thestream--2020-10-19--Anthony Fauci Should Listen to His Earlier Self: Don’t Trust Computer Models

We had hoped Dr. Anthony Fauci , one of President Trump ’ s top medical advisors , had learned his lesson about trusting computer models .
After all , it was just such trust that sparked the pandemic panic in the first place .
Recall that in March , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) favored an apocalyptic model from Imperial College London .
The United States government took its cues from the Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation ( IHME ) at the University of Washington .
We now know these models were so wrong they were like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were these blind guides ?
In describing his choice to wage war on the invisible enemy , President Trump told the press on April 8 , “ The big projection being that 2.2 million people would die if we did nothing .
That was another decision we made , close it up .
That was a big decision that we made .
Two very smart people walked into my office and said listen these are your alternatives .
And that was a projection of 1.5 to 2.2 million people would die if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We know that one of these “ very smart people ” was Anthony Fauci .
And the basis for those numbers ?
The misleading models .
As we soon learned , the IHME often had to adjust its forecasts to align them with the facts .
These weren ’ t random errors .
Their tweaks always went in one direction : fewer deaths , fewer needed hospital beds , and so forth , than they had forecast the day before .
By April 10 , Anthony Fauci was insisting that he didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twelve days earlier , he had brandished models to dissuade the president from easing the lockdowns at Easter .
“ We showed him the data , ” Fauci explained , “ he looked at the data , and he got it right away .
It was a pretty clear picture.
” Again With the Models ?
Now here we are , almost six months later , and history is repeating itself .
At a recent virtual American University event , Fauci said , “ The models tell us that if we do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re talking about in the cold of the fall and the winter , we could have from 300,000 to 400,000 deaths.
” It ’ s true that the cold drives people indoors , where they more easily spread viruses .
This is why we have a cold and flu season every year .
But on the face of it , Fauci ’ s model-based predictions make no sense .
As of October 7 , the official CDC count of deaths associated with the coronavirus was just under 199 thousand .
Deaths peaked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread to the south , they re-peaked in late July .
They have been falling rapidly since , with no hint of any increase .
If the current trends hold , by the end of October or November , deaths will have dropped to background level .
That means if we are to get to a doubling of deaths as models predict , the virus is going to have to become just as bad as it was in the spring , or even worse .
In essence , these models are saying we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the whole thing again .
It ’ s not that viruses which have been at play for nine months can ’ t re-surge .
They can .
But secondary surges are rarely as large as the first wave .
This is because as the virus spreads in the first wave , herd immunity draws closer .
At some point , it arrives and puts a brake on large resurgences .
The CDC data suggests herd immunity is at least approaching .
But Dr. Fauci , citing the IHME model , would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Take His Own Advice Dr. Fauci should listen to his earlier , less credulous self .
In March , he said , “ I know my modeling colleagues aren ’ t going to be happy with me , but models are as good as the assumptions you put into them.
” In April the same model he ’ s now citing was rightly criticized for its wild swings .
And we show in our book The Price of Panic that the IHME model predictions came with huge windows of uncertainty , even when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would happen the next day .
This does not prove the IHME model is wrong .
But based on their 2020 record , we take the same attitude that Dr. Fauci did in April .
“ I have been , ” he said , “ still am , and will always be somewhat reserved and skeptical about models.
” Jay W. Richards , Douglas Axe , and William Briggs are the authors of The Price of Panic : How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe .

We had hoped Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of President Trump’s top medical advisors, had learned his lesson about trusting computer models. After all, it was just such trust that sparked the pandemic panic in the first place.
Recall that in March, the World Health Organization (WHO) favored an apocalyptic model from Imperial College London. The United States government took its cues from the Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. We now know these models were so wrong they were like shots in the dark.
Blind Guides
How influential were these blind guides? In describing his choice to wage war on the invisible enemy, President Trump told the press on April 8, “The big projection being that 2.2 million people would die if we did nothing. That was another decision we made, close it up. That was a big decision that we made. Two very smart people walked into my office and said listen these are your alternatives. And that was a projection of 1.5 to 2.2 million people would die if we didn’t close it up.”
By April 10, Anthony Fauci was insisting that he didn’t follow models. Never mind that twelve days earlier, he had brandished models to dissuade the president from easing the lockdowns at Easter.
We know that one of these “very smart people” was Anthony Fauci. And the basis for those numbers? The misleading models.
As we soon learned, the IHME often had to adjust its forecasts to align them with the facts. These weren’t random errors. Their tweaks always went in one direction: fewer deaths, fewer needed hospital beds, and so forth, than they had forecast the day before.
By April 10, Anthony Fauci was insisting that he didn’t follow models. Never mind that twelve days earlier, he had brandished models to dissuade the president from easing the lockdowns at Easter. “We showed him the data,” Fauci explained, “he looked at the data, and he got it right away. It was a pretty clear picture.”
Again With the Models?
Now here we are, almost six months later, and history is repeating itself.
At a recent virtual American University event, Fauci said, “The models tell us that if we do not do the kinds of things that we’re talking about in the cold of the fall and the winter, we could have from 300,000 to 400,000 deaths.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
It’s true that the cold drives people indoors, where they more easily spread viruses. This is why we have a cold and flu season every year. But on the face of it, Fauci’s model-based predictions make no sense.
As of October 7, the official CDC count of deaths associated with the coronavirus was just under 199 thousand. Deaths peaked in mid-April, and as the virus spread to the south, they re-peaked in late July. They have been falling rapidly since, with no hint of any increase. If the current trends hold, by the end of October or November, deaths will have dropped to background level.
That means if we are to get to a doubling of deaths as models predict, the virus is going to have to become just as bad as it was in the spring, or even worse. In essence, these models are saying we’re going to have to go through the whole thing again.
It’s not that viruses which have been at play for nine months can’t re-surge. They can. But secondary surges are rarely as large as the first wave. This is because as the virus spreads in the first wave, herd immunity draws closer. At some point, it arrives and puts a brake on large resurgences.
The CDC data suggests herd immunity is at least approaching. But Dr. Fauci, citing the IHME model, would have us ignore that data.
Fauci Should Take His Own Advice
Dr. Fauci should listen to his earlier, less credulous self. In March, he said, “I know my modeling colleagues aren’t going to be happy with me, but models are as good as the assumptions you put into them.”
In April , the same model he’s now citing was rightly criticized for its wild swings. And we show in our book The Price of Panic that the IHME model predictions came with huge windows of uncertainty, even when the model was trying to divine what would happen the next day.
This does not prove the IHME model is wrong. But based on their 2020 record, we take the same attitude that Dr. Fauci did in April. “I have been,” he said, “still am, and will always be somewhat reserved and skeptical about models.”
Jay W. Richards, Douglas Axe, and William Briggs are the authors of The Price of Panic: How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe.
Reprinted from Townhall.


thestream--2020-10-19--Military Photo of the Day: Fly Like an Eagle

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle takes off from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England on October 6 , 2020 @

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle takes off from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England on October 6, 2020.
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thestream--2020-10-19--Are These People Crazy?

