Why? Trump had a previous soft default issue with Wall Street, so there was a conflict between them, but I won’t go into details, I may not have enough time. So during the US-China trade war, they (Wall Street) tried to help, and I know that my friends on the US side told me that they tried to help, but they couldn’t do much. Trump has been saying that Biden’s son has some sort of global foundation. Have you noticed that? Who helped him (Biden’s son) build the foundations?
Trump Was the Problem. Was Biden the Solution?
After a pregnant pause, the audience laughs again. It was China, of course — a fact which the Hunter Biden laptop revealed, but U.S. media mostly censored.
Got it? There are a lot of deals inside all these. … [W]e know that the Trump administration is in a trade war with us, so why can’t we fix the Trump administration? Why did China and the U.S. use to be able to settle all kinds of issues between 1992 and 2016? No matter what kind of crises we encountered, be it the Yinhe incident, the bombing of the embassy, or the crashing of the plane, things were all solved in no time, like (a couple) do with their quarrels…. We fixed everything in two months. What is the reason? I’m going to throw out something maybe a little bit explosive here. It’s just because we have people at the top. We have our old friends who are at the top of America’s core inner circle of power & influence. [emphasis added]
Beyond Wall Street, China Targets Members of Congress
In case you aren’t sure if that is true, or doubt the translation of Dongsheng’s remarks, consult the headlines. John Ratcliffe, the U.S. director of national intelligence wrote in The Wall Street Journal that China has conducted a “massive” campaign of influence and espionage against U.S. members of Congress. As The Daily Caller News Foundation reports:
‘This year China engaged in a massive influence campaign that included targeting several dozen members of Congress and congressional aides,’ Ratcliffe wrote in the op-ed, entitled ‘China Is National Security Threat No. 1.’ … Ratcliffe expanded on his op-ed during an interview with CBS News. ‘They want laws and policies out of the United States that are favorable to China,’ Ratcliffe said of Chinese agents targeting U.S. lawmakers. ‘And what they’re really trying to do is through blackmail, through bribery, through overt and covert influence, trying to make sure that only laws that are favorable to China are passed.’
One lawmaker caught up in the Chinese espionage operation was firebrand liberal California Congressman Eric Swalwell. Along with a list of other “up and coming” politicians, Swallwell got personally and professionally close to a now-exposed Chinese female agent, Axios reports.
COVID Hit the West Thanks to Chinese Biowarfare
On the eve of the election, I pointed out that in every way, the COVID crisis has proven to be a massively successful biowarfare attack against the United States (and other countries) by China. China’s decision to quarantine Wuhan province and the rest of China last winter, while sending one million potentially infected Chinese on flights around the world was indeed a “Chinese Pearl Harbor attack.”
And American politicians who opposed Trump’s ban on that travel to the U.S., such as Joe Biden, were aiding that attack, consciously or not. Democrats who favored massive lockdowns that crippled Trump’s booming economy were serving their own political interests, and China’s strategic plan for replacing the U.S. as a global hegemon.
Keep all this in mind as you ponder whether vote-counting software linked to foreign, hostile governments, such as Dominion, played a role in Joe Biden’s apparent victory in the 2020 election. Let your state legislators who could decertify electors know what you think.
Maybe America owes Pat Buchanan an apology.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism. He is co-author with Jason Jones of “God, Guns, & the Government.”


thestream--2020-12-09--Military Photo of the Day: Setting Up a Defensive Position

A U.S. Navy hospital corpsman sets into a defensive position during a recent operations course at Marine Corps Air Ground @ @ @ @ @ California .
Thank you to this brave corpsman for volunteering to serve our country .

A U.S. Navy hospital corpsman sets into a defensive position during a recent operations course at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California.
Thank you to this brave corpsman for volunteering to serve our country.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.


thestream--2020-12-09--Founder of The Good Contractors List Starts Home Church Movement: ‘I’m Just One Guy God’s Using’

John Stewart Hill wanted to die .
The year was 2011 , and everything he owned fit into his car .
He was broke and depressed .
Then he had a massive heart attack .
He was only 42 .
“ When this all happened … I was just in a really bad place.
” Before a procedure in the hospital for the heart attack , Hill said God gave him the option of staying or dying .
Hill prayed that if he stayed , he would be able to help others .
He wanted a purpose in life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ something good for others .
“ When I walked out [ of the hospital ] , I knew I had a purpose.
” Within six months , God gave him the idea for The Good Contractors List , a directory that connects reliable and trustworthy contractors with those who need work done on their homes .
Today the company is thriving .
Now the Lord has directed him to create FindAHouseChurch.com .
“ It was just listening to Him daily , not really knowing where He was coming from , I just had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to equip the saints to do the work of ministry .
That ’ s my whole purpose in life.
” He points out that if people wish to donate , all of the money will go to outreach through CentralStorehouse.org .
Central Storehouse is a nonprofit that Hill founded .
Those who attend a house church and want to tithe can do so through the nonprofit and every dollar will be directed to outreach .
“ I ’ m not taking a dime from this ministry .
And that ’ s something I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t have to have jets and multiple vacation homes .
We need to give everything we can to spread the Gospel.
” The House Church movement is different from what people will find anywhere else .
Rather than supporting a big box church , the home church is a training ground for people to evangelize others .
But , “ it ’ s really not about the model , ” Hill explained .
“ Christ in us is our hope for glory , not the way we do church.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches that move into the future will become “ equipping stations.
” The pastors and other church leaders are a “ gift to the church for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.
” God is Doing Something Hill told The Stream that the Lord gave him the idea for the house church movement two years ago .
The coronavirus epidemic has made it all the more relevant as big building churches have been closed or have limited space for parishioners .
“ God ’ s timing is beyond amazing.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing down the stronghold of religion .
“ We ’ re going to be returning to what I call the new church of Acts.
” “ God is doing something in all of His people .
I ’ m just one of them .
I ’ m just like one guy that God ’ s using.
” Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

John Stewart Hill wanted to die. The year was 2011, and everything he owned fit into his car. He was broke and depressed. Then he had a massive heart attack. He was only 42.
“When this all happened … I was just in a really bad place.” Before a procedure in the hospital for the heart attack, Hill said God gave him the option of staying or dying. Hill prayed that if he stayed, he would be able to help others. He wanted a purpose in life. He wanted to be remembered for doing something good for others.
“When I walked out [of the hospital], I knew I had a purpose.” Within six months, God gave him the idea for The Good Contractors List, a directory that connects reliable and trustworthy contractors with those who need work done on their homes. Today the company is thriving.
Find a House Church
Now the Lord has directed him to create FindAHouseChurch.com. “It was just listening to Him daily, not really knowing where He was coming from, I just had to build it.
“I want to equip the saints to do the work of ministry. That’s my whole purpose in life.” He points out that if people wish to donate, all of the money will go to outreach through CentralStorehouse.org. Central Storehouse is a nonprofit that Hill founded.
Those who attend one of the house churches from the online tool and want to tithe can do so through the nonprofit and every dollar will be directed to outreach. “I’m not taking a dime from this ministry. And that’s something I think the world needs to see. We don’t have to have jets and multiple vacation homes. We need to give everything we can to spread the Gospel.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
FindAHouseChurch.com is different from what people will find anywhere else. Rather than supporting a big box church, the House Church is a training ground for people to evangelize others. But, “it’s really not about the model,” Hill explained. “Christ in us is our hope for glory, not the way we do church.” However, God told him that the churches that move into the future will become “equipping stations.” The pastors and other church leaders are a “gift to the church for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.”
God is Doing Something
Hill told The Stream that the Lord gave him the idea for the FindAHouseChurch.com tool two years ago. The coronavirus epidemic has made it all the more relevant as big building churches have been closed or have limited space for parishioners. “God’s timing is beyond amazing.” Hill also believes that God is bringing down the stronghold of religion. “We’re going to be returning to what I call the new church of Acts.”
“God is doing something in all of His people. I’m just one of them. I’m just like one guy that God’s using.”
Watch:
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-12-10--We’ll Have to Muddle Through Somehow

