thestream--2020-08-14--Biden’s National Mask Mandate is Absurd and Despotic

The New Biden-Harris ticket is off to a despotic start .
Biden , armed with his new running mate Kamala Harris , held a press briefing on Thursday in which he called for a nationwide mask mandate .
“ Let ’ s institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately and we will save lives .
The estimates are we will save over 40,000 lives in the next three months if that is done , ” Biden emphasized .
And the former vice president stressed that wearing a mask “ increases exponentially the prospect that if you are a carrier and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that you will not infect anyone if you cough , sneeze , sing , shout.
” And pointing to the nation ’ s death toll from the coronavirus , Biden said that “ a lot of people are dying .
We ’ re up over 160,000 people dead so far.
” I ’ m not an anti-mask zealot .
In fact , on April 2 , I pushed back against the then-official advice that normal folks shouldn ’ t wear masks .
My argument was simple : If a mask can reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or doctor , then the same mask , used properly , would do the same for a civilian .
This is logic , not epidemology .
Of course , officials from Anthony Fauci to the head of WHO to our surgeon general have long since lurched to the other extreme .
In March , masks for plebes were officially a bad idea .
Now , in August , the Democratic candidate for president is calling for a mandate for all Americans to wear them outside .
This is absurd .
Just as in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of common sense .
Probably the best-case scenario for masks involves surgical masks and N95 respirators .
The former are soft and loose-fitting , while respirators are stiff and tight-fitting .
These serve different purposes.
“ Surgical masks , ” as one study notes , “ are primarily designed to protect the environment from the wearer , whereas the respirators are supposed to protect the wearer from the environment.
” Surgeons wear masks during surgery to protect others from spit and droplets .
We can presume that they could do the same for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Healthcare workers use fit-tested N95 respirators , not surgical masks , when working with infectious patients .
Unlike the other options , an N95 respirator can prevent you from inhaling 95 percent of the tiny virus-carrying particles that otherwise would have entered your respiratory system .
Like the others , it will also catch larger droplets .
Beyond that , it can reduce the spread of the particles from your mouth and nose ( unless it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to be properly fitted to work .
If there ’ s a gap , contaminated air can stream right through it , taking the path of least resistance .
Fit around the nose bridge is tricky .
Facial hair is a no-no .
Even in the best-case scenario , though , how much would the average wearer reduce the chances of infection ?
Who knows ?
And in any case , local mask mandates in the United States don ’ t call for this best-case scenario .
These often require the general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgical and N95 masks to prevent shortages for healthcare workers .
We ’ re now referring to almost anything that can cover your face as a “ mask.
” Including fleece covers and spandex neck gaiters .
What ’ s more , we ’ re not dealing with a one-sided risk where there ’ s all benefit in favor of masks , and no downside .
A new study from Duke University suggests that cloth gaiters may actually make things worse .
And yet , given current guidelines , the silly things are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask laws .
No doubt they ’ d qualify under the new Biden-Harris mandate .
Sometimes , even good masks could do more harm than good .
For one thing , they ’ re easy to contaminate .
If you breathe through a mask in dirty air for an hour , the outside of the mask will have a much higher concentration of whatever is being filtered than will the surrounding air .
That includes spittle and virus-packed droplets .
A properly-fitted respirator has an even harsher downside : It makes breathing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are risky for small children or anyone else who has a hard time breathing .
If you ’ ve tried to work out with almost any mask on , you could have guessed that .
There are so many ifs involved with masks that it ’ s absurd to mandate them for everyone .
It makes sense for a health-care worker in a nursing home with sick patients to wear a respirator .
It makes no sense for a lone , twenty year old golfer on the ninth hold at Pebble Beach in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wearing a mask in that setting would be insane .
No presidential candidate should suggest he has the competence , or authority , to dictate such choices for everyone .
So why would Biden-Harris want to mandate that all Americans wear “ masks ” outside ?
Isn ’ t such a draconian overreach political suicide ?
In a sane time , yes .
But we live in a crazy time .
Most Americans , according to polls , are still scared witless over COVID-19 .
They believe 9 percent of the population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s off by more than two thousand percent !
This confusion is entirely the product of a relentless , media-driven campaign designed to keep us in a constant state of fear .
I found it troubling enough to spend the last few months writing a book about it with biologist Doug Axe and statistician William Briggs .
( Pre-order now ! )
As it happens , masks have become the visual symbol of the whole controversy .
You can be sure that the media will keep up the panic porn between now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Kamala Harris are clearly planning on it .
That ’ s the only way to make sense of their call for a nationwide mandate on outdoor masks .
They think , as Harris said at the press briefing , that this is “ what real leadership looks like.
” They are counting on an electorate that will welcome a president who issues such despotic diktats .
Will an electoral majority buy it ?
That depends on whether enough Americans figure out what ’ s happening .
If we don ’ t figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogs with diapers over our faces will be the least of our worries .

The new Biden-Harris ticket is off to a despotic start. Biden, armed with his new running mate Kamala Harris, held a press briefing on Thursday in which he called for a nationwide mask mandate.
Fox News reports:
“Every American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum,” Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Del. … “Let’s institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately and we will save lives. The estimates are we will save over 40,000 lives in the next three months if that is done,” Biden emphasized. And the former vice president stressed that wearing a mask “increases exponentially the prospect that if you are a carrier and you don’t even know it, that you will not infect anyone if you cough, sneeze, sing, shout.” And pointing to the nation’s death toll from the coronavirus, Biden said that “a lot of people are dying. We’re up over 160,000 people dead so far.”
I’m not an anti-mask zealot. In fact, on April 2, I pushed back against the then-official advice that normal folks shouldn’t wear masks. My argument was simple: If a mask can reduce the chances of transmission for a nurse or doctor, then the same mask, used properly, would do the same for a civilian. This is logic, not epidemology.
Of course, officials from Anthony Fauci to the head of WHO to our surgeon general have long since lurched to the other extreme. In March, masks for plebes were officially a bad idea. Now, in August, the Democratic candidate for president is calling for a mandate for all Americans to wear them outside. This is absurd.
Just as in April, we need a good dose of common sense.
Best-Case Scenario
Probably the best-case scenario for masks involves surgical masks and N95 respirators. The former are soft and loose-fitting, while respirators are stiff and tight-fitting.
These serve different purposes.“Surgical masks,” as one study notes, “are primarily designed to protect the environment from the wearer, whereas the respirators are supposed to protect the wearer from the environment.” Surgeons wear masks during surgery to protect others from spit and droplets. We can presume that they could do the same for non-surgeons.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Healthcare workers use fit-tested N95 respirators, not surgical masks, when working with infectious patients. Unlike the other options, an N95 respirator can prevent you from inhaling 95 percent of the tiny virus-carrying particles that otherwise would have entered your respiratory system. Like the others, it will also catch larger droplets. Beyond that, it can reduce the spread of the particles from your mouth and nose (unless it has a valve).
But it has to be properly fitted to work. If there’s a gap, contaminated air can stream right through it, taking the path of least resistance. Fit around the nose bridge is tricky. Facial hair is a no-no.
Not the Best-Case Scenario
Even in the best-case scenario, though, how much would the average wearer reduce the chances of infection? Who knows? And in any case, local mask mandates in the United States don’t call for this best-case scenario. These often require the general public to wear cloth coverings instead of surgical and N95 masks to prevent shortages for healthcare workers.
We’re now referring to almost anything that can cover your face as a “mask.” Including fleece covers and spandex neck gaiters.
Not a One-Sided Risk
What’s more, we’re not dealing with a one-sided risk where there’s all benefit in favor of masks, and no downside. A new study from Duke University suggests that cloth gaiters may actually make things worse. And yet, given current guidelines, the silly things are enough to satisfy the various and sundry mask laws. No doubt they’d qualify under the new Biden-Harris mandate.
Sometimes, even good masks could do more harm than good. For one thing, they’re easy to contaminate. If you breathe through a mask in dirty air for an hour, the outside of the mask will have a much higher concentration of whatever is being filtered than will the surrounding air. That includes spittle and virus-packed droplets.
A properly-fitted respirator has an even harsher downside: It makes breathing a chore. As a result, they are risky for small children or anyone else who has a hard time breathing. If you’ve tried to work out with almost any mask on, you could have guessed that.
No presidential candidate should suggest he has the competence, or authority, to dictate such choices for everyone.
There are so many ifs involved with masks that it’s absurd to mandate them for everyone. It makes sense for a health-care worker in a nursing home with sick patients to wear a respirator. It makes no sense for a lone, twenty year old golfer on the ninth hold at Pebble Beach in the August sun. On the contrary. Wearing a mask in that setting would be insane.
No presidential candidate should suggest he has the competence, or authority, to dictate such choices for everyone.
Why Call for a National Mandate?
So why would Biden-Harris want to mandate that all Americans wear “masks” outside? Isn’t such a draconian overreach political suicide?
In a sane time, yes. But we live in a crazy time.
Most Americans, according to polls, are still scared witless over COVID-19. They believe 9 percent of the population has died from the coronavirus. That’s off by more than two thousand percent! This confusion is entirely the product of a relentless, media-driven campaign designed to keep us in a constant state of fear. I found it troubling enough to spend the last few months writing a book about it with biologist Doug Axe and statistician William Briggs. (Pre-order now!) As it happens, masks have become the visual symbol of the whole controversy.
You can be sure that the media will keep up the panic porn between now and the November election. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are clearly planning on it. That’s the only way to make sense of their call for a nationwide mandate on outdoor masks. They think, as Harris said at the press briefing, that this is “what real leadership looks like.” They are counting on an electorate that will welcome a president who issues such despotic diktats.
Will an electoral majority buy it? That depends on whether enough Americans figure out what’s happening.
If we don’t figure this out before November, walking our dogs with diapers over our faces will be the least of our worries.
Jay Richards, Ph.D., is the Executive Editor of The Stream, a Research Assistant Professor in the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, and a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute. Follow him on Twitter.