Are These People Crazy?

Note : On Friday night ’ s Real Time with Bill Maher , the atheist HBO host said Amy Coney Barrett ’ s religious beliefs should be considered by the Senate because “ being nuts is relevant.
” Providentially , we have this new reflection from Stream Senior Contributor Dudley Hall .
What to make of these people who seem to be anchored in some kind of invisible reality ?
Even in the middle of social unrest and a viral pandemic , they are so joyful they can ’ t find words to fully express it , and they possess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seriously , have they been on drugs so long that they have lost touch with reality ?
Have they been duped by some strange cult that has brainwashed them ?
Or , is it possible that they have found a normal that the rest of society — being sub-normal —categorizes them as abnormal ?
It has historically been a question that societies have asked about a group of people who are radically bound together by the love of God through Jesus Christ .
Of course , not everyone in Christendom is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into its culture .
There seems to always be pressure to synthesize religions by eradicating their radical dynamics and feature their commonalities .
It is more comfortable to talk about all of us being basically the same in that we are nice to others and striving for improvement .
The doctrines don ’ t really matter , we are told .
We just need to be tolerant .
The god we serve doesn ’ t matter as long as we are sincere .
When Christianity is seen as simply one of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part in doing good , it is evidence the church is no longer embodying the dynamic of the New Testament gospel .
It is a denial of the meta-narrative of the bible .
Jesus didn ’ t appear just to make people nice .
Nor did he die to just show an example of sacrifice .
Neither was he raised from the dead just to prove he had miraculous power .
He came to earth as God incarnate to create a new people with a new disposition and a new destiny .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our Lord Jesus Christ , and have his life in them .
The apostle Peter describes them .
Although you have not seen him , you love him ; and even though you do not see him now , you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy , for you are receiving the outcome of your faith , the salvation of your souls .
1 Peter 1:8 Having been born from the heavenly realm , they are not limited to physical observation and rational deduction in their determination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and love has been raised from the dead and they enjoy the fellowship of the same powerful Spirit that raised him .
They have been loved in a way that only heavenly reality can love .
God has acted in history to reconcile them to God , and they now experience his delight in them .
Christ lives in their hearts by faith and he is more real to them than what their physical eyes can see .
They know what they can ’ t prove , yet can ’ t deny .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not limited to reason in their perception of what is going on .
They know someone , not just some information , and that someone is majestic and personal .
Being loved unconditionally and eternally , they are free to love others .
Since they share the very life of Jesus , they love what he loves and act accordingly .
That is why throughout history they have led the way in taking care of the poor , needy , sick , oppressed and orphans .
Their joy in giving to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those trying to hold on to their own lives .
They are not looking to delight their souls in things , achievements , applause , or wealth , because they live with a consciousness that the Father is delighted with them already .
It is a joy too big for words .
It shines out in the middle of suffering and pain .
It offers hope to all who are desperately wanting a life with meaning and peace .
These people live in a joy that is unmistakable but not based on any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die in hope .
Like the deacon Stephen who was unjustly stoned in the presence of Saul of Tarsus , and the light of his countenance while dying affected Saul , this remnant of people change the world around them .
They are witnesses of the great reality that God has invaded the earth and brought the powers of heaven to bear here .
They aren ’ t crazy .
They have seen something that delights their souls .
It ’ s real .
It is available to all who will admit need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for another religion that tries to conform us to regulations and rituals .
We can see the invisible and live in the eternal now , while we wait eagerly for the consummation of all things in Christ ’ s last coming .
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream .
He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures , a sought-after speaker , an engaging preacher , an effective consultant , and a trusted spiritual father .
Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works , Incense & Thunder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Their Own Skin , Orphans No More , When Hard Times Come , Follow Me and his latest , a children ’ s book laced with gospel truth : Shorty the Substitute Ram .