We’ll Have to Muddle Through Somehow

The plan all year had been push through work , a book project and the election , then have a complete break for two weeks around Thanksgiving .
Things did not work out that way .
A cancer diagnosis for my father-in-law upended our travel plans .
It put us on the long road to Jersey for doctors ’ visits , then my wife driving him to Florida for treatment , while I drove to Maryland and wrote about the election debacle .
Finally , we met up and drove to the Outer Banks for a couple days break for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eve , our beloved toy poodle Dapper suddenly , shockingly died .
I ’ ll forever be haunted by that race off of OBX , two-and-a-half hours in the dead of night , in pitch darkness , to the nearest open animal emergency center in Chesapeake , Virginia .
Dapper knew something was dreadfully wrong , and kept trying to fight the seizures .
He also was trying to comfort his mommy .
COVID fears kept us in the car while the vet ’ s assistant took Dapper away .
The call came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be done .
Rusty screamed , “ You have to let me be with my baby !
” Those final , peaceful moments with Dapper , the sweetest , most gentle , most accepting , most loving creature on the planet .
And then that ride two-and-a-half hours back through the night , back onto the Outer Banks , farther and farther from the mainland out into the dark , consuming ocean .
Drowning in emotional waves .
We were in a nightmare .
“ This isn ’ t real .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept saying .
The thought of being around people was too much to bear , so after a few hours of sleep , we drove back north to Maryland and my sister ’ s .
After a week trying to recoup from our grief and month of stress and strain , we drove back here to Texas .
It doesn ’ t take a spinning odometer to know that we racked up hours and hours and hours on the road , during the day and in the deepest night .
As political and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have us glued to news channels .
Maybe some sports when Rusty ’ s sleeping .
And yeah , during the Christmas season we mix in a dash of festive Christmas music channels .
But I just had no interest in news as I was driving .
No talking heads .
No interest in sports .
And holiday cheer was the furthest thing from my mind .
Even Christian music held little appeal , at least until the final portion of our drive to Texas .
Instead , I kept finding myself tuning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing traditional holiday classics .
The old school stuff .
Bing Crosby , Frank Sinatra , Dino , Rosemary Clooney , Percy Faith , the Prince of Christmas Andy Williams .
And the incomparable Judy Garland .
Now , we ’ ve all heard “ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ” a thousand times by a hundred different artists .
It ’ s a standard .
We ’ ve sung along , crooning the lyrics without much thought to them .
Yet , this time , Judy Garland ’ s original — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Louis — hit me in my breaking heart .
Her soaring voice that knew sorrow and pain and depth of feeling matched perhaps only by the Psalmist , reached deep into my chest to implant a word not just for me , but for everyone dragging their way through 2020 .
“ We ’ ll have to muddle through somehow.
” Through death and disease and COVID and corruption , we ’ ll have to muddle through somehow .
We will see better days , but “ until then , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oddly enough , the Boston Globe just yesterday labeled Judy ’ s “ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ” “ The perfect song for Christmas 2020.
” See , the lyrics to the song got changed a few years after the movie .
Frank Sinatra wanted a more “ jolly ” version .
And what the Chairman of the Board wanted , the Chairman got .
Most versions since go with the more upbeat lyrics .
You know … “ hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
” Only thing hanging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head , as she tries to comfort her little sister before they leave their family home , and Judy is forced to leave behind her love .
Judy ’ s version is about making the best of a bad hand .
Fighting through tears to have a merry little Christmas .
As the Globe notes , the song was released in World War II , with the pain of separation and loss very real in the lives of Americans .
But it is also soooooo 2020 .
2020 is no dashing through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is muddling through snowdrifts and ice storms and frigid gale-force winds .
Or , muddling through through arid Judea , nine months pregnant , going into labor , with no place to stay .
Yes , Mary knows about muddling through .
Which gets to my point .
And our hope .
Our “ somehow ” is a someone .
Jesus is our comfort , the one who carries us forward .
The real “ shining star.
” I don ’ t know how we muddle through , but I know who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes hold of your right hand and says to you , Do not fear ; I will help you.
” ( Isaiah 41:10 . )
“ He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.
” ( Isaiah 40:11 ) “ I have made you .
I will carry you .
I will sustain you .
I will rescue you.
” ( Isaiah 46:4 ) “ Blessed are those who mourn , for they shall be comforted.
” ( Matthew 5:4 ) We get through this .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself a merry little Christmas .
And God willing , “ next year all our troubles will be out of sight.
” Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

The plan all year had been push through work, a book project and the election, then have a complete break for two weeks around Thanksgiving. Things did not work out that way. A cancer diagnosis for my father-in-law upended our travel plans. It put us on the long road to Jersey for doctors’ visits, then my wife driving him to Florida for treatment, while I drove to Maryland and wrote about the election debacle. Finally, we met up and drove to the Outer Banks for a couple days break for a family Thanksgiving.
Then on Thanksgiving Eve, our beloved toy poodle Dapper suddenly, shockingly died.
I’ll forever be haunted by that race off of OBX, two-and-a-half hours in the dead of night, in pitch darkness, to the nearest open animal emergency center in Chesapeake, Virginia. Dapper knew something was dreadfully wrong, and kept trying to fight the seizures. He also was trying to comfort his mommy. COVID fears kept us in the car while the vet’s assistant took Dapper away. The call came seconds later that there was nothing that could be done. Rusty screamed, “You have to let me be with my baby!” Those final, peaceful moments with Dapper, the sweetest, most gentle, most accepting, most loving creature on the planet.
And then that ride two-and-a-half hours back through the night, back onto the Outer Banks, farther and farther from the mainland out into the dark, consuming ocean. Drowning in emotional waves. We were in a nightmare. “This isn’t real. This isn’t real,” we kept saying.
The thought of being around people was too much to bear, so after a few hours of sleep, we drove back north to Maryland and my sister’s.
After a week trying to recoup from our grief and month of stress and strain, we drove back here to Texas.
The Sounds of Christmas
It doesn’t take a spinning odometer to know that we racked up hours and hours and hours on the road, during the day and in the deepest night. As political and news junkies, usually our road trips have us glued to news channels. Maybe some sports when Rusty’s sleeping. And yeah, during the Christmas season we mix in a dash of festive Christmas music channels.
But I just had no interest in news as I was driving. No talking heads. No interest in sports. And holiday cheer was the furthest thing from my mind. Even Christian music held little appeal, at least until the final portion of our drive to Texas.
Instead, I kept finding myself tuning into XM channel 73, which was playing traditional holiday classics. The old school stuff. Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dino, Rosemary Clooney, Percy Faith, the Prince of Christmas Andy Williams. And the incomparable Judy Garland.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Now, we’ve all heard “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” a thousand times by a hundred different artists. It’s a standard. We’ve sung along, crooning the lyrics without much thought to them.
Yet, this time, Judy Garland’s original — from the 1944 movie Meet Me in St. Louis — hit me in my breaking heart. Her soaring voice that knew sorrow and pain and depth of feeling matched perhaps only by the Psalmist, reached deep into my chest to implant a word not just for me, but for everyone dragging their way through 2020.
“We’ll have to muddle through somehow.”
Through death and disease and COVID and corruption, we’ll have to muddle through somehow. We will see better days, but “until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow.”
The Perfect Song for 2020
Oddly enough, the Boston Globe just yesterday labeled Judy’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” “The perfect song for Christmas 2020.” See, the lyrics to the song got changed a few years after the movie. Frank Sinatra wanted a more “jolly” version. And what the Chairman of the Board wanted, the Chairman got. Most versions since go with the more upbeat lyrics. You know … “hang a shining star upon the highest bough.”
Only thing hanging in Garland’s version is her head, as she tries to comfort her little sister before they leave their family home, and Judy is forced to leave behind her love. Judy’s version is about making the best of a bad hand. Fighting through tears to have a merry little Christmas.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
As the Globe notes, the song was released in World War II, with the pain of separation and loss very real in the lives of Americans. But it is also soooooo 2020.
2020 is no dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh. It is muddling through snowdrifts and ice storms and frigid gale-force winds.
Or, muddling through through arid Judea, nine months pregnant, going into labor, with no place to stay. Yes, Mary knows about muddling through.
Jesus is Our “Somehow”
Which gets to my point. And our hope. Our “somehow” is a someone. Jesus is our comfort, the one who carries us forward. The real “shining star.” I don’t know how we muddle through, but I know who will get us through.
He “takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:10.) “He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” (Isaiah 40:11) “I have made you. I will carry you. I will sustain you. I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4)
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
We get through this. He makes sure of it.
So have yourself a merry little Christmas. And God willing, “next year all our troubles will be out of sight.”
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-12-09--Mental Health Improved for Only One Group During COVID: Those Who Attended Church Weekly