thestream--2020-08-14--Too Good to Be False: How Jesus’ Greatness Can Still Astonish You

Over and over , readers of my new book Too Good to be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality are saying the book has surprised them .
Stream contributor Sean McDowell put it pithily : “ With so many books on Jesus , how do you say something fresh ?
My friend Tom Gilson has figured it out.
” What they don ’ t know is how many surprises I experienced myself while writing it .
If there ’ s anything I ’ ve “ figured out , ” it ’ s that Jesus ’ greatness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this book , I ’ ve grown to worship Him like never before .
I ’ m gratified to hear readers say the book has had the same effect on them .
Talbot Seminary Distinguished Professor J. P. Moreland wrote , “ I have never approached the Gospels in this way , and with Gilson ’ s guidance , I have come to love , respect , and worship Jesus with renewed vigor and insight.
” Never studied the Bible this way ?
He ’ s a seminary professor — not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intellectual heroes !
All I can say is , it ’ s not your usual Bible study method .
Everyone else studies what Jesus did and what He said .
This book , or at least a good 40 percent of it , is about what He didn ’ t say and didn ’ t do .
Speaking of “ didn ’ t , ” I ’ ll bet that didn ’ t make sense when you read it .
It ’ s really just a comparison between Jesus and other great leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in literature and mythology .
Jesus doesn ’ t do things like any of them .
Placing Him in comparison with others that way , it becomes blazingly obvious how much better He is than even the best of the best .
There ’ s no one like Him in history , and no character like Him in fiction .
He stands apart .
Really far .
Astonishingly far .
He Really Is Too Good to be False But there was a second discovery to go along with that .
We have this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an incredibly great character .
But is the story true ?
What if it isn ’ t ?
Now , I wasn ’ t actually worried about that ; I ’ ve studied reasons for faith enough to be confident in them .
Preparing for this book , though , I realized there ’ s a whole new class of reasons to count on the Gospels ’ truth : Jesus isn ’ t just good ; He ’ s too good to be false .
It ’ s a new case for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
It starts with the story of Jesus , and asks , “ Where could such an extraordinary main character could have come from ?
Who could have invented Him , if He was invented ?
” There ’ s no good answer to that question .
Again , this is a new case for Christ .
More than one Christian thinker has said , “ Nah .
I don ’ t think you can make that argument work ” — until they read it .
Then they ’ ve changed their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get past the argument mostly by saying Jesus isn ’ t all that special after all .
They ’ re not seeing Him for who He is — not even for the character that He is in the story that ’ s there for all to read .
For a Time When We Need His Greatness But honestly , all of this new material came as a surprise to me while I was developing it , even more than it has to people who say they ’ ve never read a book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past few months I ’ ve literally looked around and said aloud , “ Who ?
Me ?
How ’ d I get this privilege ?
” Of course it took study , but in the end there ’ s just one answer : God chooses whom He chooses .
And yes , it ’ s both a privilege and a gift He ’ s allowed me to enjoy .
Maybe , too , it ’ s because I really love telling how great Jesus really is .
My colleagues , fellow contributors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crucial issues here at The Stream .
It ’ s imperative that we all understand what ’ s going on in the world .
But it ’ s also crucial that we don ’ t take Him for granted .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Without a living relationship with Jesus , how will we walk in the power and wisdom He wants to give us ?
Without His righteousness , truth , and purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And without full confidence in Him , how can we be prepared for the hard question — the one that ’ s drawing closer every day — “ Are we ready to follow Jesus no matter what ?
” Let Jesus Surprise You Still !
Yesterday I saw a review of the book by a blogger named Amber .
I printed it out , took it to my wife , and asked her to save it so she could show it to me if I ever get discouraged .
Her story reminded me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( with commendable transparency ) of her growing apathy toward Jesus before reading Too Good to be False .
“ The relationship end of knowing Jesus grows stale because I tend to think I know all there is to know , ” she said .
But she went on , “ Too Good to be False totally shook me up .
This book helped me to reopen my eyes to know how awe-inspiring and unbelievably wonderful my Savior is !
” That ’ s the kind of response I love to hear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what she was talking about .
I can even remember looking at my Bible on my nightstand and wondering , “ Why should I read it again ?
It ’ s not as if I don ’ t already know what ’ s in there.
” It might be the single stupidest thought that ’ s ever crossed my mind .
There ’ s more in the Bible than anyone could ever fully dig out of it .
And there are even surprises in what ’ s not there .
Read the book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either you or I could ever know !
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books , including Too Good To Be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .

Over and over, readers of my new book Too Good to be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality are saying the book has surprised them. Stream contributor Sean McDowell put it pithily: “With so many books on Jesus, how do you say something fresh? My friend Tom Gilson has figured it out.”
What they don’t know is how many surprises I experienced myself while writing it. If there’s anything I’ve “figured out,” it’s that Jesus’ greatness can still stun you. It happened to me in my research for this book, and I’m gratified to hear readers say the book has had the same effect on them. Talbot Seminary Distinguished Professor J. P. Moreland wrote, “I have never approached the Gospels in this way, and with Gilson’s guidance, I have come to love, respect, and worship Jesus with renewed vigor and insight.”
Not Your Usual Bible Study Method
He’s never studied the Bible this way? He’s a seminary professor — not to mention one of my two top living intellectual heroes! All I can say is, it’s not your usual Bible study method. Everyone else studies what Jesus did and what He said. This book is about what He didn’t say and didn’t do.
Speaking of “didn’t,” I’ll bet that didn’t make sense when you read it. It’s about seeing the comparisons between Jesus and other great leaders including religious founders and even great characters in literature and mythology. Jesus doesn’t do things like any of them. Placing Him next to others that way, it becomes blazingly obvious how much better He is than even the best of the best. There’s no one like Him in history, and no character like Him in fiction. He stands far apart. Astonishingly far.
He Really Is Too Good to be False
But there was a second discovery to go along with that. We have this story of an incredibly great character. But is the story true? What if it isn’t?
There have always been solid reasons to count on the Gospels with all confidence. Preparing for this book, though, I realized there’s a whole new class of reasons to count on the Gospels’ truth: Jesus isn’t just good; He’s too good to be false.
Readers agree: It’s a powerful new case for Christianity. It starts with the story of Jesus, and asks, “Where could such an extraordinary main character could have come from? Who could have invented Him, if He was invented?” There’s no good answer to that question.
Again, this is a new case for Christ. More than one Christian thinker has said, “Nah. I don’t think you can make that argument work” — until they read it. Then they’ve changed their minds.
Skeptics so far have tried to get past the argument mostly by saying Jesus isn’t all that special after all. They’re not seeing Him for who He is — not even for the character that He is in the story that’s there for all to read.
For a Time When We Need His Greatness
Many times in the past few months I’ve literally looked around and said aloud, “Who? Me? How’d I get this privilege?” Of course it took study, but in the end there’s just one answer: God chooses whom He chooses. And yes, it’s both a privilege and a gift He’s allowed me to enjoy. Maybe, too, it’s because I really love telling how great Jesus really is.
My colleagues, fellow contributors, and I write on all kinds of crucial issues here at The Stream. It’s imperative that we all understand what’s going on in the world. But it’s also crucial that we don’t take Him for granted.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Without a living relationship with Jesus, how will we walk in the power and wisdom He wants to give us? Without His righteousness, truth, and purpose, why would it even matter? And without full confidence in Him, how can we be prepared for the hard question — the one that’s drawing closer every day — “Are we ready to follow Jesus no matter what?”
Let Jesus Surprise You Still!
Yesterday I saw a review of the book by a blogger named Amber. I printed it out, took it to my wife, and asked her to save it so she could show it to me if I ever get discouraged.
Her story reminded me a lot of myself. She wrote (with commendable transparency) of her growing apathy toward Jesus before reading Too Good to be False. “The relationship end of knowing Jesus grows stale because I tend to think I know all there is to know,” she said. But she went on, “Too Good to be False totally shook me up. This book helped me to reopen my eyes to know how awe-inspiring and unbelievably wonderful my Savior is!” That’s the kind of response I love to hear.
I love it because I knew exactly what she was talking about. I can even remember looking at my Bible on my nightstand and wondering, “Why should I read it again? It’s not as if I don’t already know what’s in there.” It might be the single stupidest thought that’s ever crossed my mind.
There’s more in the Bible than anyone could ever fully dig out of it. And there are even surprises in what’s not there. Read the book and discover: Jesus is greater than either you or I could ever know.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.