Note: On Friday night’s Real Time with Bill Maher, the atheist HBO host said Amy Coney Barrett’s religious beliefs should be considered by the Senate because “being nuts is relevant.” Providentially, we have this new reflection from Stream Senior Contributor Dudley Hall.
What to make of these people who seem to be anchored in some kind of invisible reality? Even in the middle of social unrest and a viral pandemic, they are so joyful they can’t find words to fully express it, and they possess a peace that is, frankly, freaky.
Seriously, have they been on drugs so long that they have lost touch with reality? Have they been duped by some strange cult that has brainwashed them? Or, is it possible that they have found a normal that causes the rest of society — being sub-normal — to categorize them as abnormal?
It has historically been a question that societies have asked about a group of people who are radically bound together by the love of God through Jesus Christ.
Of course, not everyone in Christendom is so radical. Every generation tries to fit into its culture. There seems to always be pressure to synthesize religions by eradicating their radical dynamics and feature their commonalities. It is more comfortable to talk about all of us being basically the same in that we are nice to others and striving for improvement. The doctrines don’t really matter, we are told. We just need to be tolerant. The god we serve doesn’t matter as long as we are sincere.
When Christianity is seen as simply one of the world’s religions trying to do its part in doing good, it is evidence the church is no longer embodying the dynamic of the New Testament gospel. It is a denial of the meta-narrative of the bible.
Creating a New Disposition, New Identity
Jesus didn’t appear just to make people nice. Nor did he die to just show an example of sacrifice. Neither was he raised from the dead just to prove he had miraculous power. He came to earth as God incarnate to create a new people with a new disposition and a new destiny. These followers are born again from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have his life in them. The apostle Peter describes them.
Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8)
Having been born from the heavenly realm, they are not limited to physical observation and rational deduction in their determination of reality. The Jesus they know and love has been raised from the dead and they enjoy the fellowship of the same powerful Spirit that raised him. They have experienced the heavenly reality of being loved in a way that only God can love. He has acted in history to reconcile them to himself, and they now experience his delight in them.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Christ lives in their hearts by faith and he is more real to them than what their physical eyes can see. They know what they can’t prove, yet can’t deny. They are not irrational, but they are not limited to reason in their perception of what is going on. They know someone, not just some information, and that someone is majestic and personal.
Free to Love Others
Being loved unconditionally and eternally, they are free to love others. Since they share the very life of Jesus, they love what he loves and act accordingly. That is why throughout history they have led the way in taking care of the poor, needy, sick, oppressed and orphans.
Their joy in giving to the point of sacrifice makes no sense to those trying to hold on to their own lives. They are not looking to delight their souls in things, achievements, applause or wealth, because they live with a consciousness that the Father is delighted with them already.
It is a joy too big for words. It shines out in the middle of suffering and pain. It offers hope to all who are desperately wanting a life with meaning and peace.
These people live in a joy that is unmistakable but not based on any circumstance. They suffer well, and die in hope — like the deacon Stephen, who was unjustly stoned in the presence of Saul of Tarsus. Just as the light of his countenance while dying affected Saul, this remnant of people change the world around them. They are witnesses of the great reality that God has invaded the earth and brought the powers of heaven to bear here. They aren’t crazy. They have seen something that delights their souls. It’s real. It is available to all who will admit need.
Why would anyone want to settle for another religion that tries to conform us to regulations and rituals? We can see the invisible and live in the eternal now, while we wait eagerly for the consummation of all things in Christ’s last coming.
Dudley Hall is a Senior Contributor to The Stream. He is the founder and President of Kerygma Ventures, a sought-after speaker, an engaging preacher, an effective consultant, and a trusted spiritual father. Dudley has authored several books including Grace Works, Incense & Thunder, Glad to be Left Behind, Men In Their Own Skin, Orphans No More, When Hard Times Come, Follow Me and his latest, a children’s book laced with gospel truth: Shorty the Substitute Ram.


thestream--2020-10-19--My Message Will Not Change on November 4

I am not trying to hedge my bets or play both ends against the middle .
To the contrary , I have made my own political preferences clear and I will vote accordingly on November 3 .
But regardless of who wins and who loses , my message and emphasis will remain the same .
As I tweeted on Friday , “ Whoever wins the elections on November 3 , my message will remain the same : the times are extremely urgent ; the church must give herself to the Great Commission ; national awakening is our only hope ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government ; Jesus is still Lord !
” It ’ s true that I often write and speak about political and cultural issues .
That comes with my calling as a talk-radio host and op-ed writer .
But that calling is subservient to my higher calling as a preacher of the gospel , which itself is subservient to my highest calling , namely , being a disciple of Jesus .
It is there , as a disciple , as a worshiper of the one true God , that I get my grounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my knees before the Almighty Lord , that I get my perspective .
As the prophet Isaiah declared , “ Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket ; they are regarded as dust on the scales ; He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust .
Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires , nor its animals enough for burnt offerings .
Before Him all the nations are as nothing ; they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing ” ( Isaiah 40:15-17 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that is what the world looks like from His perspective .
As expressed by the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar after himself being deeply humbled , “ His dominion is an eternal dominion ; His kingdom endures from generation to generation .
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing .
He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth .
No one can hold back His hand or say to Him : ‘ What have you done ?
’ ” ( Daniel 4:34-35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that my message will not change on November 4 , regardless of the outcome of the election .
The times will be still urgent .
The nation will still need awakening .
The Great Commission will still be the priority .
And God will still sit on His throne .
Human beings don ’ t get to vote on that .
That ’ s why I also tweeted , “ I recommend reading Psalm 46 once a day until November 3 , then continuing to read it daily as long as needed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
God IS our refuge and our strength !
” ( If you ’ ve never read Psalm 46 , click here . )
As for the urgency of the hour , even if all were well in America , I would still live with a sense of urgency .
We have only one life to live and only one life to give .
And every day , people are dying without the Lord , passing into eternity without forgiveness .
How can we not live with a sense of urgency in light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eternal salvation or eternal judgment ?
And , since things are anything but well here in our nation , the urgency is only intensified , no matter who sits in the White House or which party controls Congress .
As for the political world itself , it leaves me cold .
Political campaigns get so nasty .
Billions of dollars are spent on vicious , negative advertising .
Lies are peddled and spread by the hour .
And Washington itself remains so “ swampy.
” That ’ s why I tweeted , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene , with all of its ugliness , the more I want to focus on Jesus .
Once we get our vision set on Him , we can do something helpful and practical in this messed up world.
” That ’ s why I wrote in June that , “ Christ , Not Trump , Is the Solid Rock on Which We Stand.
” That ’ s why , in 2018 , I published , Donald Trump is Not My Savior : An Evangelical Leader Speaks His Mind About the Man He Supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why , this year , I published Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
The last chapter of the book lists 10 essential keys for passing the test , including putting the cross before the flag , emphasizing spiritual activity more than political activity , not getting caught up in election fever , and regaining our prophetic voice .
That ’ s why I say my message will not change on November 4 ( if , in fact , we have a final electoral outcome by then ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are very high in these elections .
And I do believe that , as much as possible , we should get involved in the political process .
But let ’ s keep our priorities in order , recognizing that the ultimate battle is between light and darkness , not between the right and the left .
And let us never forget that the gospel , not the government , remains the ultimate hope of the nation .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