Poll results show that mental health improved for only one group of people during the coronavirus pandemic , and it ’ s a group that Democratic lawmakers repeatedly restricted .
Gallup polled a little over a thousand Americans over the age of 18 from Nov. 5–19 and found that only those who attended religious services weekly saw a positive change between 2019 and 2020 in how they rated their mental health .
In 2019 , 42 % of Americans who attended religious services weekly rated their mental health as excellent , the poll showed .
In 2020 , 46 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rated their mental health as excellent — a percentage increase of four points .
No other Demographic group in the Gallup poll , which had a margin of error of ±4 percentage points and a confidence level of 95 % , saw a percentage increase in rating their mental health as excellent .
“ Houses of worship and religious services provide so much more than just a weekly meeting place — they are where so many Americans find strength , community , and meaning , ” the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ Findings from this year ’ s Religious Freedom Index — that 62 percent of respondents said that faith had been important during the pandemic — align with Gallup ’ s findings on the importance of religious services to Americans ’ mental health.
” The Gallup poll results are particularly striking in contrast to Democratic lawmakers ’ restrictions on houses of worship .
Governors and mayors across the United States have issued orders throughout the pandemic that restrict or prohibit religious services , and the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on multiple occasions .
Governors like Democratic Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam banned gatherings of 10 or more people through initial stay-at-home orders , restrictions which effectively banned church services .
Authorities have arrested multiple religious leaders for defying coronavirus orders , such as Pastor Tony Spell of the Louisiana Life Tabernacle church and Florida megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne .
Religious organizations in New York most recently took Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo to the Supreme Court over his restrictions on houses of worship , accusing Cuomo of “ targeting Orthodox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Coney Barrett , sided with religious organizations in the 5-4 ruling the night before Thanksgiving , while Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal justices .
The majority said that Cuomo ’ s coronavirus restrictions on religious communities are “ far more restrictive than any Covid-related regulations that have previously come before the Court , much tighter than those adopted by many other jurisdictions hard hit by the pandemic , and far more severe than has been shown to be required to prevent the spread of the virus.
” “ New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship not only are severe , but also are discriminatory , ” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in his concurring opinion .
“ In light of the devastating pandemic , I do not doubt the State ’ s authority to impose tailored restrictions — even very strict restrictions — on attendance at religious services and secular gatherings alike , ” Kavanaugh continued .
“ But the New York restrictions on houses of worship are not tailored to the circumstances given the First Amendment interests at stake.
” Cuomo ’ s office did not immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this story .
Earlier this year , the court sided 5-4 in favor of the liberal justices on COVID-19 religious restrictions in California and Nevada , according to CNN .
The DOJ has fought back against many of these restrictions .
Attorney General William Barr set the tone for the DOJ ’ s attitude towards religious freedom during the pandemic by warning in an early April statement that “ even in times of emergency , ” federal law prohibits religious discrimination .
“ Religion and religious worship continue to be central to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr said .
“ This is true more so than ever during this difficult time.
” “ Government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity , ” the attorney general added .
“ For example , if a government allows movie theaters , restaurants , concert halls , and other comparable places of assembly to remain open and unrestricted , it may not order houses of worship to close , limit their congregation size , or otherwise impede religious gatherings.
” Barr also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for any state or local government that “ singles out , targets , or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions.
” Since this statement was issued , the DOJ has intervened in multiple cases of government crackdowns on churches and pastors , specifically in Nevada , California , Oklahoma , Illinois , Virginia and Mississippi .
The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation for this story .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Poll results show that mental health improved for only one group of people during the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s a group that Democratic lawmakers repeatedly restricted.
Gallup polled a little over a thousand Americans over the age of 18 from Nov. 5–19 and found that only those who attended religious services weekly saw a positive change between 2019 and 2020 in how they rated their mental health.
In 2019, 42% of Americans who attended religious services weekly rated their mental health as excellent, the poll showed. In 2020, 46% of Americans who attended religious services weekly rated their mental health as excellent — a percentage increase of four points.
No other Demographic group in the Gallup poll, which had a margin of error of ±4 percentage points and a confidence level of 95%, saw a percentage increase in rating their mental health as excellent.
34% of Americans say their mental health is excellent, down from 43% in 2019. https://t.co/kjobkuEEVD pic.twitter.com/U6mPW54ZSt — GallupNews (@GallupNews) December 8, 2020
“Houses of worship and religious services provide so much more than just a weekly meeting place — they are where so many Americans find strength, community, and meaning,” the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty’s Director of Research Caleb Lyman told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Findings from this year’s Religious Freedom Index — that 62 percent of respondents said that faith had been important during the pandemic — align with Gallup’s findings on the importance of religious services to Americans’ mental health.”
The Gallup poll results are particularly striking in contrast to Democratic lawmakers’ restrictions on houses of worship. Governors and mayors across the United States have issued orders throughout the pandemic that restrict or prohibit religious services, and the Department of Justice has pushed back against such restrictions on multiple occasions.
Governors like Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam banned gatherings of 10 or more people through initial stay-at-home orders, restrictions which effectively banned church services. Authorities have arrested multiple religious leaders for defying coronavirus orders, such as Pastor Tony Spell of the Louisiana Life Tabernacle church and Florida megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne.
Religious organizations in New York most recently took Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the Supreme Court over his restrictions on houses of worship, accusing Cuomo of “targeting Orthodox practices.”
Conservative justices, including Justice Amy Coney Barrett, sided with religious organizations in the 5-4 ruling the night before Thanksgiving, while Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal justices.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The majority said that Cuomo’s coronavirus restrictions on religious communities are “far more restrictive than any Covid-related regulations that have previously come before the Court, much tighter than those adopted by many other jurisdictions hard hit by the pandemic, and far more severe than has been shown to be required to prevent the spread of the virus.”
“New York’s restrictions on houses of worship not only are severe, but also are discriminatory,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in his concurring opinion.
“In light of the devastating pandemic, I do not doubt the State’s authority to impose tailored restrictions — even very strict restrictions — on attendance at religious services and secular gatherings alike,” Kavanaugh continued. “But the New York restrictions on houses of worship are not tailored to the circumstances given the First Amendment interests at stake.”
Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
Earlier this year, the court sided 5-4 in favor of the liberal justices on COVID-19 religious restrictions in California and Nevada, according to CNN.
The DOJ has fought back against many of these restrictions. Attorney General William Barr set the tone for the DOJ’s attitude towards religious freedom during the pandemic by warning in an early April statement that “even in times of emergency,” federal law prohibits religious discrimination.
“Religion and religious worship continue to be central to the lives of millions of Americans,” Barr said. “This is true more so than ever during this difficult time.”
“Government may not impose special restrictions on religious activity that do not also apply to similar nonreligious activity,” the attorney general added. “For example, if a government allows movie theaters, restaurants, concert halls, and other comparable places of assembly to remain open and unrestricted, it may not order houses of worship to close, limit their congregation size, or otherwise impede religious gatherings.”
Barr also promised that the DOJ would be watching for any state or local government that “singles out, targets, or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions.”
Since this statement was issued, the DOJ has intervened in multiple cases of government crackdowns on churches and pastors, specifically in Nevada, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, Virginia and Mississippi.
The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation for this story.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-12-09--Chinese Spy Story Shows Danger of Beijing Gaining Influence