thestream--2020-08-14--Teens Participating in Simulated State Legislature Reveal Future of US Politics

Thanks to COVID-19 , another long-standing political tradition had to be jettisoned entirely : Boys State .
Fortunately , a fascinating glimpse into Boys State is as close as your TV or smartphone .
Every year since 1935 , thousands of U.S. high school students have participated in Boys State .
In all 50 states , the week-long experience simulates a real-life legislature with petitions , party platforms , and the election of a State Governor .
In 2018 , two documentary directors led a crew of 40 people to capture Texas Boys State where 1,100 teens took part .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on streaming service Apple TV+ available via free trial .
While the service has not yet proven a hit , recent releases World War II drama Greyhound featuring Tom Hanks and documentary Dads have been praised .
“ This was not our first film , thank goodness , ” said co-director Amanda McBaine in a phone interview .
“ It was a real hurricane to fly through , but also a real joy.
” She and co-director Jesse Moss had previously collaborated on The Overnighters .
That acclaimed film featured a church that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Boys State , viewers are a fly on the wall through every step of a fast-paced political process .
“ With this kind of observational cinema , you do not know what ’ s going to happen , ” added McBaine .
“ The horses get let out of the gate and life takes over .
Then you just have to listen really carefully to follow the heartbeat of the story.
” One stirring speech featured in the trailer resounds with affirmations of faith and freedom .
“ When things get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bootstraps , ” intones Steven Garza from Houston .
“ We are one nation under God , lovers of the Constitution of the United States of America !
” Considering trends among his fellow progressives , such sincere words are surprising coming from a liberal activist .
He explained his stand in a joint video interview alongside his one-time political rival , Robert MacDougall , a pro-life conservative .
“ It ’ s such a powerful document [ and ] a stellar piece of writing , I believe , ” said Garza .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in the world .
People like Robert , who are going to serve as officers in the Army , swear to defend it against all enemies — foreign and domestic.
” The two sides sharpen one another , including later as several remained friends .
“ Our film is a reminder of how important face-to-face political conversation actually is , ” said McBaine .
“ To engage with opposing ideas on a personal level is really kind of amazing and important.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Issues of Our Day .
Garza elaborated on his love of country .
“ We ’ ve seen what good the U.S. can do , ” he said .
“ Think about the movements for women ’ s suffrage , civil rights , and disability rights .
“ I believe that America is the greatest country on earth — and I do criticize it quite frequently as well.
” The film reveals how social media platforms have changed politics , with a focus on Instagram widely used among teens .
“ These tools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spreading knowledge , and getting people involved , ” said MacDougall .
“ Or they can be used for misinformation and attacks.
” Recalling the film ’ s events , he confesses their collective complicity .
“ In 2018 , we at Texas Boys State strayed on to that darker side , ” he said .
“ Racism and personal attacks became part of the social media environment.
” As various teen candidates seek out signatures to become party nominees , scenes reveal how Instagram smear campaigns impact outcomes .
Filmmakers learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As kind of older people , we ’ re more conventional in our understanding , ” said co-director Jesse Moss .
“ What are effective political messages ?
We thought : campaign commercials and political ads .
But these memes that go viral are really interesting.
” MacDougall observes how this reflects the present election cycle .
“ A lot of the time , memes are dumbing down the discussion , ” he said .
“ It ’ s these little tidbits that people spout off over and over again , that no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shareable images are expected to become more prevalent .
“ The meme language is like a language that we did not speak , ” said Moss .
“ They tend to be humorous and sort of mocking .
“ It was a revelation that these are such a potent political tool.
” McBaine said they “ look for surprises ” in their documentaries .
She and Moss coordinated over a dozen separate film units , capturing meetings large and small along with candid , in-the-moment interviews .
“ We want to be kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Because I think that ’ s where the interesting stuff happens.
” From open discussion of pro-life issues to unlikely alliances and surprise wins , Boys State has been lauded for its energy and unguarded moments .
While it was shot mostly over a week , the film took nearly a year to edit .
Now in their early 20s , the participants view it as a call to action .
“ I ’ ve always been an unabashed patriot , ” said Garza .
“ We have to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes through charity work or protests or public service .
Loving your country means wanting what ’ s best for it.
” The film may spark self-reflection for many , as many political discussions online have become heated and uncivil .
“ It ’ s one thing for people from the right and left to fight it out on Facebook posts , ” said McBaine .
“ It ’ s another thing to be sitting across the table face-to-face with someone who has the opposite point of view .
Then you can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some strong language and thematic elements , Boys State premieres August 14 on Apple TV+ .

Thanks to COVID-19, another long-standing political tradition had to be jettisoned entirely: Boys State. Fortunately, a fascinating glimpse into Boys State is as close as your TV or smartphone.
Every year since 1935, thousands of U.S. high school students have participated in Boys State. In all 50 states, the week-long experience simulates a real-life legislature with petitions, party platforms, and the election of a State Governor. In 2018, two documentary directors led a crew of 40 people to capture Texas Boys State where 1,100 teens took part.
Their film Boys State premieres August 14 on streaming service Apple TV+ available via free trial. While the service has not yet proven a hit, recent releases World War II drama Greyhound featuring Tom Hanks and documentary Dads have been praised.
“This was not our first film, thank goodness,” said co-director Amanda McBaine in a phone interview. “It was a real hurricane to fly through, but also a real joy.”
She and co-director Jesse Moss had previously collaborated on The Overnighters. That acclaimed film featured a church that assisted oil field workers in North Dakota.
In Boys State, viewers are a fly on the wall through every step of a fast-paced political process. “With this kind of observational cinema, you do not know what’s going to happen,” added McBaine.
“The horses get let out of the gate and life takes over. Then you just have to listen really carefully to follow the heartbeat of the story.”
Standing On the Constitution
One stirring speech featured in the trailer resounds with affirmations of faith and freedom.
“When things get tough, we pull ourselves by our bootstraps,” intones Steven Garza from Houston. “We are one nation under God, lovers of the Constitution of the United States of America!”
“To engage with opposing ideas on a personal level is really kind of amazing and important.” – Amanda McBaine
Considering trends among his fellow progressives, such sincere words are surprising coming from a liberal activist. He explained his stand in a joint video interview alongside his one-time political rival, Robert MacDougall, a pro-life conservative.
“It’s such a powerful document [and] a stellar piece of writing, I believe,” said Garza. “There’s nothing quite like it in the world. People like Robert, who are going to serve as officers in the Army, swear to defend it against all enemies — foreign and domestic.”
The two sides sharpen one another, including later as several remained friends.
“Our film is a reminder of how important face-to-face political conversation actually is,” said McBaine. “To engage with opposing ideas on a personal level is really kind of amazing and important.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Garza elaborated on his love of country. “We’ve seen what good the U.S. can do,” he said. “Think about the movements for women’s suffrage, civil rights, and disability rights.
“I believe that America is the greatest country on earth — and I do criticize it quite frequently as well.”
Social Pitfalls And ‘Meme Language’
The film reveals how social media platforms have changed politics, with a focus on Instagram widely used among teens.
“It was a revelation that memes are such a potent political tool” – Jesse Moss
“These tools [can] be used for education, spreading knowledge, and getting people involved,” said MacDougall. “Or they can be used for misinformation and attacks.”
Recalling the film’s events, he confesses their collective complicity. “In 2018, we at Texas Boys State strayed on to that darker side,” he said. “Racism and personal attacks became part of the social media environment.”
As various teen candidates seek out signatures to become party nominees, scenes reveal how Instagram smear campaigns impact outcomes.
Filmmakers learned a lot from the experience. “As kind of older people, we’re more conventional in our understanding,” said co-director Jesse Moss.
“What are effective political messages? We thought: campaign commercials and political ads. But these memes that go viral are really interesting.”
MacDougall observes how this reflects the present election cycle.
“A lot of the time, memes are dumbing down the discussion,” he said. “It’s these little tidbits that people spout off over and over again, that no one’s ever fact-checked.”
Such shareable images are expected to become more prevalent. “The meme language is like a language that we did not speak,” said Moss. “They tend to be humorous and sort of mocking.
“It was a revelation that these are such a potent political tool.”
An Entertaining Discussion Starter
McBaine said they “look for surprises” in their documentaries. She and Moss coordinated over a dozen separate film units, capturing meetings large and small along with candid, in-the-moment interviews.
“We want to be kind of off-balance and uncomfortable,” she said. “Because I think that’s where the interesting stuff happens.”
“With this kind of observational cinema, you do not know what’s going to happen” – Amanda McBaine
From open discussion of pro-life issues to unlikely alliances and surprise wins, Boys State has been lauded for its energy and unguarded moments. While it was shot mostly over a week, the film took nearly a year to edit.
Now in their early 20s, the participants view it as a call to action. “I’ve always been an unabashed patriot,” said Garza. “We have to work to make our country better, which includes through charity work or protests or public service. Loving your country means wanting what’s best for it.”
The film may spark self-reflection for many, as many political discussions online have become heated and uncivil.
“It’s one thing for people from the right and left to fight it out on Facebook posts,” said McBaine. “It’s another thing to be sitting across the table face-to-face with someone who has the opposite point of view. Then you can’t ignore them.”
Rated PG-13 for some strong language and thematic elements, Boys State premieres August 14 on Apple TV+.