I am not trying to hedge my bets or play both ends against the middle. To the contrary, I have made my own political preferences clear and I will vote accordingly on November 3. But regardless of who wins and who loses, my message and emphasis will remain the same.
As I tweeted on Friday, “Whoever wins the elections on November 3, my message will remain the same: the times are extremely urgent; the church must give herself to the Great Commission; national awakening is our only hope; I do not put my trust in the government; Jesus is still Lord!”
Disciple of Jesus, First.
It’s true that I often write and speak about political and cultural issues. That comes with my calling as a talk-radio host and op-ed writer. But that calling is subservient to my higher calling as a preacher of the gospel, which itself is subservient to my highest calling, namely, being a disciple of Jesus.
It is there, as a disciple, as a worshiper of the one true God, that I get my grounding. And it is there, on my knees before the Almighty Lord, that I get my perspective.
As the prophet Isaiah declared, “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before Him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing” (Isaiah 40:15-17).
That is the greatness of our God, and that is what the world looks like from His perspective. As expressed by the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar after himself being deeply humbled, “His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:34-35)
That’s why I say that my message will not change on November 4, regardless of the outcome of the election. The times will be still urgent. The nation will still need awakening. The Great Commission will still be the priority. And God will still sit on His throne. Human beings don’t get to vote on that.
That’s why I also tweeted, “I recommend reading Psalm 46 once a day until November 3, then continuing to read it daily as long as needed with whatever storms and turmoil follow the elections. God IS our refuge and our strength!” (If you’ve never read Psalm 46, click here.)
Urgency of the Hour
As for the urgency of the hour, even if all were well in America, I would still live with a sense of urgency. We have only one life to live and only one life to give. And every day, people are dying without the Lord, passing into eternity without forgiveness.
How can we not live with a sense of urgency in light of the fact that human beings face eternal salvation or eternal judgment? And, since things are anything but well here in our nation, the urgency is only intensified, no matter who sits in the White House or which party controls Congress.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
As for the political world itself, it leaves me cold. Political campaigns get so nasty. Billions of dollars are spent on vicious, negative advertising. Lies are peddled and spread by the hour. And Washington itself remains so “swampy.”
That’s why I tweeted, “The more I look at the political scene, with all of its ugliness, the more I want to focus on Jesus. Once we get our vision set on Him, we can do something helpful and practical in this messed up world.”
That’s why I wrote in June that, “Christ, Not Trump, Is the Solid Rock on Which We Stand.”
That’s why, in 2018, I published, Donald Trump is Not My Savior: An Evangelical Leader Speaks His Mind About the Man He Supports as President.
And that’s why, this year, I published Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?
The last chapter of the book lists 10 essential keys for passing the test, including putting the cross before the flag, emphasizing spiritual activity more than political activity, not getting caught up in election fever, and regaining our prophetic voice.
That’s why I say my message will not change on November 4 (if, in fact, we have a final electoral outcome by then).
The Ultimate Hope
I absolutely do believe the stakes are very high in these elections. And I do believe that, as much as possible, we should get involved in the political process.
But let’s keep our priorities in order, recognizing that the ultimate battle is between light and darkness, not between the right and the left. And let us never forget that the gospel, not the government, remains the ultimate hope of the nation.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-10-19--Trump at Church in Las Vegas: Spirit-Filled, Prophetic Intercession Covers Our President

I was deeply moved as I watched President Trump along with his team including White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany engaging with passion in a vibrant , Spirit-filled , prophetic church .
Deeply moved ?
No , that ’ s woefully understated .
The Spirit of God was burning and blowing through me as I watched .
There was a tremble within that suddenly activated as I watched our President and those who surround him in the midst of a cyclone of Holy Spirit activity in Las Vegas .
Tears filled my eyes .
“ This is your third time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a church member .
I don ’ t care what anybody says .
I love my president , ” Pastor Marc Goulet said .
President Trump , encouraging and exhorting the pastor and staff , declared that he ’ ll be back to the International Church of Las Vegas many times .
I know many are already smirking and arguing that this was nothing more than an attention-grab .
A photo-op .
First of all , I don ’ t care , and I ’ ll tell you why in a moment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and you consider yourself a true disciple of Jesus , you have no option but to repent .
As Believers we are to make judgment on others when done according to Scripture .
What is inappropriate is a judgment of motive .
Clearly , we are mandated to judge fruit .
We are to carefully and lovingly analyze situations God brings before us .
However , we don ’ t have the license to judge motive .
Such a judgment results in gossip , division and accusation .
We align ourselves with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In fact , Revelation 12:10 reveals he accuses Christians day and night before the Lord .
Others may say they have the gift of discernment and it ’ s that gift that allows them to judge President Trump ’ s motive .
News flash : there is no such gift revealed in the Bible as the gift of discernment .
It ’ s not there .
When people declare they have this gift it ’ s usually an excuse to operate in some good old-fashioned charismatic witchcraft .