There ’ s so much developing news today , it ’ s hard to know where to begin .
But one emerging story ties in with something we ’ ve mentioned , that video of the Chinese lecturer explaining that , were it not for Trump , they would be having their way via their friends at the highest levels in Washington .
That story falls into the “ shocking but not surprising ” category .
It ’ s chilling , if only because it seems so plausible at this time in our history .
And today , we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political intelligence operation run by China ’ s main civilian spy agency between 2011 and 2015 .
During that period they established and exploited “ extensive ties ” with local and national politicians , including Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell of California , who sits on the House Intelligence Committee .
Axios has been investigating this story for over a year .
Of course , you remember Swalwell , the shill for the Democrat Party who repeatedly lied and accused President Trump of collaborating with Russia .
Swalwell was about on par with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always be depended on to go before the TV cameras and say anything , no matter how outrageous or demonstrably false .
It got to the point where whenever his face appeared on the screen , I had to scramble for the remote and press “ mute.
” Life is too short .
Beijing has obviously focused for years on gaining influence in U.S. political circles , and apparently has enjoyed quite a bit .
As we see from the Chinese video , the election of President Trump was seen as their one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were going oh-so-well until he got elected .
But they say that now , once again , they have someone in office that they can control — I mean , work with .
I imagine the ChiComms were really depressed the night of November 3 , when they saw Trump was easily ahead .
But then , the next morning , after the vote had been suspended in several states and the count suddenly favored Biden , they were popping the champagne corks for a lovely celebratory brunch .
As for this specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national whose name is either Fang Fang or Christine Fang , it appears her operation ended during the Obama administration , though China ’ s influence-expanding activities continue and are “ a core focus for U.S. counterintelligence ” ( as they had better be ) .
Fang reportedly targeted “ up-and-coming ” local politicians in the Bay Area and around the country , men who had “ the potential to make it big on the national stage.
” It ’ s easy to see why she might have targeted Swalwell , who doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocket scientist but would relish the lights and cameras as a career launchpad .
According to Axios , Fang gained proximity to power through “ campaign fundraising , extensive networking , personal charisma , and romantic or sexual relationships , ” including with two Midwestern mayors .
A current U.S. intelligence official said that “ there were some really , really sensitive people ” caught up in this .
I would presume this was a reference at least in part to Swalwell , as , again , he became a member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fundraising activities for Swalwell ’ s 2014 re-election campaign , although , as a foreign national , she did not — could not — contribute herself .
After that , she reportedly helped place at least one intern in Swalwell ’ s office .
She also interacted with him at various events over several years .
Swalwell wouldn ’ t participate in the Axios story ; his office said he hadn ’ t seen Fang in “ nearly six years ” but had provided information about her to the FBI .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI became alarmed at Fang ’ s activities and gave Swalwell a defensive briefing .
He immediately cut all ties to her .
She abruptly left the country in mid-2015 , leaving acquaintances puzzled .
We don ’ t know how involved Swalwell was with this woman .
But what we do see from this story is how China — like all governments that spy — spends years cultivating relationships that might pay off even decades later .
That appears to be the case here , as Fang first got to know Swalwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin , California .
As Axios says , “ The Chinese Communist Party knows that today ’ s mayors and city council members are tomorrow ’ s governors and members of Congress.
” They play the long game .
Even FBI Director Chris Wray , in July 2020 , said Beijing “ is engaged in a highly sophisticated malign foreign influence campaign.
” These efforts involve “ subversive , undeclared , criminal , or coercive attempts to sway our government ’ s policies , distort our country ’ s public discourse and undermine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values.
” As if that could get any worse .
It would appear they ’ ve done their job , or at least are happy with what they see .
But they ’ re just getting started .
U.S. officials believe Fang was in the U.S. to gather intelligence and also “ to influence rising U.S. officials on China-related issues.
” China wants to be able “ to sway the opinion of key decision-makers.
” Fang apparently was being directed by China ’ s Ministry of State Security ( MSS ) , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her main handlers are thought to have been in China .
She was put under surveillance by the FBI ’ s San Francisco Division after being seen traveling around the country getting close to U.S. politicians .
Around 2015 , the FBI started giving “ multiple defensive briefings ” to warn local and national politicians who had been targeted by Fang .
That ’ s when Swalwell cut off ties .
“ She was just one of lots of agents , ” said a current senior U.S. intelligence official .
Axios goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is such a good place for the Chinese to spy .
One is that it ’ s the home of one of our nation ’ s oldest and largest Chinese American communities .
They want to indoctrinate Chinese Americans just as they do the Chinese .
Another reason that might not be so obvious is that Democrats run it .
Those seeking power generally have to be from those circles .
“ Notice all the D ’ s next to their names , ” says Jeff Dunetz for Lidblog .
One Bay Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to be the connector between the Asian American community and members of Congress.
” Some described her as “ charismatic ” and “ well liked , ” while others thought her “ secretive ” and “ suspicious.
” Predictably , few professed to know her well , saying she didn ’ t talk about her family or hometown .
But her Facebook friends list “ is a virtual ‘ who ’ s who ’ of local Bay Area politicos , and includes city council members , current and former mayors , [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swalwell ’ s father and brothers.
” Again , all Democrats .
Fang is gone , but there ’ s no telling how many Chinese nationals are in this country for the same purposes of spying and intelligence gathering , every one as single-minded as she was .
But news is getting around now about Swalwell ’ s association with a Chinese “ honeypot.
” Considering his repeated lies about Trump and Russia long after those allegations were known to be false , any bad press Swalwell gets now , deserved or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What goes around comes around .
Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events .
A New York Times best-selling author , he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN .

There’s so much developing news today, it’s hard to know where to begin. But one emerging story ties in with something we’ve mentioned, that video of the Chinese lecturer explaining that, were it not for Trump, they would be having their way via their friends at the highest levels in Washington.
That story falls into the “shocking but not surprising” category. It’s chilling, if only because it seems so plausible at this time in our history. And today, we have another report , from Axios, about a political intelligence operation run by China’s main civilian spy agency between 2011 and 2015. During that period they established and exploited “extensive ties” with local and national politicians, including Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee.
Axios has been investigating this story for over a year. Of course, you remember Swalwell, the shill for the Democrat Party who repeatedly lied and accused President Trump of collaborating with Russia. Swalwell was about on par with Adam Schiff, in that he could always be depended on to go before the TV cameras and say anything, no matter how outrageous or demonstrably false. It got to the point where whenever his face appeared on the screen, I had to scramble for the remote and press “mute.” Life is too short.
Beijing has obviously focused for years on gaining influence in U.S. political circles, and apparently has enjoyed quite a bit. As we see from the Chinese video, the election of President Trump was seen as their one big bump in the road. Things were going oh-so-well until he got elected. But they say that now, once again, they have someone in office that they can control — I mean, work with.
Watch this video. All of it. Beijing Biden is a very real thing. pic.twitter.com/PPWBzp9JLH — Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) December 8, 2020
I imagine the ChiComms were really depressed the night of November 3, when they saw Trump was easily ahead. But then, the next morning, after the vote had been suspended in several states and the count suddenly favored Biden, they were popping the champagne corks for a lovely celebratory brunch.
(In related, breaking news, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, is calling for a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden’s ties with China and the access this might have given China to the Obama-Biden administration.)
Getting Fangs Into Top Political Figures
As for this specific operative (SPY), a Chinese national whose name is either Fang Fang or Christine Fang, it appears her operation ended during the Obama administration, though China’s influence-expanding activities continue and are “a core focus for U.S. counterintelligence” (as they had better be). Fang reportedly targeted “up-and-coming” local politicians in the Bay Area and around the country, men who had “the potential to make it big on the national stage.” It’s easy to see why she might have targeted Swalwell, who doesn’t exactly come off as a rocket scientist but would relish the lights and cameras as a career launchpad.
According to Axios, Fang gained proximity to power through “campaign fundraising, extensive networking, personal charisma, and romantic or sexual relationships,” including with two Midwestern mayors.
A current U.S. intelligence official said that “there were some really, really sensitive people” caught up in this. I would presume this was a reference at least in part to Swalwell, as, again, he became a member of the House Intelligence Committee.
Fang took part in fundraising activities for Swalwell’s 2014 re-election campaign, although, as a foreign national, she did not — could not — contribute herself. After that, she reportedly helped place at least one intern in Swalwell’s office. She also interacted with him at various events over several years.
Swalwell wouldn’t participate in the Axios story; his office said he hadn’t seen Fang in “nearly six years” but had provided information about her to the FBI.
This must be because around 2015, the FBI became alarmed at Fang’s activities and gave Swalwell a defensive briefing. He immediately cut all ties to her. She abruptly left the country in mid-2015, leaving acquaintances puzzled.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
We don’t know how involved Swalwell was with this woman.
But what we do see from this story is how China — like all governments that spy — spends years cultivating relationships that might pay off even decades later. That appears to be the case here, as Fang first got to know Swalwell when he was a council member for Dublin, California. As Axios says, “The Chinese Communist Party knows that today’s mayors and city council members are tomorrow’s governors and members of Congress.” They play the long game.
Malign Foreign Influence
Even FBI Director Chris Wray, in July 2020, said Beijing “is engaged in a highly sophisticated malign foreign influence campaign.” These efforts involve “subversive, undeclared, criminal, or coercive attempts to sway our government’s policies, distort our country’s public discourse and undermine our confidence in our democratic processes and values.”
As if that could get any worse. It would appear they’ve done their job, or at least are happy with what they see. But they’re just getting started.
U.S. officials believe Fang was in the U.S. to gather intelligence and also “to influence rising U.S. officials on China-related issues.” China wants to be able “to sway the opinion of key decision-makers.” Fang apparently was being directed by China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), the country’s primary civilian spy agency. Her main handlers are thought to have been in China. She was put under surveillance by the FBI’s San Francisco Division after being seen traveling around the country getting close to U.S. politicians.
Around 2015, the FBI started giving “multiple defensive briefings” to warn local and national politicians who had been targeted by Fang. That’s when Swalwell cut off ties.
“She was just one of lots of agents,” said a current senior U.S. intelligence official.
Bay Area Targeted
Axios goes through numerous reasons why the Bay Area is such a good place for the Chinese to spy. One is that it’s the home of one of our nation’s oldest and largest Chinese American communities. They want to indoctrinate Chinese Americans just as they do the Chinese.
Another reason that might not be so obvious is that Democrats run it. Those seeking power generally have to be from those circles. “Notice all the D’s next to their names,” says Jeff Dunetz for Lidblog .
One Bay Area political operative noted that Fang positioned herself “to be the connector between the Asian American community and members of Congress.” Some described her as “charismatic” and “well liked,” while others thought her “secretive” and “suspicious.”
Predictably, few professed to know her well, saying she didn’t talk about her family or hometown. But her Facebook friends list “is a virtual ‘who’s who’ of local Bay Area politicos, and includes city council members, current and former mayors, [California Rep. Ro] Khanna, and Swalwell’s father and brothers.” Again, all Democrats.
Fang is gone, but there’s no telling how many Chinese nationals are in this country for the same purposes of spying and intelligence gathering, every one as single-minded as she was.
But news is getting around now about Swalwell’s association with a Chinese “honeypot.” Considering his repeated lies about Trump and Russia long after those allegations were known to be false, any bad press Swalwell gets now, deserved or not, I chalk up to karma. What goes around comes around.
Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events. A New York Times best-selling author, he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN.