thestream--2020-08-14--This Week at War: A Final Prayer

This Week at War: A Final Prayer

American troops are still at war .
The powerful image displayed above , however , was taken this week on American soil .
It shows fellow U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy sailors saluting the flag-draped caskets of fallen heroes killed in a July 30 training accident off the California coast .
Last week , we learned about the lives of all nine young patriots while also praying for their loved ones .
While those prayers are ongoing , The Stream also pauses to recognize another important source of comfort and hope : America ’ s military chaplains .
As Stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been present during each step from search and rescue to recovery.
” Before the U.S. Air Force C-17 took off from Southern California en route for Dover , Delaware , “ a Navy chaplain aboard the plane said a final prayer.
” Having spoken with more than a hundred families of the fallen over the past decade , I can tell you how valuable the spiritual counsel provided by these trusted chaplains is for many Gold Star family members .
In several cases , the chaplains have stayed in close contact with these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of their loved ones .
Thank you to the chaplains of our nation ’ s Armed Forces for always being there for our military community , especially in this time of tragedy , disease and war .
We join you in praying for the families of these nine fallen heroes and the entire Gold Star community , as well as all our troops , veterans and their loved ones .
In Bahrain , a U.S. Marine who died in a non-combat incident has been identified as Sgt .
Trevor Goldyn , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is known about the circumstances of his death other than that is under investigation .
Please say a prayer for Sgt .
Goldyn ’ s family , friends and fellow Marines .
In Lebanon , the U.S. military has been busy delivering desperately needed aid and supplies to Beirut after last week ’ s massive explosions devastated the city .
“ In the wake of tragedy , it truly takes a combined effort to make the mission happen , ” U.S. Air Force Brig .
Gen. Daniel Tulley said .
“ We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s exactly what we are doing in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
In Syria , where approximately 500 U.S. troops are still battling the remnants of ISIS , the commanding general of U.S. Central Command said the world must deal with another ticking time bomb : captured ISIS fighters .
General Kenneth “ Frank ” McKenzie is particularly concerned about the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid poor conditions and COVID-19 spreading among ISIS prisoners and refugees .
“ I don ’ t have an answer besides repatriation , ” said Gen. McKenzie , as quoted by Voice of America .
“ We either deal with this problem now or deal with it exponentially worse a few years down the road.
” From Syria and Iraq to Afghanistan and other hotspots around the world , our brave troops face danger every single day .
Please pray for these warriors and their families .
On Wednesday , The Stream brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Northern Virginia , where a U.S. Air Force helicopter was shot at from the ground .
One crew member who was injured has since been released from the hospital .
As of Thursday afternoon , there were no updates on the investigation other than the FBI continuing to seek help from the public .
Anyone with information on this apparent attack against our military is being asked to call the bureau at ( 202 ) 278-2000 .
Friday is the 75th anniversary of President Harry Truman announcing the end of World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anniversary of V-J Day celebrations across the country and around the globe .
Japan would formally surrender aboard the USS Missouri on September 2 , 1945 .
Amid a pandemic and a presidential campaign , these important anniversaries are not getting the widespread attention one might expect .
Yet as I wrote on V-E Day back in May , “ more present day Americans must emulate those who earned the right to celebrate 75 years ago today .
V-E Day didn ’ t happen by accident ; it was the culmination of years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a collective belief that eventually , God would shine a path for our nation and world to triumph over evil.
” Thank you to all World War II veterans , living and departed , who came together to save the world .
America will forever be grateful for your historic victory and shared sacrifice .
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream .
He is co-author of Three Wise Men , Brothers Forever , 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes .
Follow Tom on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Training Tragedy
American troops are still at war. The powerful image displayed above, however, was taken this week on American soil. It shows fellow U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy sailors saluting the flag-draped caskets of fallen heroes killed in a July 30 training accident off the California coast.
Last week, we learned about the lives of all nine young patriots while also praying for their loved ones. While those prayers are ongoing, The Stream also pauses to recognize another important source of comfort and hope: America’s military chaplains.
As Stars and Stripes noted, “chaplains have been present during each step from search and rescue to recovery.” Before the U.S. Air Force C-17 took off from Southern California en route for Dover, Delaware, “a Navy chaplain aboard the plane said a final prayer.”
Once the flag-draped caskets of seven Marines and a sailor were on the C-17, a @USNavy chaplain aboard the plane said a final prayer. https://t.co/dkA7L6fZpX — Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) August 13, 2020
Having spoken with more than a hundred families of the fallen over the past decade, I can tell you how valuable the spiritual counsel provided by these trusted chaplains is for many Gold Star family members. In several cases, the chaplains have stayed in close contact with these grieving military families many years after the loss of their loved ones.
Thank you to the chaplains of our nation’s Armed Forces for always being there for our military community, especially in this time of tragedy, disease and war. We join you in praying for the families of these nine fallen heroes and the entire Gold Star community, as well as all our troops, veterans and their loved ones.
Middle East
In Bahrain, a U.S. Marine who died in a non-combat incident has been identified as Sgt. Trevor Goldyn, according to the Marine Corps Times. Little is known about the circumstances of his death other than that is under investigation. Please say a prayer for Sgt. Goldyn’s family, friends and fellow Marines.
In Lebanon, the U.S. military has been busy delivering desperately needed aid and supplies to Beirut after last week’s massive explosions devastated the city.
“In the wake of tragedy, it truly takes a combined effort to make the mission happen,” U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Daniel Tulley said. “We do this every day in Qatar, and that’s exactly what we are doing in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In Syria, where approximately 500 U.S. troops are still battling the remnants of ISIS, the commanding general of U.S. Central Command said the world must deal with another ticking time bomb: captured ISIS fighters. General Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie is particularly concerned about the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, where he’s monitoring increased radicalization amid poor conditions and COVID-19 spreading among ISIS prisoners and refugees.
“I don’t have an answer besides repatriation,” said Gen. McKenzie, as quoted by Voice of America. “We either deal with this problem now or deal with it exponentially worse a few years down the road.”
From Syria and Iraq to Afghanistan and other hotspots around the world, our brave troops face danger every single day. Please pray for these warriors and their families.
Virginia Shooting
On Wednesday, The Stream brought you breaking news about a troubling incident in Northern Virginia, where a U.S. Air Force helicopter was shot at from the ground. One crew member who was injured has since been released from the hospital.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were no updates on the investigation other than the FBI continuing to seek help from the public. Anyone with information on this apparent attack against our military is being asked to call the bureau at (202) 278-2000.
World War II
Friday is the 75th anniversary of President Harry Truman announcing the end of World War II, with Saturday marking the 75th anniversary of V-J Day celebrations across the country and around the globe. Japan would formally surrender aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945.
Amid a pandemic and a presidential campaign, these important anniversaries are not getting the widespread attention one might expect. Yet as I wrote on V-E Day back in May, “more present day Americans must emulate those who earned the right to celebrate 75 years ago today. V-E Day didn’t happen by accident; it was the culmination of years of unity, shared sacrifice, bravery and a collective belief that eventually, God would shine a path for our nation and world to triumph over evil.”
Thank you to all World War II veterans, living and departed, who came together to save the world. America will forever be grateful for your historic victory and shared sacrifice.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-08-14--Military Photo of the Day: Victory! Japan Surrenders, Ending World War II

A massive crowd gathers in New York ’ s Times Square to celebrate President Harry Truman ’ s announcement of @ @ @ @ @ World War II on August 14 , 1945 .
The following day would be officially @ @ @ @ @ It is impossible to adequately thank the Greatest Generation on this 75th anniversary of their @ @ @ @ @ The world would be a dark place if the Allies had not been victorious in @ @ @ @ @ Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote on the eve of D-Day , “ Good luck !
@ @ @ @ @ blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
” The world will always @ @ @ @ @ of World War II .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly @ @ @ @ @ and Moral Issues of Our Day .

A massive crowd gathers in New York’s Times Square to celebrate President Harry Truman’s announcement of the Japanese surrender to end World War II on August 14, 1945. The following day would be officially celebrated as V-J Day.
It is impossible to adequately thank the Greatest Generation on this 75th anniversary of their epic triumph over evil. The world would be a dark place if the Allies had not been victorious in World War II. As Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote on the eve of D-Day, “Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
The world will always honor and remember the heroes of World War II.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.


thestream--2020-08-14--Colleague John Zmirak Says We Should Mock the ‘Woke.’ Can That Be Christlike?