Gossip .
Manipulation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the discernment of spirits , or to “ distinguish between spirits.
” This is the gift that comes in handy when taking someone through deliverance .
We know what spirit is manifesting ( or hiding ) and we are able to confront it with spiritual intelligence .
This gift has nothing to do with judging the motives of someone else .
This is God ’ s job and his alone .
Now , the reason I said that I don ’ t care whether President Trump ’ s appearance was merely an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t believe it was ) is simple : this man , in unprecedented fashion for a sitting President , has surrounded himself with authentic , fiery , devoted and uncompromising lovers of Jesus .
A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for Mike Pence , Kayleigh McEnany and the many reputable and anointed pastors and Christian leaders who have remarkable access to him .
Simply , this is the most Spirit-driven administration America has probably ever seen .
More striking is the night and day ( dark and light ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Jesus and the wickedness so many of the liberal left represent .
I want to encourage you to watch some of the videos from yesterday ’ s church service .
You ’ ll witness powerful decrees , intercession and exhortation in an atmosphere marked by extreme Holy Spirit activity .
I ’ ve wanted to visit this church for years , and I was thrilled to see our President placing himself and his team in the midst of that whirlwind .
We can all vote for anybody we desire .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , I ’ m stunned that any person who names the name of Christ would even consider for a moment allowing the nefarious agenda that the left is aggressively promoting to become rule in our nation .
Like him or not , Donald Trump is by far the most pro-Christian , pro-church , pro-faith President America has ever had .
Stop and think about that .
The left ?
This year most probably represents the most immoral , anti-God political advance in our nation ’ s history .
Have you witnessed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her press conferences ?
As phenomenal as she is on her own merit , I ’ m sure she would agree with me that her poise , wisdom , boldness and effectiveness in her position is mostly the result of a weighty and unusual anointing of God on her life .
She is in her position as a result of Donald Trump authorizing her , commissioning her and entrusting her as the spokesperson of the highest office in the land .
If we remove Trump , our nation ’ s next spokesperson will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different spirit indeed .
Consider Vice President Mike Pence .
Again , like him or not you have to respect his fervent devotion to Jesus .
I shudder to even ponder the comparison between this godly man and the current Democratic Vice Presidential candidate .
Donald Trump is a Leader Who has Been Marked By God I didn ’ t vote for Donald Trump four years ago .
I wrote in Ted Cruz .
I absolutely will be voting for him this time around .
I have watched this man transformed before our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a story of redemption , and at age 74 , it ’ s a story that is still being written .
He ’ s much different than he was in 2016 .
He ’ ll be even better in the years ahead .
Is he perfect ?
No way .
Do I hope for the sanctification process to ramp up in his life ?
Sure .
Do I believe God has anointed him for this hour ?
Absolutely .
I ’ m disheartened by professing Christians who are wholesale rejecting President Trump simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , arrogant or a jerk .
Listen closely : I ’ d rather have a flawed yet growing Christian who may be considered a jerk than someone who clearly exhibits rotting ( and dangerous ) fruit like many of those on the liberal left .
There ’ s no comparison .
In fact , many misunderstand the traits that mark many leaders , including those in the church .
A mega-church pastor once said that he ’ d never hire a staff member with a strong spiritual gift of mercy .
He explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the tough and necessary daily decisions because they are too concerned about people ’ s feelings .
That may sound harsh and unloving to you , but the truth is that too many pastors refuse to lead with boldness today .
So they compromise the mission to appease a few .
It takes an in-your-face fighter , anointed by God , to lead churches and nations today .
Yes , we must be loving in our approach , but we can ’ t be passive .
I believe if more pastors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re fired ” approach we ’ d have healthier churches and we ’ d be much closer to revival .
Again , we can do so with love and tenderness while also being strong and decisive .
When is the last time you heard about a pastor following this mandate in Scripture ?
Isn ’ t it interesting that Scripture calls those who are dismissive of sin in the camp arrogant ?
Today we ’ d presume someone who expelled them from the church to be unloving , harsh , accusatory and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly what God demands .
Brash leadership isn ’ t by default ungodly .
Yes , it can be , of course .
We simply can not look at someone who is offensive and deem them to be unrighteous or unfit for leadership .
Often times godly leadership demands an offensive , aggressive and unapologetic approach .
Donald Trump , while quite imperfect , exemplifies this .
So , just to make my point vividly clear , no I don ’ t care about his aggressive , brash and sometimes irritating demeanor when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions for our nation .
Am I saying Donald Trump is ready to lead a church ?
No .
He ’ s not .
Yet , with refining he would make a modern day apostle unlike the world has ever seen .
For now , I do believe , as a man in progress , even with all of his rough edges , he is clearly the right choice for the next four years .
John Burton is a sought out teacher , prophetic messenger and revivalist .
He has authored ten books @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Magazine , and directed one of the primary internships at the International House of Prayer ( IHOP ) in Kansas City .
He has planted two churches and has initiated two city prayer movements and a school of ministry .