thestream--2020-12-09--White Evangelical Support for Trump Was Not About Whiteness

According to a lengthy new article and a recent book , a driving force behind white evangelical support for Donald Trump was the preservation of white America .
This factor , we are told , and not just Trump ’ s support for other causes of importance to white evangelicals , such as being pro-life and pro-Israel , helps explain why so many of these Christian conservatives got behind such an unlikely candidate .
Is this true ?
According to Sarah Posner in her book Unholy : Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Trump , a key factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the realization that Trump was the strongman the Christian right had long been waiting for .
They had been waiting for a leader unbowed , one who wasn ’ t afraid to attack , head-on , the legal , social , and cultural changes that had unleashed the racist grievances of the American right , beginning with Brown v. Board of Education and persisting through the 1960s and ’ 70s in opposition to school desegregation and government policies to promote it — long before evangelicals made opposing abortion their top issue.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article for The Intelligencer , titled “ White Evangelicals Made a Deal with the Devil .
Now What ?
” , touched on this as well .
She wrote , “ As hypocritical as white Evangelical support for Trump may look from the outside , the president actually understood his base quite well .
Eight years of a Black , liberal president threatened their hegemony .
So had the Supreme Court ’ s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.
” Jones agrees with Posner , who told her that Trump tapped into two tendencies among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the racial grievances of the white base of the Republican Party , and how televangelism had changed Evangelicalism from the 1970s onward , ” Posner said .
To be sure , Posner and Jones are correct in pointing out how many evangelicals have looked to Trump as a savior figure of sorts , a strong man who , at last , will push back against the left .
In Trump , we had our champion .
And Trump ’ s America-first nationalism appealed to many a white supremacist , including those on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinterpreted or deliberately misrepresented as both xenophobic and racist .
I ’ m Not an Outsider Trying to Understand But as a white evangelical supporter of Trump , as a good friend of a number of those in Trump ’ s inner faith circle , and as one who travels widely in evangelical circles , I can say that , overwhelmingly , the race-related charges of Posner and Jones are false .
Patently , categorically false .
How can I be so dogmatic ?
It ’ s because I know what is important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
I interact in this world .
I am not trying to understand a movement from the outside .
I preach in these churches and speak at these conferences .
I do interviews on these radio and TV and internet outlets .
These are my friends and co-workers .
And never once in my years among these colleagues have I heard a syllable about preserving a white America .
Never once have I heard one of my co-workers suggest that we needed to turn back the clock on segregation ( let alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I heard a single discussion arguing that we get behind a particular candidate because they would be good for whites .
Not once .
Good for evangelicals , yes .
Good for whites , no .
The Things We Stand for Aren ’ t Racially Motivated In fact , when we talk about abortion , we frequently point out how abortion providers target blacks in particular .
When we talk about religious freedoms , we are just as grieved when our Hispanic or black brothers and sisters are targeted as when the target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ activism , we are opposing a movement led largely by whites .
We certainly have our blind spots when it comes to racism in America , but we were hardly pro-Trump because we were pro-white .
Instead of Psychoanalyzing Each Other With Preconceived Ideas of Motives , Let ’ s Stick With Facts Someone might protest , “ But that ’ s the thing .
You say this because you are blind to white privilege .
You don ’ t understand how much preserving the status quo is about whiteness .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist , but Trump appealed to something deeper in your white souls .
That ’ s what your missing.
” Of course , I could just as easily claim that it is anti-white animus driving the critique of white evangelicals or a self-hating whiteness that is animating these charges .
We can psychoanalyze one other ad infinitum .
It is best to stick with verifiable facts .
Let us focus , then , directly on Trump .
Why Did Trump Succeed in His Efforts to Expand His Minority Base ?
If he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the least , someone who catered to white supremacy ) , why did he work so hard ( and succeed ) in expanding his minority base ?
Why did he reach out to black and Hispanic pastors and activists , bringing them into his inner circle ?
Why did he take pride in having a growing multi-racial base ?
Why did he respond to racial unrest in 2020 by gathering key black leaders for input and counsel ?
And if he was truly an antisemitic white supremacist ( part of the standard charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most pro-Israel president in our history ?
And why does he so esteem his Jewish son-in-law , Jared Kushner , let alone embrace his daughter Ivanka ’ s conversion to Judaism ?
( For the record , this makes Trump ’ s grandchildren Jewish under Jewish law .
Antisemites do not welcome Jews into their family . )
In my most ardent , anti-Trump days ( during the primaries but before his nomination in 2016 ) , I never believed he was an antisemite .
Many rabbis and Jewish leaders would concur with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as I have been an open critic of Trump when I have differed with his words and conduct ( as a Trump supporter and voter ) , I have never believed he was a racist .
Some of my anti-Trump , evangelical friends agree with me here as well .
The issue of protecting our borders is about law and order and safety .
It is not about keeping out needy refugees who want to become part of our country .
The warnings about China are not because of China ’ s non-whiteness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genuine threat to the well-being of our nation ( and even the world ) .
A threat new revelations this week make perfectly clear .
As for the so-called “ Muslim ban , ” that ultimately amounted to continuing a ban on travel from seven Islamic nations that President Obama had previously singled out .
And , for the record , Islam is multi-racial itself , including many whites in its ranks .
As for Trump ’ s alleged failure to condemn white supremacy , or his calling neo-Nazis “ very fine people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although by now they have been thoroughly canonized by the left ; see here and here ) .
Not only so , but black leaders and Hispanic leaders who have met with Trump privately have spoken of his genuine concern to improve the well-being of underprivileged minorities .
His attitude was quite the opposite of that of a white supremacist for whom “ America first ” meant a white America first .
That ’ s why black and Hispanic speakers played a prominent role at the Republican National Convention .
It was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As for white evangelicals who supported Trump , given the choice between voting for a liberal white candidate ( like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden ) or a conservative black candidate ( like Dr. Ben Carson or the late Herman Cain ) , or a Hispanic candidate ( like Senators Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio ) , in a heartbeat , we would have voted for the black or Hispanic conservative .
I am absolutely sure of this .
In sum , then , where Posner and Jones focus on other , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I second their concerns , having expressed them for years as well ( see here and here ) .
But their claim that preserving whiteness was a driving force in white evangelical support for Trump is not simply exaggerated .
It is misguided and only stirs up misunderstandings and deepens racial divides .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on @ @ @ @ @ @