John Zmirak , my colleague and friend here at The Stream , is amazing .
He ’ s perceptive , he ’ s always ahead of the curve , and he ’ s not afraid to say what needs saying .
( I know , you ’ re laughing at the understatement . )
He ’ s been good for me and my writing : More than once he ’ s told me I need to spice it up , and not be afraid to be provocative .
Every time he ’ s said that he ’ s been right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I read through his column , “ If Something Irritates You , It Must Be Racist … Or Something™ , ” before we published it here .
It ’ s the one where he says it ’ s time we start mocking leftist ideas .
We should “ offer Woke folks the healing power of Scorn.
” And my first thought was , “ No .
He ’ s gone too far with this one.
” Not that I ’ ve kept myself distant from such thinking myself .
I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ insanity ” to describe the left , after all .
So why would his advice have bothered me ?
I ’ ve got a story that will explain why .
And then I ’ ll tell why I don ’ t think John was wrong after all — but there ’ s more than needs saying still .
Maybe you ’ ve heard part of the story I ’ m going to tell .
Richard Dawkins , atheist extraordinaire ( or is he mellowing ? )
, took considerable fire from believers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to “ mock Christians.
” It was highly inflammatory , the way the word went out .
Well , I was in there in that crowd the day he said it .
It was the 2012 “ Reason Rally ” for atheists on the Mall in Washington , D.C .
I was one of a small group of Christians who ’ d come to hand out water bottles and engage individuals in conversation there .
So I was there , and I can attest to what he said , and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ?
Dawkins didn ’ t say what most everyone thinks he said .
His comment wasn ’ t about all Christians , but about Roman Catholics ( not that that makes it any better ) .
But it wasn ’ t about Catholics as people ; it was about their beliefs instead .
And it wasn ’ t about all Catholic beliefs , but only a few that are specifically Catholic .
He didn ’ t call on the crowd there to mock Christians or even Catholics , but Catholic ideas instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
The difference matters — and it matters for crucial biblical reasons of which Dawkins has absolutely no idea .
Not that I want to set him up as better than he is .
He might have misspoken himself .
Maybe he really meant to tell the crowd they should mock , scorn and ridicule all Christians .
There was plenty of that kind of mockery going on there , under his leadership of the even .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader , at the time a good friend and virtually a colleague of Dawkins ’ s .
He asked us ( no kidding ) , “ Are the atheists here ridiculing you ?
” Then he added , “ They should be.
” So Dawkins is no shining example , and I certainly don ’ t support his call to mock Catholic theology .
Still the event illustrates how easily one piece of advice can morph into another ; how “ mock their ideas ” can turn into “ mock them.
” You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough .
I agree .
Read on .
The Woke ideas that John Zmirak takes aim at in his “ Racist … Or Something™ ” column deserve all the mockery he can muster .
They ’ re laughable — so why not laugh ?
Sure , there ’ s nothing funny about deadly ideas that destroy people .
But maybe if we could get the world laughing with us , maybe the left would get properly embarrassed and let go of the inanity .
But we have to remember these ideas are deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The best thing that could happen to them is to die an ignominious death .
And that ’ s where ideas differ from people .
Richard Dawkins wouldn ’ t know this , but Christians do : Some ideas come from the pit of hell ; every human comes bearing the image of God .
Do you see the difference ?
Some people are deadly — they carry death with them — and some are literally evil .
Still there is no one who is worthless .
Every single person on the planet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loves everyone ; everyone carries equal worth in His eyes .
That includes the evil among us — which ( by the way ) includes you and me , apart from and prior to experiencing His redemption .
Ideas may be worthless ; people never are .
Ideas may be irredeemable ; people are… well , I suppose God may say that some of them are irredeemable , but you and I don ’ t that , so the only right thing to do is to pray and hope that no one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is beyond redemption .
So now I ’ m ready to circle back toward the whole idea of mocking and scorning .
This is the hard part .
I can talk about it easily enough , but there ’ s nothing easy about living it out .
Don ’ t You Dare Think This is Easy The first hard part is that it ’ s beastly difficult to separate an individual from his or her ideas .
Gays get great mileage out of telling us it ’ s full-on impossible ; that disagreeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hating the person .
They ’ re wrong .
Sometimes a good healthy disagreement is a sign of respect : It shows you think highly enough of that person to trust them to be able to handle a contrary view .
Still , things can get awfully confused in a hurry .
So first , of all , over-communicate .
Make it doubly — no , triply — clear that whatever contempt you ’ re expressing , it ’ s for the bad idea , not for the person who ’ s holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t necessarily work well in real conversation , but should give you the idea , anyway — is , “ I hold you in high regard as a fellow human being created in God ’ s image .
That idea you just stated , though ?
Mind if I show you just how awful it is ?
” Treat the person doubly well , to show God ’ s love for them — though you need show no love for their wrong ideas .
Some of them won ’ t get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , “ You show contempt for my ideology , then you ’ re showing me contempt as a person , too.
” You can ’ t always solve that one .
Try to communicate the truth , and if it doesn ’ t get through , just live with it .
You ’ ve done your part ; the rest is their problem , not yours .
That was the first hard part .
The second is even harder .
Some ideas are worth all the mockery and scorn you could heap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad .
John ’ s advice was essentially to use scorn as strategy .
He brought up the power of laughter to undermine people ’ s beliefs .
It ’ s good advice .
It works .
It can even be good for you !
More than once someone has criticized me falsely — I ’ m talking obviously false criticism — and I ’ ve taken it seriously and gotten angry over it , when the right answer would have been to fall on the floor laughing instead .
So mockery isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we start making too much a sport of it , though , it ’ s no longer good for us .
We ’ re liable to slide into doing it for the kick we get out of it .
It might even lead us to start looking for other things to heap scorn on .
Enough of that , and we could find ourselves heading down the slope toward being the mockers and scoffers the book of Proverbs warns against .
Know Your Core , and Hold Firm To It Now , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make these kinds of mistakes .
The reason he mocks stupid , evil , bad ideas is because he ’ s seriously trying to defeat them — and these ideas deserve everything he dishes out on them .
I know myself , too , though , and I know how easy it is to slide from one mockery to another .
It ’ s a spiritual danger that I face , and do not want to fall into .
There ’ s a way to get this right , though .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Let ’ s try this : If you want to use mockery like John Zmirak , then you ’ d better be like John Zmirak .
Specifically , you need to do what he ’ s done : Develop the right core .
Hold firm to it .
It doesn ’ t take much .
Just , you know , a lifelong , persistent , hard-core commitment to being a student , a lover of truth .
It takes dogged determination to discern what ’ s good and true , so you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires wisdom earned through serious study , lots of time listening to wise people , and even the experience that comes from making mistakes along the way .
And it probably doesn ’ t hurt having beagles in your home , too .
( I grew up with beagles , too , so I ’ ve at least got a chance at it . )
John has a long history of that .
If you don ’ t , then at least , like John , be a lover of God , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your love shine through no matter what you say .
Then , when you encounter ideas that attack God or harm people , hold firm to your core .
Hold firm to truth .
Mock the ideas , but love the people .
It ’ s hard , I know .
Sometimes , though , there ’ s a place for laughing at a bad idea .
Just be Christlike .
He absolutely hated some ideas , but He absolutely loved every person .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or editor of six books , including Too Good To Be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .

John Zmirak, my colleague and friend here at The Stream, is amazing. He’s perceptive, he’s always ahead of the curve, and he’s not afraid to say what needs saying. (I know, you’re laughing at the understatement.) He’s been good for me and my writing: More than once he’s told me I need to spice it up, and not be afraid to be provocative. Every time he’s said that he’s been right.
So I’ll be provocative. I read through his column, “If Something Irritates You, It Must Be Racist … Or Something™,” before we published it here. It’s the one where he says it’s time we start mocking leftist ideas. We should “offer Woke folks the healing power of Scorn.” And my first thought was, “No. He’s gone too far with this one.”
Not that I’ve kept myself distant from such thinking myself. I’ve used words like “madness” and “insanity” to describe the left, after all. So why would his advice have bothered me? I’ve got a story that will explain why. And then I’ll tell why I don’t think John was wrong after all — but there’s more than needs saying still.
A Story From a Strange Place
Maybe you’ve heard part of the story I’m going to tell. Richard Dawkins, atheist extraordinaire (or is he mellowing?), took considerable fire from believers for telling a crowd of atheists they needed to “mock Christians.” It was highly inflammatory, the way the word went out. Well, I was in there in that crowd the day he said it. It was the 2012 “Reason Rally” for atheists on the Mall in Washington, D.C. I was one of a small group of Christians who’d come to hand out water bottles and engage individuals in conversation there.
So I was there, and I can attest to what he said, and I’ve even double-checked since then. Guess what? Dawkins didn’t say what most everyone thinks he said. His comment wasn’t about all Christians, but about Roman Catholics (not that that makes it any better). But it wasn’t about Catholics as people; it was about their beliefs instead. And it wasn’t about all Catholic beliefs, but only a few that are specifically Catholic. He didn’t call on the crowd there to mock Christians or even Catholics, but Catholic ideas instead.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The difference matters — and it matters for crucial biblical reasons of which Dawkins has absolutely no idea. Not that I want to set him up as better than he is. He might have misspoken himself. Maybe he really meant to tell the crowd they should mock, scorn and ridicule all Christians. There was plenty of that kind of mockery going on there, under his leadership of the even. A friend and I ran into another atheist leader, at the time a good friend and virtually a colleague of Dawkins’s. He asked us (no kidding), “Are the atheists here ridiculing you?” Then he added, “They should be.”
So Dawkins is no shining example, and I certainly don’t support his call to mock Catholic theology. Still the event illustrates how easily one piece of advice can morph into another; how “mock their ideas” can turn into “mock them.”
Ideas vs. People
You say the difference is subtle? Sure enough. I agree. Read on.
The Woke ideas that John Zmirak takes aim at in his “Racist … Or Something™” column deserve all the mockery he can muster. They’re laughable — so why not laugh? Sure, there’s nothing funny about deadly ideas that destroy people. But maybe if we could get the world laughing with us, maybe the left would get properly embarrassed and let go of the inanity.
But we have to remember these ideas are deadly. Destructive. Worthless. Irredeemable. The best thing that could happen to them is to die an ignominious death.
And that’s where ideas differ from people. Richard Dawkins wouldn’t know this, but Christians do: Some ideas come from the pit of hell; every human comes bearing the image of God.
The Difference
Do you see the difference? Some people are deadly — they carry death with them — and some are literally evil. Still there is no one who is worthless. Every single person on the planet carries the image of God. God loves everyone; everyone carries equal worth in His eyes. That includes the evil among us — which (by the way) includes you and me, apart from and prior to experiencing His redemption.
Ideas may be worthless; people never are. Ideas may be irredeemable; people are… well, I suppose God may say that some of them are irredeemable, but you and I don’t know that, so the only right thing to do is to pray and hope that no one, not even the worst of us, is beyond redemption.
So now I’m ready to circle back toward the whole idea of mocking and scorning. This is the hard part. I can talk about it easily enough, but there’s nothing easy about living it out.
Don’t You Dare Think This is Easy
The first hard part is that it’s beastly difficult to separate an individual from his or her ideas. Gays get great mileage out of telling us it’s full-on impossible; that disagreeing with a person’s views equals hating the person. They’re wrong. Sometimes a good healthy disagreement is a sign of respect: It shows you think highly enough of that person to trust them to be able to handle a contrary view.
Still, things can get awfully confused in a hurry. So first, of all, over-communicate. Make it doubly — no, triply — clear that whatever contempt you’re expressing, it’s for the bad idea, not for the person who’s holding it. The short form — which doesn’t necessarily work well in real conversation, but should give you the idea, anyway — is, “I hold you in high regard as a fellow human being created in God’s image. That idea you just stated, though? Mind if I show you just how awful it is?”
Some ideas come from the pit of hell; every human comes bearing the image of God.
Treat the person doubly well, to show God’s love for them — though you need show no love for their wrong ideas.
Some of them won’t get the difference. They’ll still say, “You show contempt for my ideology, then you’re showing me contempt as a person, too.” You can’t always solve that one. Try to communicate the truth, and if it doesn’t get through, just live with it. You’ve done your part; the rest is their problem, not yours.
Strategy vs. Sport
That was the first hard part. The second is even harder.
Some ideas are worth all the mockery and scorn you could heap on them. They’re that bad. John’s advice was essentially to use scorn as strategy. He brought up the power of laughter to undermine people’s beliefs. It’s good advice. It works. It can even be good for you! More than once someone has criticized me falsely — I’m talking obviously false criticism — and I’ve taken it seriously and gotten angry over it, when the right answer would have been to fall on the floor laughing instead.
So mockery isn’t necessarily a bad strategy. If we start making too much a sport of it, though, it’s no longer good for us. We’re liable to slide into doing it for the kick we get out of it. It might even lead us to start looking for other things to heap scorn on. Enough of that, and we could find ourselves heading down the slope toward being the mockers and scoffers the book of Proverbs warns against.
Know Your Core, and Hold Firm To It
Now, I know John Zmirak, and he doesn’t make these kinds of mistakes. The reason he mocks stupid, evil, bad ideas is because he’s seriously trying to defeat them — and these ideas deserve everything he dishes out on them.
I know myself, too, though, and I know how easy it is to slide from one mockery to another. It’s a spiritual danger that I face, and do not want to fall into. There’s a way to get this right, though. How shall I put it, though? Let’s try this: If you want to use mockery like John Zmirak, then you’d better be like John Zmirak.
How shall I put it, though? Let’s try this: If you want to use mockery like John Zmirak, then you’d better be like John Zmirak.
Specifically, you need to do what he’s done: Develop the right core. Hold firm to it. It doesn’t take much. Just, you know, a lifelong, persistent, hard-core commitment to being a student, a lover of truth. It takes dogged determination to discern what’s good and true, so you know what isn’t. It requires wisdom earned through serious study, lots of time listening to wise people, and even the experience that comes from making mistakes along the way. And it probably doesn’t hurt having beagles in your home, too. (I grew up with beagles, too, so I’ve at least got a chance at it.)
John has a long history of that. If you don’t, then at least, like John, be a lover of God, of truth, and of people. Let your love shine through no matter what you say. Then, when you encounter ideas that attack God or harm people, hold firm to your core. Hold firm to truth. Mock the ideas, but love the people. It’s hard, I know. Sometimes, though, there’s a place for laughing at a bad idea. Just be Christlike. He absolutely hated some ideas, but He absolutely loved every person.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.


thestream--2020-08-14--Kamala Harris Promises to ‘Make America Jonestown Again’

Did you know that Vice-President Mike Pence only broke into politics by serving as the boy-toy of a rich , powerful politician much older than him ?
That his “ sugar-mommy ” flaunted her affair with Pence , even though she was still married ?
So he slept his way to the middle .
Did you further know that this power-broker relied on cult leader David Koresh to steal elections , and protected Koresh from scrutiny for abuse —helping to guarantee the tragic outcome in Waco , Texas ?
No , of course you didn ’ t , because none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to Pence .
That ’ s Kamala Harris ’ story I just told .
Her sugar daddy was San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown .
And the cult leader whom Brown depended on and supported to the bitter end wasn ’ t David Koresh .
It was the far more vicious cult leader , Rev .
Jim Jones .
That ’ s right , Kamala Harris is just one degree of separation from a murderous , Marxist suicide cult .
But don ’ t bother pointing that out — it will just get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s kind of an easy formula for writing political satire these days .
It goes like this : First take something outrageous the Democrats have done and totally gotten away with .
Something that Establishment Republicans wouldn ’ t fight or even criticize .
Something only the most dogged and lonely conservatives tried to resist .
Of course , in the face of our media — more biased and lockstep than East German State TV ever was — and other rigged or infiltrated institutions , we failed .
Now everyone takes this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s normalized , a fact on the ground .
If you still complain about it , people treat you like a loser .
And in one sense you are : you lost .
You pointed out that the Emperor had no clothes , but nobody believed you .
So now he struts around dangling his glory , while everyone rushes to patronize the designers who made his “ suit.
” Now anyone who says otherwise gets waved off as a “ sartorial fundamentalist , ” or an “ alt right couture theorist.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Away with It Second , concoct a fantasy of Republicans doing the same thing , or something objectively equally outrageous .
That is , if there were similar standards applied across the whole political spectrum .
Work it out in detail , plugging in one fictional right-wing equivalent to each actual left-wing fact .
But imagine the right somehow getting away with this stunt , a compliant media carefully covering it up , making excuses , or accusing anybody who complained of crassly “ pouncing ” on an innocent faux pas .
Third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fashion , making it as persuasive as possible .
Count on the reader to gradually realize that of course it ’ s a satire , since only the left gets away with this kind of garbage .
The right wouldn ’ t even try .
In fact , when right-wingers cross moral lines , it ’ s typically other conservatives who pounce on them first to correct them .
In part that ’ s because some of us have higher moral standards .
But another huge factor is that we have almost no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bunch of crabs in a bucket , pulling each other down .
And some of us are desperate to prove to the liberals we knew in college ( who work at NPR or NBC ) that we ’ re not like “ the others , ” the wacko conservatives , so please please please can we write an Op-Ed for your paper , or appear on your talk show ?
We ’ ve got this new smug autobiography/ bland spirituality tract/ tell-all exposé trashing other conservatives , and it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives act as if they were already in a left-wing internment camp .
And they ’ re happy to police the other prisoners in return for an extra serving of delicious fish-head soup .
Or a pat on the head from the guards .
Step 4 : Watch It Fizzle Since Nothing Matters , This Is Clown World Then you publish the piece .
If you did a good job , people will find it convincing .
They won ’ t notice how absurd it seems , because events have wheeled so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parody is indistinguishable from regular headlines .
Or else it gets cannibalized by them .
Everything is The Babylon Bee .
For instance , when I wrote back in March that the same liberals , such as New York ’ s Andrew Cuomo , who support Drag Queen Story Hour to spread gender dysphoria to children , might as well favor Coronavirus Story Hour in nursing homes to spread that disease to seniors .
That joke stopped being funny when … it turned out that Cuomo was doing exactly that .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though there were plenty of empty hospital beds .
Thus even as he agonized on TV with his dimwit brother Chris about the safety of their mom , Matilda , he killed off thousands of elderly New Yorkers for no apparent reason at all .
So did big Blue State Democrat governors in New Jersey , Pennsylvania , and California .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Only a few conservative media have tried to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governors ” to task for this mass slaughter .
Leftist organs , in absolute lockstep , have resolutely ignored it .
Meanwhile Anthony Fauci discredited himself in the eyes of any honest person by citing Cuomo as one of the best leaders during the Coronavirus crisis .
But if you criticize Fauci , or Cuomo , or big stacks of dead nursing home patients , you ’ re marginalizing yourself as a wacko .
Democrats Really Could Shoot People on 5th Avenue .
Soon They Will .
It ’ s okay that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blackface or a Klan hood .
If he were a Republican , a joke about Chinese food making him hungry an hour later would be enough to force him from public life .
And that ’ s fair and just , so learn to accept it .
In religious circles : Jerry Falwell , Jr. posted a tasteless photo online , so he must be deposed from running Liberty University .
Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington , D.C. , colluded with child molester Ted McCarrick to exempt bishops like themselves from any penalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or molesting kids themselves .
Gregory doesn ’ t have to resign .
In fact he keeps moving up and up , while bashing President Trump for imaginary “ racism ” and “ xenophobia.
” Even bald-face lying about Trump , when that comes in handy .
Do you get it yet ?
It ’ s okay that Kamala Harris was all in on Jussie Smollett ’ s “ racist ” noose hoax .
On Julie Swetnick ’ s rape-gang slander , and Christine Blasey Ford ’ s perjury .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about George Soros ’ efforts to control the elections of U.S. district attorneys nationwide .
( For instance , the St. Louis prosecutor who charged the McCloskeys with a felony for defending their home . )
Even though that one is true .
It ’ s perfectly fine that the Democrats spent three and a half years trying to nullify the 2016 election with insane , made-up conspiracy theories , “ pee tapes , ” and witch hunts of men like Mike Flynn .
It ’ s an outrage when GOP senators even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testify .
It ’ s fine that Democrat governors and mayors , and senators like Mazie Hirono , endorse Antifa violence in the streets of our cities .
It wasn ’ t okay that Donald Trump pointed out that most of the conservatives in Charlottesville three years ago were Civil War monument fans , whose event got hijacked by a small group of skinheads .
It doesn ’ t matter what ’ s true .
It doesn ’ t matter what ’ s fair .
It matters who has the whip hand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ November , watch out .
Willie Brown ’ s protégé , Harris will channel his old ally Jim Jones .
The Democrats will Make America Jonestown Again .
And I wish I meant that satirically .
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 .
”