I was deeply moved as I watched President Trump along with his team including White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany engaging with passion in a vibrant, Spirit-filled, prophetic church.
Deeply moved? No, that’s woefully understated. The Spirit of God was burning and blowing through me as I watched. There was a tremble within that suddenly activated as I watched our President and those who surround him in the midst of a cyclone of Holy Spirit activity in Las Vegas. Tears filled my eyes.
“This is your third time here, that means you’re a church member. I don’t care what anybody says. I love my president,” Pastor Marc Goulet said.
President Trump, encouraging and exhorting the pastor and staff, declared that he’ll be back to the International Church of Las Vegas many times.
Not Voting for President Trump?
I know many are already smirking and arguing that this was nothing more than an attention-grab. A photo-op.
First of all, I don’t care, and I’ll tell you why in a moment.
Secondly, if this was your reaction, and you consider yourself a true disciple of Jesus, you have no option but to repent.
As Believers we are to make judgment on others when done according to Scripture. What is inappropriate is a judgment of motive. Clearly, we are mandated to judge fruit. We are to carefully and lovingly analyze situations God brings before us.
“Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” (1 Corinthians 6:2–3, ESV)
However, we don’t have the license to judge motive. Such a judgment results in gossip, division and accusation. We align ourselves with the enemy. He is the accuser. In fact, Revelation 12:10 reveals he accuses Christians day and night before the Lord.
Others may say they have the gift of discernment and it’s that gift that allows them to judge President Trump’s motive. News flash: there is no such gift revealed in the Bible as the gift of discernment. It’s not there. When people declare they have this gift it’s usually an excuse to operate in some good old-fashioned charismatic witchcraft. Gossip. Manipulation.
“…to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:10, ESV)
The gift they are probably referring to is the discernment of spirits, or to “distinguish between spirits.” This is the gift that comes in handy when taking someone through deliverance. We know what spirit is manifesting (or hiding) and we are able to confront it with spiritual intelligence. This gift has nothing to do with judging the motives of someone else. This is God’s job and his alone.
Now, the reason I said that I don’t care whether President Trump’s appearance was merely an opportunity to grab attention (which I don’t believe it was) is simple: this man, in unprecedented fashion for a sitting President, has surrounded himself with authentic, fiery, devoted and uncompromising lovers of Jesus.
A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for Mike Pence, Kayleigh McEnany and the many reputable and anointed pastors and Christian leaders who have remarkable access to him.
Simply, this is the most Spirit-driven administration America has probably ever seen. More striking is the night and day (dark and light?) comparison between such an unashamed embrace of Jesus and the wickedness so many of the liberal left represent.
The Foolishness of Rejecting Donald Trump
I want to encourage you to watch some of the videos from yesterday’s church service. You’ll witness powerful decrees, intercession and exhortation in an atmosphere marked by extreme Holy Spirit activity. I’ve wanted to visit this church for years, and I was thrilled to see our President placing himself and his team in the midst of that whirlwind.
We can all vote for anybody we desire. That’s the American way.
That being said, I’m stunned that any person who names the name of Christ would even consider for a moment allowing the nefarious agenda that the left is aggressively promoting to become rule in our nation.
I’d rather have a flawed yet growing Christian who may be considered a jerk than someone who clearly exhibits rotting (and dangerous) fruit like many of those on the liberal left. There’s no comparison.
Like him or not, Donald Trump is by far the most pro-Christian, pro-church, pro-faith President America has ever had. Stop and think about that. The left? This year most probably represents the most immoral, anti-God political advance in our nation’s history.
Have you witnessed the brilliance of Kayleigh McEnany as she runs her press conferences? As phenomenal as she is on her own merit, I’m sure she would agree with me that her poise, wisdom, boldness and effectiveness in her position is mostly the result of a weighty and unusual anointing of God on her life. She is in her position as a result of Donald Trump authorizing her, commissioning her and entrusting her as the spokesperson of the highest office in the land. If we remove Trump, our nation’s next spokesperson will most certainly be anointed by a very different spirit indeed.
Consider Vice President Mike Pence. Again, like him or not you have to respect his fervent devotion to Jesus. I shudder to even ponder the comparison between this godly man and the current Democratic Vice Presidential candidate.
Donald Trump is a Leader Who has Been Marked By God
I didn’t vote for Donald Trump four years ago. I wrote in Ted Cruz. I absolutely will be voting for him this time around.
I have watched this man transformed before our nation’s eyes. He is a story of redemption, and at age 74, it’s a story that is still being written. He’s much different than he was in 2016. He’ll be even better in the years ahead.
Is he perfect? No way.
Do I hope for the sanctification process to ramp up in his life? Sure.
Do I believe God has anointed him for this hour? Absolutely.
I’m disheartened by professing Christians who are wholesale rejecting President Trump simply because they believe him to be rude, arrogant or a jerk.
Listen closely: I’d rather have a flawed yet growing Christian who may be considered a jerk than someone who clearly exhibits rotting (and dangerous) fruit like many of those on the liberal left. There’s no comparison.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In fact, many misunderstand the traits that mark many leaders, including those in the church. A mega-church pastor once said that he’d never hire a staff member with a strong spiritual gift of mercy. He explained that those people all too often refuse to make the tough and necessary daily decisions because they are too concerned about people’s feelings. That may sound harsh and unloving to you, but the truth is that too many pastors refuse to lead with boldness today. So they compromise the mission to appease a few.
It takes an in-your-face fighter, anointed by God, to lead churches and nations today. Yes, we must be loving in our approach, but we can’t be passive. I believe if more pastors followed Donald Trump’s “You’re fired” approach we’d have healthier churches and we’d be much closer to revival. Again, we can do so with love and tenderness while also being strong and decisive.
When is the last time you heard about a pastor following this mandate in Scripture?
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you… And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:1,2 ESV)
Isn’t it interesting that Scripture calls those who are dismissive of sin in the camp arrogant? Today we’d presume someone who expelled them from the church to be unloving, harsh, accusatory and arrogant. Yet, that’s exactly what God demands.
Brash leadership isn’t by default ungodly. Yes, it can be, of course. We simply cannot look at someone who is offensive and deem them to be unrighteous or unfit for leadership. Often times godly leadership demands an offensive, aggressive and unapologetic approach. Donald Trump, while quite imperfect, exemplifies this.
So, just to make my point vividly clear, no I don’t care about his aggressive, brash and sometimes irritating demeanor when he is making the tough, godly decisions for our nation.
Am I saying Donald Trump is ready to lead a church? No. He’s not. Yet, with refining he would make a modern day apostle unlike the world has ever seen. For now, I do believe, as a man in progress, even with all of his rough edges, he is clearly the right choice for the next four years.
John Burton is a sought out teacher, prophetic messenger and revivalist. He has authored ten books, is a regular contributor to Charisma Magazine, and directed one of the primary internships at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City. He has planted two churches and has initiated two city prayer movements and a school of ministry.