According to a lengthy new article and a recent book, a driving force behind white evangelical support for Donald Trump was the preservation of white America. This factor, we are told, and not just Trump’s support for other causes of importance to white evangelicals, such as being pro-life and pro-Israel, helps explain why so many of these Christian conservatives got behind such an unlikely candidate. Is this true?
“Racist Grievances”
According to Sarah Posner in her book Unholy: Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Trump, a key factor in white evangelical support for Trump was “the realization that Trump was the strongman the Christian right had long been waiting for. They had been waiting for a leader unbowed, one who wasn’t afraid to attack, head-on, the legal, social, and cultural changes that had unleashed the racist grievances of the American right, beginning with Brown v. Board of Education and persisting through the 1960s and ’70s in opposition to school desegregation and government policies to promote it — long before evangelicals made opposing abortion their top issue.”
Sarah Jones, in her December 6 article for The Intelligencer, titled “White Evangelicals Made a Deal with the Devil. Now What?”, touched on this as well. She wrote, “As hypocritical as white Evangelical support for Trump may look from the outside, the president actually understood his base quite well. Eight years of a Black, liberal president threatened their hegemony. So had the Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.”
I can say that, overwhelmingly, the race-related charges of Posner and Jones are false. Patently, categorically false.
Jones agrees with Posner, who told her that Trump tapped into two tendencies among Evangelicals. “Those two things were the racial grievances of the white base of the Republican Party, and how televangelism had changed Evangelicalism from the 1970s onward,” Posner said.
To be sure, Posner and Jones are correct in pointing out how many evangelicals have looked to Trump as a savior figure of sorts, a strong man who, at last, will push back against the left. In Trump, we had our champion.
And Trump’s America-first nationalism appealed to many a white supremacist, including those on the alt-right. His rhetoric could easily be misinterpreted or deliberately misrepresented as both xenophobic and racist.
I’m Not an Outsider Trying to Understand
But as a white evangelical supporter of Trump, as a good friend of a number of those in Trump’s inner faith circle, and as one who travels widely in evangelical circles, I can say that, overwhelmingly, the race-related charges of Posner and Jones are false. Patently, categorically false.
How can I be so dogmatic?
It’s because I know what is important to us. I live in this world. I interact in this world. I am not trying to understand a movement from the outside.
I preach in these churches and speak at these conferences. I do interviews on these radio and TV and internet outlets. These are my friends and co-workers.
And never once in my years among these colleagues have I heard a syllable about preserving a white America. Never once have I heard one of my co-workers suggest that we needed to turn back the clock on segregation (let alone slavery). And never once have I heard a single discussion arguing that we get behind a particular candidate because they would be good for whites. Not once.
Good for evangelicals, yes. Good for whites, no.
The Things We Stand for Aren’t Racially Motivated
In fact, when we talk about abortion, we frequently point out how abortion providers target blacks in particular.
When we talk about religious freedoms, we are just as grieved when our Hispanic or black brothers and sisters are targeted as when the target is white.
And when we oppose LGBTQ activism, we are opposing a movement led largely by whites.
We certainly have our blind spots when it comes to racism in America, but we were hardly pro-Trump because we were pro-white.
Instead of Psychoanalyzing Each Other With Preconceived Ideas of Motives, Let’s Stick With Facts
Someone might protest, “But that’s the thing. You say this because you are blind to white privilege. You don’t understand how much preserving the status quo is about whiteness. You and your friends might not be outwardly racist, but Trump appealed to something deeper in your white souls. That’s what your missing.”
Of course, I could just as easily claim that it is anti-white animus driving the critique of white evangelicals or a self-hating whiteness that is animating these charges. We can psychoanalyze one other ad infinitum. It is best to stick with verifiable facts.
Let us focus, then, directly on Trump.
Why Did Trump Succeed in His Efforts to Expand His Minority Base?
If he was truly a racist (or, at the least, someone who catered to white supremacy), why did he work so hard (and succeed) in expanding his minority base? Why did he reach out to black and Hispanic pastors and activists, bringing them into his inner circle? Why did he take pride in having a growing multi-racial base? Why did he respond to racial unrest in 2020 by gathering key black leaders for input and counsel?
And if he was truly an antisemitic white supremacist (part of the standard charge), why has he been the most pro-Israel president in our history? And why does he so esteem his Jewish son-in-law, Jared Kushner, let alone embrace his daughter Ivanka’s conversion to Judaism? (For the record, this makes Trump’s grandchildren Jewish under Jewish law. Antisemites do not welcome Jews into their family.)
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In my most ardent, anti-Trump days (during the primaries but before his nomination in 2016), I never believed he was an antisemite. Many rabbis and Jewish leaders would concur with me on this.
And as much as I have been an open critic of Trump when I have differed with his words and conduct (as a Trump supporter and voter), I have never believed he was a racist. Some of my anti-Trump, evangelical friends agree with me here as well.
Trump is Not a Racist
The issue of protecting our borders is about law and order and safety. It is not about keeping out needy refugees who want to become part of our country.
The warnings about China are not because of China’s non-whiteness but because of Communist China posing a genuine threat to the well-being of our nation (and even the world). A threat new revelations this week make perfectly clear.
As for the so-called “Muslim ban,” that ultimately amounted to continuing a ban on travel from seven Islamic nations that President Obama had previously singled out. And, for the record, Islam is multi-racial itself, including many whites in its ranks.
As for Trump’s alleged failure to condemn white supremacy, or his calling neo-Nazis “very fine people,” these are simply myths (although by now they have been thoroughly canonized by the left; see here and here).
Not only so, but black leaders and Hispanic leaders who have met with Trump privately have spoken of his genuine concern to improve the well-being of underprivileged minorities. His attitude was quite the opposite of that of a white supremacist for whom “America first” meant a white America first.
That’s why black and Hispanic speakers played a prominent role at the Republican National Convention. It was not just a matter of smoke and mirrors.
This Misguided Accusation Only Deepens Racial Divisions
As for white evangelicals who supported Trump, given the choice between voting for a liberal white candidate (like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden) or a conservative black candidate (like Dr. Ben Carson or the late Herman Cain), or a Hispanic candidate (like Senators Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio), in a heartbeat, we would have voted for the black or Hispanic conservative.
I am absolutely sure of this.
In sum, then, where Posner and Jones focus on other, unhealthy aspects of evangelical support for Trump, I second their concerns, having expressed them for years as well (see here and here).
But their claim that preserving whiteness was a driving force in white evangelical support for Trump is not simply exaggerated. It is misguided and only stirs up misunderstandings and deepens racial divides.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-12-09--17 States Back Texas Suit Against Pa., Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin for Unconstitutionally Changi

17 States Back Texas Suit Against Pa., Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin for Unconstitutionally Changing Election Procedures.