Did you know that Vice-President Mike Pence only broke into politics by serving as the boy-toy of a rich, powerful politician much older than him? That his “sugar-mommy” flaunted her affair with Pence, even though she was still married? So he slept his way to the middle.
Did you further know that this power-broker relied on cult leader David Koresh to steal elections, and protected Koresh from scrutiny for abuse —helping to guarantee the tragic outcome in Waco, Texas?
No, of course you didn’t, because none of it ever happened. At least not to Pence. That’s Kamala Harris’ story I just told. Her sugar daddy was San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. And the cult leader whom Brown depended on and supported to the bitter end wasn’t David Koresh. It was the far more vicious cult leader, Rev. Jim Jones.
That’s right, Kamala Harris is just one degree of separation from a murderous, Marxist suicide cult. But don’t bother pointing that out — it will just get you dismissed as a nutcase.
There’s kind of an easy formula for writing political satire these days. It goes like this:
Step 1: Pounce on a Democrat Outrage
First take something outrageous the Democrats have done and totally gotten away with. Something that Establishment Republicans wouldn’t fight or even criticize. Something only the most dogged and lonely conservatives tried to resist.
Of course, in the face of our media — more biased and lockstep than East German State TV ever was — and other rigged or infiltrated institutions, we failed. Now everyone takes this leftist stunt for granted. It’s normalized, a fact on the ground.
Some of us are desperate to prove to the liberals we knew in college, who work at NPR or NBC, that we’re not like “the others,” the wacko conservatives.
If you still complain about it, people treat you like a loser. And in one sense you are: you lost. You pointed out that the Emperor had no clothes, but nobody believed you. So now he struts around dangling his glory, while everyone rushes to patronize the designers who made his “suit.” Now anyone who says otherwise gets waved off as a “sartorial fundamentalist,” or an “alt right couture theorist.”
Step 2: Just Imagine Republicans Getting Away with It
Second, concoct a fantasy of Republicans doing the same thing, or something objectively equally outrageous. That is, if there were similar standards applied across the whole political spectrum. Work it out in detail, plugging in one fictional right-wing equivalent to each actual left-wing fact. But imagine the right somehow getting away with this stunt, a compliant media carefully covering it up, making excuses, or accusing anybody who complained of crassly “pouncing” on an innocent faux pas.
Step 3: Recount the ‘Facts’ in Cool, Detached Prose
Third, write this up in a deadpan fashion, making it as persuasive as possible. Count on the reader to gradually realize that of course it’s a satire, since only the left gets away with this kind of garbage. The right wouldn’t even try. In fact, when right-wingers cross moral lines, it’s typically other conservatives who pounce on them first to correct them.
In part that’s because some of us have higher moral standards. But another huge factor is that we have almost no internal loyalty left. We act like a bunch of crabs in a bucket, pulling each other down. And some of us are desperate to prove to the liberals we knew in college (who work at NPR or NBC) that we’re not like “the others,” the wacko conservatives, so please please please can we write an Op-Ed for your paper, or appear on your talk show? We’ve got this new smug autobiography/ bland spirituality tract/ tell-all exposé trashing other conservatives, and it’s not going to promote itself.
Too many conservatives act as if they were already in a left-wing internment camp. And they’re happy to police the other prisoners in return for an extra serving of delicious fish-head soup. Or a pat on the head from the guards.
Step 4: Watch It Fizzle Since Nothing Matters, This Is Clown World
Then you publish the piece. If you did a good job, people will find it convincing. They won’t notice how absurd it seems, because events have wheeled so far out of control in reality, that parody is indistinguishable from regular headlines. Or else it gets cannibalized by them. Everything is The Babylon Bee.
For instance, when I wrote back in March that the same liberals, such as New York’s Andrew Cuomo, who support Drag Queen Story Hour to spread gender dysphoria to children, might as well favor Coronavirus Story Hour in nursing homes to spread that disease to seniors.
That joke stopped being funny when … it turned out that Cuomo was doing exactly that. He was dumping virus patients on nursing homes, even though there were plenty of empty hospital beds. Thus even as he agonized on TV with his dimwit brother Chris about the safety of their mom, Matilda, he killed off thousands of elderly New Yorkers for no apparent reason at all. So did big Blue State Democrat governors in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Only a few conservative media have tried to hold Cuomo or any other “Snuff Film Governors” to task for this mass slaughter. Leftist organs, in absolute lockstep, have resolutely ignored it. Meanwhile Anthony Fauci discredited himself in the eyes of any honest person by citing Cuomo as one of the best leaders during the Coronavirus crisis. But if you criticize Fauci, or Cuomo, or big stacks of dead nursing home patients, you’re marginalizing yourself as a wacko.
Democrats Really Could Shoot People on 5th Avenue. Soon They Will.
It’s okay that the governor of Virginia dressed up either in blackface or a Klan hood. If he were a Republican, a joke about Chinese food making him hungry an hour later would be enough to force him from public life. And that’s fair and just, so learn to accept it.
In religious circles: Jerry Falwell, Jr. posted a tasteless photo online, so he must be deposed from running Liberty University. Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., colluded with child molester Ted McCarrick to exempt bishops like themselves from any penalty. Either for covering up for pedophiles, or molesting kids themselves. Gregory doesn’t have to resign. In fact he keeps moving up and up, while bashing President Trump for imaginary “racism” and “xenophobia.” Even bald-face lying about Trump, when that comes in handy.
Do you get it yet? It’s okay that Kamala Harris was all in on Jussie Smollett’s “racist” noose hoax. On Julie Swetnick’s rape-gang slander, and Christine Blasey Ford’s perjury. It would not be okay if Mike Pence talked about George Soros’ efforts to control the elections of U.S. district attorneys nationwide. (For instance, the St. Louis prosecutor who charged the McCloskeys with a felony for defending their home.) Even though that one is true.
It’s perfectly fine that the Democrats spent three and a half years trying to nullify the 2016 election with insane, made-up conspiracy theories, “pee tapes,” and witch hunts of men like Mike Flynn. It’s an outrage when GOP senators even try to force the main players to testify.
What Is Truth? (LOL)
It’s fine that Democrat governors and mayors, and senators like Mazie Hirono, endorse Antifa violence in the streets of our cities. It wasn’t okay that Donald Trump pointed out that most of the conservatives in Charlottesville three years ago were Civil War monument fans, whose event got hijacked by a small group of skinheads. It doesn’t matter what’s true. It doesn’t matter what’s fair.
It matters who has the whip hand. If America gives them free rein this November, watch out. Willie Brown’s protégé, Harris will channel his old ally Jim Jones. The Democrats will Make America Jonestown Again.
And I wish I meant that satirically.
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--2020-08-14--Former FBI Lawyer to Plead Guilty to Falsifying Information on Carter Page in Order to Get Spy Warra