thestream--2020-10-19--Vote for Biblical Principles

Vote for Biblical Principles

Please watch as I share what I believe is the most important consideration in this upcoming election .
James Robison @ @ @ @ @ founder and publisher .
He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE @ @ @ @ @ the author of many books , including Indivisible ( with Jay Richards ) and Living @ @

Please watch as I share what I believe is the most important consideration in this upcoming election.
James Robison is The Stream’s founder and publisher. He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today. He’s the author of many books, including Indivisible (with Jay Richards) and Living Amazed.


thestream--2020-10-19--#Election2020: Joe Biden Hides to Avoid Questions About Family’s Long and Extensive History of Cashi

#Election2020: Joe Biden Hides to Avoid Questions About Family’s Long and Extensive History of Cashing In on His Position

Fifteen days from the most crucial election since 1860 , and Joe Biden has gone into hiding .
The Democratic nominee will not be appearing in public until his Thursday night debate with President Trump in Nashville .
He ’ s hiding from questions about the evidence , in Hunter ’ s laptop and beyond , that he sold access to the 2nd highest office in the land .
Indeed , that he sold access to Communist China .
And that he lied about having nothing to do with his son ’ s overseas businesses .
Biden can hide because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quash the story .
Big Tech , Big Media and Big , Ugly Creatures of the Swamp want to keep you , the American voter , from learning about the latest proof of the Biden Family ’ s corrupt enterprise .
Remember : Those who will keep you in the dark today will keep you in chains tomorrow .
As of Monday morning , Facebook and Twitter are still suppressing negative Biden stories .
Blocking accounts , quashing trending hashtags , boosting pro-Biden hashtags .
As of this writing , the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Are you getting this ?
America ’ s fourth largest newspaper , the nation ’ s oldest surviving newspaper , is being prohibited from sharing its stories , any of its stories .
Where is the media outrage ?
Trump tweets about Jim Acosta and the entire press corp unites in protest , claiming an assault on free speech .
Meanwhile , we now know another reason Facebook acted so quickly acted to smother the revelation Joe Biden had been lying about his knowledge of Hunter ’ s Ukraine activities .
Believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ election integrity ” expert was a special advisor to Vice President Biden for European policy .
Meaning , Ukraine policy .
Her name is Anna Makanju .
As I wrote about last week , what in the world was Joe Biden up to that has those who worked with him on Ukraine acting so hysterical ?
Rep. Adam Schiff and Sen. Chris Murphy are leading the charge claiming the whole Hunter laptop evidence is “ Russian disinformation.
” Hear me now : This is a lie .
Just this morning the Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence Russia had anything to do with the laptop .
Further — and crucially — the Biden campaign itself is not disputing the validity of the emails and texts .
The evidence is real .
That Schiff would again play the phony Russia card is unreal .
Mike Huckabee has a great column on the FBI ’ s apparent efforts to bury the evidence on the laptop , since getting hold of it last December .
Evidence that would have proven President Trump was right on the money to ask Ukraine ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe ’ s activities .
The media , when not ignoring the evidence , is downplaying it .
For example , Fox News contributor Juan Williams writes that Trump ’ s “ search for dirt falls flat.
” It didn ’ t fall flat , Juan .
It was smothered .
Strangled .
And as a long time journalist , the strangling of truth should tick you off .
It ’ s not like they haven ’ t reported on it before .
Let ’ s take just a few quick examples .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how Hunter Biden got paid $ 100,000 a year in retainers by credit card giant MBNA while Sen. Joe Biden was working to win passage of a pro-credit card company law making harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection .
Something to consider when watching Joe ’ s commercials : He was the credit card industry ’ s go-to protector on Capital Hill .
He fought tooth-and-nail for them .
Not you .
Look at the record .
Not the commercials .
ABC News … the same ABC News that couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday night about the NY Post revelations … just this past January had an article titled “ How Frank Biden leveraged his famous name for business gain.
” Frank is Joe ’ s younger brother .
Politico in 2019 published “ Biden Inc. ” The subtitle : “ Over his decades in office , ‘ Middle-Class Joe ’ s ’ family fortunes have closely tracked his political career.
” The article details the myriad ways assorted Biden family members cashed in on Joe ’ s government positions .
“ Don ’ t worry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2006 , after the family took over the Paradigm Global Advisors hedge fund , “ We ’ ve got people all around the world who want to invest in Joe Biden.
” Peter Schweitzer talks about a separate deal involving James Biden when Joe was VP .
Joe was Obama ’ s point man for Iraq in 2010 .
A company called “ Hillstone ” was set up .
The Hillstone CEO visits Biden at White House .
Three weeks later , James Biden is named VP .
Within six months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes in Iraq .
In 2012 , the New York Post reported that deal was worth $ 1.5 billion .
James Biden had zero construction experience .
14-year-old Barron Trump literally has more construction experience .
In February , the FBI raided a James Biden-tied business in February called Americore Health hospital .
In March , Biden was sued for fraud over a health care scheme involving Americore .
As Politico reported , Biden allegedly promised “ potential partners , including at Americore , that his last name could open doors and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy implications of their business models.
” Dropping Joe ’ s name , James reportedly drew in investors , and then grabbed about $ 500,000 himself from the company as a personal loan .
Oh , but how could Joe be excited if he didn ’ t know a thing about his brother ’ s dealings ?
As Margot Cleveland of The Federalist wrote this morning , “ The Biden Corruption Scandal Isn ’ t About Hunter.
” Or Frank or James .
“ It ’ s About Joe.
” Voter , You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a right to know whether Joe Biden did , indeed , express excitement over Americore .
Remember , he insists he has nothing to do with the business ventures of his brothers and son .
You have a right to know all the details of Joe Biden ’ s involvement in his brother ’ s company getting a $ 1.5 billion construction contract in Iraq despite having zero construction experience .
You have a right to know who invested in the Biden family hedge fund Paradigm Global Advisors , and whether any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Joe ’ s later actions in the Senate .
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden whether he is the “ big guy ” pocketing 10 % from one of Hunter ’ s deals with China .
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden whether he got a cut of the $ 10 million a year Hunter was making from the Chinese just for “ introductions ” to top White House officials .
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden why it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it legislation involving credit card companies , being Obama ’ s point man for Iraq , China and Ukraine — his family cashed in to the tune of billions of dollars .
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden how much he ’ s compromised national security and remains a national security risk .
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden .
But Joe Biden does not want to face you .
Does not believe you deserve answers .
And the most powerful forces in this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to answer you .
American voter , those who would keep you in the dark today , will put you in chains tomorrow .
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 .