Update : Reuters is reporting 17 states have now signed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of the Texas lawsuit .
Let ’ s get this out in the open .
The summers are miserable , the obsession with football is unhealthy , and it ’ s a pain having to add 10 minutes to any stop you make because Texans are so chatty .
But sometimes Texas does something so downright Texan , you have to climb on your neighbor ’ s pick-up and shout , “ Yee-Haw !
” Just before midnight , the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election fraud fight .
Texas sued Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin on the grounds their ad-hoc changes to election procedures were unconstitutional .
And as a result , violated the rights of Texans and those in other states that followed the constitution .
Don ’ t mess with Texas , indeed .
What ’ s more , Texas isn ’ t fiddling around with lower courts .
They marched straight to the Supreme Court .
And they are requesting the Supreme Court order the offending states to allow their legislatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the first major outlet with the story , and breaks down the argument the Lone Star State is making .
In their lawsuit , Texas claims “ certain officials in the Defendant States ” presented the COVID pandemic “ as the justification for ignoring state laws regarding absentee and mail-in balloting.
” As streiff at RedState noted , “ there ’ s no pandemic escape hatch in the constitution.
” The offending states then “ flooded their citizenry with tens of millions of ballot applications and ballots in derogation of statutory controls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , evaluated , and counted .
Whether well intentioned or not , these unconstitutional acts had the same uniform effect — they made the 2020 election less secure in the Defendant States.
” Circumventing their legislatures to rewrite the voting rules and procedures violates not only state law , but the Electors Clause of Article II , Section 1 , Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution .
Says Texas , “ By these unlawful acts , the Defendant States have not only tainted the integrity of their own citizens ’ vote , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of citizens in Plaintiff State and other States that remained loyal to the Constitution.
” “ Their failure to abide by the rule of law casts a dark shadow of doubt over the outcome of the entire election , ” said Texas AG Ken Paxton in a statement , “ We now ask that the Supreme Court step in to correct this egregious error.
” Going to the Supreme Court…a Long Shot , Perhaps Texas approached the Supreme Court directly , Breitbart reports , “ because Article III provides that it is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has original jurisdiction , such as disputes between two or more states.
” The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case , and has requested the four Defendant States to respond by Thursday .
Twitchy has collected the early reaction of legal types , and the consensus seems to be it ’ s a long shot the Supreme Court will hear the case , let alone rule in Texas ’ favor .
Several commentators note that the suit was filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , not the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be the go-to person for suits like this .
What ’ s more , a growing number of states are standing behind Texas , including Florida , Louisiana , West Virginia , Missouri , Arkansas and South Dakota .
Even if this is a legal “ stunt , ” the move by Texas raises the stakes and makes an important point lost to the “ Orange Man Bad ” crowd happy to see the president ousted by hook or by crook .
This is not about Donald Trump .
This is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people who smell a rat .
And for every other voter who needs assurance that we have fair elections , where every legal vote — and only legal votes — count .
For all those who believe the U.S. Constitution matters .
So for standing up and saying , “ What happened there ain ’ t right , ” all we can say is , “ God Bless Texas.
” Read the State of Texas lawsuit here : Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Update: Reuters is reporting 17 states have now signed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of the Texas lawsuit.
Let’s get this out in the open. The summers are miserable, the obsession with football is unhealthy, and it’s a pain having to add 10 minutes to any stop you make because Texans are so chatty. But sometimes Texas does something so downright Texan, you have to climb on your neighbor’s pick-up and shout, “Yee-Haw!”
Just before midnight, the State of Texas threw its massive weight into the election fraud fight. Texas sued Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin on the grounds their ad-hoc changes to election procedures were unconstitutional. And as a result, violated the rights of Texans and those in other states that followed the constitution. Don’t mess with Texas, indeed.
What’s more, Texas isn’t fiddling around with lower courts. They marched straight to the Supreme Court. And they are requesting the Supreme Court order the offending states to allow their legislatures to appoint their presidential electors.
Dodging State Legislatures Was Dodgy
Breitbart was the first major outlet with the story, and breaks down the argument the Lone Star State is making.
Texas argues that these states violated the Electors Clause of the Constitution because they made changes to voting rules and procedures through the courts or through executive actions, but not through the state legislatures. Additionally, Texas argues that there were differences in voting rules and procedures in different counties within the states, violating the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. Finally, Texas argues that there were “voting irregularities” in these states as a result of the above.
In their lawsuit, Texas claims “certain officials in the Defendant States” presented the COVID pandemic “as the justification for ignoring state laws regarding absentee and mail-in balloting.” As streiff at RedState noted, “there’s no pandemic escape hatch in the constitution.”
The offending states then “flooded their citizenry with tens of millions of ballot applications and ballots in derogation of statutory controls as to how they are lawfully received, evaluated, and counted. Whether well intentioned or not, these unconstitutional acts had the same uniform effect — they made the 2020 election less secure in the Defendant States.”
Circumventing their legislatures to rewrite the voting rules and procedures violates not only state law, but the Electors Clause of Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution.
Says Texas, “By these unlawful acts, the Defendant States have not only tainted the integrity of their own citizens’ vote, but their actions have also debased the votes of citizens in Plaintiff State and other States that remained loyal to the Constitution.”
“Their failure to abide by the rule of law casts a dark shadow of doubt over the outcome of the entire election,” said Texas AG Ken Paxton in a statement, “We now ask that the Supreme Court step in to correct this egregious error.”
Going to the Supreme Court…a Long Shot, Perhaps
Texas approached the Supreme Court directly, Breitbart reports, “because Article III provides that it is the court of first impression on subjects where it has original jurisdiction, such as disputes between two or more states.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, and has requested the four Defendant States to respond by Thursday. Twitchy has collected the early reaction of legal types, and the consensus seems to be it’s a long shot the Supreme Court will hear the case, let alone rule in Texas’ favor. Several commentators note that the suit was filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, not the state’s solicitor general Kyle Hawkins, who would be the go-to person for suits like this.
Still, the White House thinks it’s huge news.
https://twitter.com/kayleighmcenany/status/1336310213553647616?s=20
What’s more, a growing number of states are standing behind Texas, including Florida, Louisiana, West Virginia, Missouri, Arkansas and South Dakota.
Even if this is a legal “stunt,” the move by Texas raises the stakes and makes an important point lost to the “Orange Man Bad” crowd happy to see the president ousted by hook or by crook. This is not about Donald Trump. This is about seeking answers and justice for the 75-plus million people who smell a rat. And for every other voter who needs assurance that we have fair elections, where every legal vote — and only legal votes — count. For all those who believe the U.S. Constitution matters.
So for standing up and saying, “What happened there ain’t right,” all we can say is, “God Bless Texas.”
Read the State of Texas lawsuit here:
TX v State Motion 2020-12-0… by Breitbart News
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-12-09--We Need to Reopen Our Schools