Former FBI Lawyer to Plead Guilty to Falsifying Information on Carter Page in Order to Get Spy Warrant

Lady Justice is finally getting off her tush .
U.S. Attorney John Durham has his first conviction in the Trump Russia hoax .
A former FBI lawyer neck deep in Russiagate will be pleading guilty to his role in framing former Trump advisor Carter Page in order to get a FISA warrant to spy on the Trump campaign .
Kevin Clinesmith , the DOJ Inspector General found , had falsified an email from a U.S. government agency ( believed to be the CIA ) to say Page was “ not a source ” of an intelligence agency when the email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Fox News reports , “ The DOJ relied on that assertion as it submitted a third and final renewal application in 2017 to eavesdrop on Page under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
” Let ’ s quote from the IG report : Clinesmith [ o ] mitted Page ’ s prior relationship with another U.S. government agency , despite being reminded by the other agency in June 2017 , prior to the filing of the final [ FISA warrant ] renewal application , about Page ’ s past status with that other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the final renewal application , ( Clinesmith ) altered an email from the other agency so that the email stated that Page was “ not a source ” for the other agency , which the FBI affiant relied upon in signing the final renewal application .
On those FISA warrants , James Comey ’ s FBI painted Page as an active Russian agent , when in fact he was working for the U.S. government in cases against Russia .
On the basis of those warrants , the FBI was able to intercept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing communications and that of anyone he ’ d been in contact with .
In other words , the Trump campaign .
Just an Innocent Mistake ?
Sure .
Clinesmith is expected to plead guilty to a single count of making a false statement .
Amazingly , Clinesmith holds that it was an innocent mistake .
“ Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email , ” Mr. Clinesmith ’ s lawyer , Justin Shur , said in a statement .
“ It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was accurate .
But Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility .
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
The New York Times seems happy with Clinesmith ’ s explanation , and are quick to note : “ Prosecutors did not reveal any evidence in charging documents that show Mr. Clinesmith ’ s actions were part of any broader conspiracy to undermine Mr. Trump.
” ( They go on to completely mischaracterize the brutal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biased conclusions of Mueller investigation , and the extensive arguments of Trump supporters .
But that ’ s to be expected from NYT at this point , especially given their key role in spreading the Trump Russia Hoax to begin with . )
Let ’ s refresh .
An FBI lawyer doctored an email to turn someone who was a CIA source into someone who wasn ’ t a source .
He changed a “ yes ” to a “ no.
” He fabricated evidence against a member of the Trump campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As Sean Davis at The Federalist points out , Clinesmith was a “ top attorney in the Federal Bureau of Investigation ’ s Office of General Counsel ( OGC ) and a key agency attorney under fired former FBI Director James Comey.
” Clinesmith is also hostile toward Trump .
A member of the resistence.
” Clinesmith was “ devastated ” by Trump ’ s win , he declared in an text with fellow FBI lawyer Sally Moyer .
As Davis reports , Moyer then wondered if the win would change his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will There Be More to Come ?
As much as the New York Times would like to dream , the case does not start and end with Clinesmith ’ s act of “ resistance.
” Clinesmith ’ s sabotage of Page came five months after the FBI had determined they could not verify any of the information in the Steele Dossier , including its allegations against Page .
Five months after determining there was zero evidence of any collusion between Russia and anyone on the Trump team .
Right around the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s information was just rumor , wild speculation and likely Russian disinformation .
In other words , the FISA abuse didn ’ t start , nor did it end , with Clinesmith .
The effort to sabotage then overthrow Trump did not begin with the FISA abuse or end with it .
Last night on Fox News , Barr teased there would be a development today , though not “ earth-shattering.
” That would be the Clinesmith guilty plea .
He also indicated there is more to come before the election : Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I said the American people need to know what actually happened , we need to get the story of what happened in 2016 and ’ 17 out .
That will be done .
“ The second aspect of this is , if people crossed the line , if people involved in that activity violated criminal law , they will be charged .
And John Durham is an independent man , highly experienced , and his investigation is pursuing apace .
There was some delay because of COVID , but I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve said there are going to be developments , significant developments , before the election .
“ But we ’ re not doing this on the election schedule.
” Given that one candidate was a victim of the illicit activity in 2016 and 2017 and the other candidate was central to some of that activity , we voters have a right to know it all before going to polls .
Here is the charging document against Clinesmith : 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 .

Lady Justice is finally getting off her tush. U.S. Attorney John Durham has his first conviction in the Trump Russia hoax.
A former FBI lawyer neck deep in Russiagate will be pleading guilty to his role in framing former Trump advisor Carter Page in order to get a FISA warrant to spy on the Trump campaign.
Kevin Clinesmith, the DOJ Inspector General found, had falsified an email from a U.S. government agency (believed to be the CIA) to say Page was “not a source” of an intelligence agency when the email originally noted Page was their source. As Fox News reports, “The DOJ relied on that assertion as it submitted a third and final renewal application in 2017 to eavesdrop on Page under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.”
Let’s quote from the IG report: Clinesmith
[o]mitted Page’s prior relationship with another U.S. government agency, despite being reminded by the other agency in June 2017, prior to the filing of the final [FISA warrant] renewal application, about Page’s past status with that other agency. Instead of including this information in the final renewal application, (Clinesmith) altered an email from the other agency so that the email stated that Page was “not a source” for the other agency, which the FBI affiant relied upon in signing the final renewal application.
On those FISA warrants, James Comey’s FBI painted Page as an active Russian agent, when in fact he was working for the U.S. government in cases against Russia.
On the basis of those warrants, the FBI was able to intercept all of Page’s past and ongoing communications and that of anyone he’d been in contact with. In other words, the Trump campaign.
Just an Innocent Mistake? Sure.
Clinesmith is expected to plead guilty to a single count of making a false statement. Amazingly, Clinesmith holds that it was an innocent mistake.
“Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email,” Mr. Clinesmith’s lawyer, Justin Shur, said in a statement. “It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues as he believed the information he relayed was accurate. But Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The New York Times seems happy with Clinesmith’s explanation, and are quick to note: “Prosecutors did not reveal any evidence in charging documents that show Mr. Clinesmith’s actions were part of any broader conspiracy to undermine Mr. Trump.” (They go on to completely mischaracterize the brutal findings of the IG investigation, the biased conclusions of the Mueller investigation, and the extensive arguments of Trump supporters. But that’s to be expected from NYT at this point, especially given their key role in spreading the Trump Russia Hoax to begin with.)
Let’s refresh. An FBI lawyer doctored an email to turn someone who was a CIA source into someone who wasn’t a source. He changed a “yes” to a “no.” He fabricated evidence against a member of the Trump campaign.
This was no fresh scrubbed rookie lawyer. As Sean Davis at The Federalist points out, Clinesmith was a “top attorney in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) and a key agency attorney under fired former FBI Director James Comey.”
Clinesmith is also hostile toward Trump. A member of the “resistance.” Clinesmith was “devastated” by Trump’s win, he declared in an text with fellow FBI lawyer Sally Moyer. As Davis reports, Moyer then wondered if the win would change his mind about staying with the bureau.
“Hell no,” Clinesmith replied. “Viva le resistance.”
Will There Be More to Come?
As much as the New York Times would like to dream, the case does not start and end with Clinesmith’s act of “resistance.”
Clinesmith’s sabotage of Page came five months after the FBI had determined they could not verify any of the information in the Steele Dossier, including its allegations against Page. Five months after determining there was zero evidence of any collusion between Russia and anyone on the Trump team. Right around the time, Steele’s subsource testified Steele’s information was just rumor, wild speculation and likely Russian disinformation.
In other words, the FISA abuse didn’t start, nor did it end, with Clinesmith. The effort to sabotage then overthrow Trump did not begin with the FISA abuse or end with it.
Last night on Fox News, U.S. Attorney General William Barr teased there would be a development today, though not “earth-shattering.” That would be the Clinesmith guilty plea. He also indicated there is more to come before the election: Both a full report and potentially further indictments.
“I said the American people need to know what actually happened, we need to get the story of what happened in 2016 and ’17 out. That will be done. “The second aspect of this is, if people crossed the line, if people involved in that activity violated criminal law, they will be charged. And John Durham is an independent man, highly experienced, and his investigation is pursuing apace. There was some delay because of COVID, but I’m satisfied with the progress and I’ve said there are going to be developments, significant developments, before the election. “But we’re not doing this on the election schedule.”
Given that one candidate was a victim of the illicit activity in 2016 and 2017 and the other candidate was central to some of that activity, we voters have a right to know it all before going to polls.
Here is the charging document against Clinesmith:
DCD Clinesmith by Fox News on Scribd
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.