We Need to Reopen Our Schools

Eight months into this pandemic , one thing is increasingly clear : Students learn best when they are in school .
Their continued absence from the classroom has led to less learning , more mental health problems , and greater inequality as children from lower income households fall further behind .
This past spring , teachers were able to get 2-3 months of face time with their students before everyone was sent home .
We knew that was disruptive , so a lot of grace was extended from teachers and administrators towards students .
But now that we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the real data is coming in .
It isn ’ t pretty : • Houston , Texas : 42 % of students receiving one or more Fs .
Last Fall , only 26 % had that misfortune .
• Keizer , Oregon : In McNary High School , 38 % of grades in late October were F ’ s .
That figure is typically 8 % .
• Northern California : In Redwood City , the percentage of students with two or more F ’ s jumped to 29 % from 19.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ F grades jumped to 31 % from 19 % the previous two fall terms .
• Montgomery County , Maryland : Failure rates in math and English jumped almost sixfold for some of the most vulnerable students .
Montgomery County is the largest district in the state .
• Wilson County , North Carolina : 46 % of students in grades 3-12 failed at least one class — more than double the rate from the same period in fall 2019 .
• Fairfax County , Virginia : 11 % of middle school and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in at least two classes .
Up from 6 % .
Fairfax County is the largest district in the state .
We could go on , but you get the picture .
For many students , the social and emotional damage is even worse than the poor learning outcomes .
Dan Domenech has served as a superintendent for nearly 30 years .
He ’ s currently the executive director of the American Association of School Administrators .
Here ’ s his take : “ We know that there has been a significant loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell you , we ’ re less concerned about that than we are about the social and emotional factors .
We ’ re seeing an increase in the stress that students are feeling , the emotional impact that this is having on them .
We ’ re carefully tracking suicide rates , which is a major factor.
” Even before COVID , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had alerted us that anxiety and depression were on the rise for children ages 6-17 .
Recently published peer-reviewed research confirms what you probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our own experiences and that of loved ones tells us something else : the mental affects the physical .
Stress and loneliness impact quality of sleep , appetite , digestion , and ability to focus .
In short , kids need friendships and face to face interactions to develop , to learn , and to stay healthy .
It ’ s not just students in the K-12 system .
A CDC report found that 25 % of young adults ( 18-24 ) had seriously considered suicide in the month of June — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colleges already knew that stress , anxiety , and depression were huge issues on campus even before COVID .
The isolation has made things worse .
The Poor Are Hurt More Sending kids home from school created a huge new burden for parents .
The pandemic shuttered not just schools , but daycare centers .
Sure , some parents could shift to working from home , keeping one eye on the kids and another on their inbox .
But for many parents — particularly in working-class households — remote work was simply not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , larger homes , which make for more comfortable learning environments .
They have better broadband Internet .
Their kids are more familiar with pricey electronic devices , like iPads , which can be used for learning .
The parents are more likely to be in professions that allow them to telecommute ( or to have a stay-at-home parent ) .
During weekdays , their kids are more likely to be online , doing their schoolwork , with an involved adult nearby , ready to help .
But wealthy families in a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hire a quasi-full-time , in-home tutors — either individually or by pooling resources with a handful of similar families .
They create a small “ learning pod ” of 3-5 students , with a tutor providing instruction over a 2-3-hour time block , outdoors if practical .
Like in-person school , only better !
A much smaller student-teacher ratio .
It ’ s not cheap , though .
One group in California charges between $ 20-65 per hour per student .
Figure 15 hours/week will run you about $ 2,500/month .
They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s curriculum .
They ’ ll follow CDC guidelines , the whole nine yards .
Part of why it ’ s not cheap is that there are legal and logistical hurdles involved .
Do the hired tutors need workers ’ compensation ?
What about liability insurance ?
If they ’ re meeting in a family ’ s backyard , do you need clearance from the city government or the homeowner ’ s association ?
Will the tutor have contractor or employee status ?
If you ’ re not at least moderately well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the market .
And your kid is more likely to be falling behind .
Late this summer President Trump made getting kids back in school a priority .
He and Secretary DeVos hinted at funding cuts for schools that didn ’ t comply .
But with their eyes on November , and Democrats sensing the President ’ s COVID response as an opportunity , school openings became a partisan issue .
Democrats urged caution , which is also where the teachers ’ unions landed .
But there ’ s been a shift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school aren ’ t driving COVID transmission to adults .
But many of the teachers ’ unions are still stuck in neutral — in some cases filing lawsuits to keep schools from reopening .
As one person put it , “ We have a weird situation in the U.S. right now where prominent Democratic politicians have their children attending private schools for five days a week of in-person learning while the public schools in their cities and states are closed … Democrats are supposed to actually care about public schools and vulnerable children.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea it was or who gets credit .
If funding is the sticking point , let ’ s come up with a sensible compromise .
Improve ventilation , add hand sanitizing stations , encourage physical distancing , and do things outside when possible — but reopen schools for the sake of our children .
All our children .
Oh , and if public schools are closed but nearby private schools aren ’ t ?
Give parents the option of using their tax dollars to enroll in the private schools .
Dr. Alex Chediak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a professor and the author of Thriving at College ( Tyndale House , 2011 ) , a roadmap for how students can best navigate the challenges of their college years .
His latest book is Beating the College Debt Trap .
Learn more about him at www.alexchediak.com or follow him on Twitter ( @ chediak ) .

Eight months into this pandemic, one thing is increasingly clear: Students learn best when they are in school. Their continued absence from the classroom has led to less learning, more mental health problems, and greater inequality as children from lower income households fall further behind.
Poor Academic Outcomes
This past spring, teachers were able to get 2-3 months of face time with their students before everyone was sent home. We knew that was disruptive, so a lot of grace was extended from teachers and administrators towards students. But now that we’re wrapping up our first fully digital semester, the real data is coming in. It isn’t pretty:
Houston, Texas: 42% of students receiving one or more Fs. Last Fall, only 26% had that misfortune.
Keizer, Oregon: In McNary High School, 38% of grades in late October were F’s. That figure is typically 8%.
Northern California: In Redwood City, the percentage of students with two or more F’s jumped to 29% from 19.7%. In Contra Costa County, F grades jumped to 31% from 19% the previous two fall terms.
Montgomery County, Maryland: Failure rates in math and English jumped almost sixfold for some of the most vulnerable students. Montgomery County is the largest district in the state.
Wilson County, North Carolina: 46% of students in grades 3-12 failed at least one class — more than double the rate from the same period in fall 2019.
Fairfax County, Virginia: 11% of middle school and high school students earned F’s in at least two classes. Up from 6%. Fairfax County is the largest district in the state.
We could go on, but you get the picture.
Poor Social-Emotional Outcomes
For many students, the social and emotional damage is even worse than the poor learning outcomes. Dan Domenech has served as a superintendent for nearly 30 years. He’s currently the executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. Here’s his take: “We know that there has been a significant loss of learning, but I’ll tell you, we’re less concerned about that than we are about the social and emotional factors. We’re seeing an increase in the stress that students are feeling, the emotional impact that this is having on them. We’re carefully tracking suicide rates, which is a major factor.”
Even before COVID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had alerted us that anxiety and depression were on the rise for children ages 6-17. Recently published peer-reviewed research confirms what you probably suspected: prolonged isolation makes things worse. Our own experiences and that of loved ones tells us something else: the mental affects the physical. Stress and loneliness impact quality of sleep, appetite, digestion, and ability to focus. In short, kids need friendships and face to face interactions to develop, to learn, and to stay healthy.
It’s not just students in the K-12 system. A CDC report found that 25% of young adults (18-24) had seriously considered suicide in the month of June — typically a season of summer bliss. Colleges already knew that stress, anxiety, and depression were huge issues on campus even before COVID. The isolation has made things worse.
The Poor Are Hurt More
Sending kids home from school created a huge new burden for parents. The pandemic shuttered not just schools, but daycare centers. Sure, some parents could shift to working from home, keeping one eye on the kids and another on their inbox. But for many parents — particularly in working-class households — remote work was simply not an option.
Wealthier families have nicer, larger homes, which make for more comfortable learning environments. They have better broadband Internet. Their kids are more familiar with pricey electronic devices, like iPads, which can be used for learning. The parents are more likely to be in professions that allow them to telecommute (or to have a stay-at-home parent). During weekdays, their kids are more likely to be online, doing their schoolwork, with an involved adult nearby, ready to help.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But wealthy families in a pandemic have another advantage: The ability to hire a quasi-full-time, in-home tutors — either individually or by pooling resources with a handful of similar families. They create a small “learning pod” of 3-5 students, with a tutor providing instruction over a 2-3-hour time block, outdoors if practical. Like in-person school, only better! A much smaller student-teacher ratio.
It’s not cheap, though. One group in California charges between $20-65 per hour per student. Figure 15 hours/week will run you about $2,500/month. They’ll support your kid’s school’s curriculum. They’ll follow CDC guidelines, the whole nine yards. Part of why it’s not cheap is that there are legal and logistical hurdles involved. Do the hired tutors need workers’ compensation? What about liability insurance? If they’re meeting in a family’s backyard, do you need clearance from the city government or the homeowner’s association? Will the tutor have contractor or employee status?
If you’re not at least moderately well off, you’re probably not in the market. And your kid is more likely to be falling behind.
A Growing Consensus
Late this summer President Trump made getting kids back in school a priority. He and Secretary DeVos hinted at funding cuts for schools that didn’t comply. But with their eyes on November, and Democrats sensing the President’s COVID response as an opportunity, school openings became a partisan issue. Democrats urged caution, which is also where the teachers’ unions landed.
But there’s been a shift, as research increasingly confirms kids at school aren’t driving COVID transmission to adults. But many of the teachers’ unions are still stuck in neutral — in some cases filing lawsuits to keep schools from reopening. As one person put it, “We have a weird situation in the U.S. right now where prominent Democratic politicians have their children attending private schools for five days a week of in-person learning while the public schools in their cities and states are closed … Democrats are supposed to actually care about public schools and vulnerable children.”
Let’s forget about whose idea it was or who gets credit. If funding is the sticking point, let’s come up with a sensible compromise. Improve ventilation, add hand sanitizing stations, encourage physical distancing, and do things outside when possible — but reopen schools for the sake of our children. All our children. Oh, and if public schools are closed but nearby private schools aren’t? Give parents the option of using their tax dollars to enroll in the private schools.
Dr. Alex Chediak (Ph.D., U.C. Berkeley) is a professor and the author of Thriving at College (Tyndale House, 2011), a roadmap for how students can best navigate the challenges of their college years. His latest book is Beating the College Debt Trap. Learn more about him at www.alexchediak.com or follow him on Twitter (@chediak).