Fifteen days from the most crucial election since 1860, and Joe Biden has gone into hiding. The Democratic nominee will not be appearing in public until his Thursday night debate with President Trump in Nashville.
He’s hiding from questions about the evidence, in Hunter’s laptop and beyond, that he sold access to the 2nd highest office in the land. Indeed, that he sold access to Communist China. And that he lied about having nothing to do with his son’s overseas businesses.
Biden can hide because knows an obedient establishment will work overtime to quash the story. Big Tech, Big Media and Big, Ugly Creatures of the Swamp want to keep you, the American voter, from learning about the latest proof of the Biden Family’s corrupt enterprise.
Remember: Those who will keep you in the dark today will keep you in chains tomorrow.
The Censorship
As of Monday morning, Facebook and Twitter are still suppressing negative Biden stories. Blocking accounts, quashing trending hashtags, boosting pro-Biden hashtags.
As of this writing, the New York Post Twitter account is still blocked. Are you getting this? America’s fourth largest newspaper, the nation’s oldest surviving newspaper, is being prohibited from sharing its stories, any of its stories. Where is the media outrage? Trump tweets about Jim Acosta and the entire press corp unites in protest, claiming an assault on free speech.
Meanwhile, we now know another reason Facebook acted so quickly acted to smother the revelation Joe Biden had been lying about his knowledge of Hunter’s Ukraine activities. Believe it or not, Facebook’s “election integrity” expert was a special advisor to Vice President Biden for European policy. Meaning, Ukraine policy. Her name is Anna Makanju.
As I wrote about last week, what in the world was Joe Biden up to that has those who worked with him on Ukraine acting so hysterical?
The “Russian Disinformation” Lie
Rep. Adam Schiff and Sen. Chris Murphy are leading the charge claiming the whole Hunter laptop evidence is “Russian disinformation.” Hear me now: This is a lie. Just this morning the Director of National Intelligence insisted there is zero evidence Russia had anything to do with the laptop. Further — and crucially — the Biden campaign itself is not disputing the validity of the emails and texts.
The evidence is real. That Schiff would again play the phony Russia card is unreal.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Mike Huckabee has a great column on the FBI’s apparent efforts to bury the evidence on the laptop, since getting hold of it last December. Evidence that would have proven President Trump was right on the money to ask Ukraine’s new president to look into Hunter and Joe’s activities.
The media, when not ignoring the evidence, is downplaying it. For example, Fox News contributor Juan Williams writes that Trump’s “search for dirt falls flat.” It didn’t fall flat, Juan. It was smothered. Strangled. And as a long time journalist, the strangling of truth should tick you off.
The Biden “Organized Crime Family”
It’s not like they haven’t reported on it before. Let’s take just a few quick examples.
The New York Times in 2008 questioned how Hunter Biden got paid $100,000 a year in retainers by credit card giant MBNA while Sen. Joe Biden was working to win passage of a pro-credit card company law making harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection.
Something to consider when watching Joe’s commercials: He was the credit card industry’s go-to protector on Capital Hill. He fought tooth-and-nail for them. Not you. Look at the record. Not the commercials.
ABC News … the same ABC News that couldn’t be bothered to ask Joe Biden Thursday night about the NY Post revelations … just this past January had an article titled “How Frank Biden leveraged his famous name for business gain.” Frank is Joe’s younger brother.
Politico in 2019 published “Biden Inc.” The subtitle: “Over his decades in office, ‘Middle-Class Joe’s’ family fortunes have closely tracked his political career.” The article details the myriad ways assorted Biden family members cashed in on Joe’s government positions.
“Don’t worry about investors,” James Biden said in 2006, after the family took over the Paradigm Global Advisors hedge fund, “We’ve got people all around the world who want to invest in Joe Biden.”
More Biden Deals
Peter Schweitzer talks about a separate deal involving James Biden when Joe was VP. Joe was Obama’s point man for Iraq in 2010. A company called “Hillstone” was set up.
The Hillstone CEO visits Biden at White House. Three weeks later, James Biden is named VP. Within six months, Hillstone has a contract to build 100,000 homes in Iraq. In 2012, the New York Post reported that deal was worth $1.5 billion. James Biden had zero construction experience. 14-year-old Barron Trump literally has more construction experience.
In February, the FBI raided a James Biden-tied business in February called Americore Health hospital. In March, Biden was sued for fraud over a health care scheme involving Americore.
As Politico reported, Biden allegedly promised “potential partners, including at Americore, that his last name could open doors and that Joe Biden was excited about the public policy implications of their business models.” Dropping Joe’s name, James reportedly drew in investors, and then grabbed about $500,000 himself from the company as a personal loan. Oh, but how could Joe be excited if he didn’t know a thing about his brother’s dealings?
As Margot Cleveland of The Federalist wrote this morning, “The Biden Corruption Scandal Isn’t About Hunter.” Or Frank or James. “It’s About Joe.”
Every country, every foreign politician or political faction, and every corrupt oligarch or business that paid for access has the emails, notes, receipts, itineraries, fund transfers, and maybe even photographs or recordings. And that makes Joe Biden a national security risk.
Voter, You Have a Right to Know!
You have a right to know whether Joe Biden did, indeed, express excitement over Americore. Remember, he insists he has nothing to do with the business ventures of his brothers and son.
You have a right to know all the details of Joe Biden’s involvement in his brother’s company getting a $1.5 billion construction contract in Iraq despite having zero construction experience.
You have a right to know who invested in the Biden family hedge fund Paradigm Global Advisors, and whether any of those investors had business that benefited from Joe’s later actions in the Senate.
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden whether he is the “big guy” pocketing 10% from one of Hunter’s deals with China.
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden whether he got a cut of the $10 million a year Hunter was making from the Chinese just for “introductions” to top White House officials.
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden why it is that everywhere he was active — be it legislation involving credit card companies, being Obama’s point man for Iraq, China and Ukraine — his family cashed in to the tune of billions of dollars.
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden how much he’s compromised national security and remains a national security risk.
You have a right to know directly from Joe Biden. But Joe Biden does not want to face you. Does not believe you deserve answers. And the most powerful forces in this country are working to keep him from having to answer you.
American voter, those who would keep you in the dark today, will put you in chains tomorrow.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-10-19--‘Masks Work? NO’: Twitter Removes Anti-Mask Tweet From Trump Coronavirus Adviser

Twitter removed a tweet from a top White House coronavirus adviser , saying that , contrary to official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance , masks don ’ t prevent the spread of the virus .
On Saturday , Dr. Scott Atlas tweeted that evidence showed masks don ’ t work , according to NBC News .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) released guidance in April urging Americans to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of coronavirus after weeks of recommending the opposite .
“ Masks work ?
NO : LA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Phlippnes , UK , Spain , Israel , ” Atlas ’ deleted tweet said , according to NBC News .
He continued , “ WHO : ’ widesprd use not supported ’ + many harms ; Heneghan/Oxf CEBM : ’ despite decades , considerble uncertainty re value ’ ; CDC rvw May : ‘ no sig red ’ n in inflnz transm ’ n ’ ; learn why.
” A link to Atlas ’ tweet now includes a link to Twitter ’ s enforcement policies .
“ The Tweet was in violation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a Twitter spokesperson told The Daily Caller News Foundation .
Twitter prohibits coronavirus-related content it deems misleading and harmful .
The company says it determines information to be misleading based on official guidance from public health authorities .
“ That means the right policy is @ realDonaldTrump guideline : use masks for their intended purpose – when close to others , especially hi risk .
Otherwise , social distance .
No widespread mandates .
# CommonSense , ” he tweeted .
Trump hired Atlas as a top health adviser in August , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a senior fellow at Stanford University ’ s Hoover Institution and former chief of neuroradiology at the university ’ s medical center .
Like the CDC , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) has changed its mask-wearing guidance .
In April , the WHO issued guidance only recommending that health care workers wear masks before reversing that guidance in June .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Twitter removed a tweet from a top White House coronavirus adviser, saying that, contrary to official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, masks don’t prevent the spread of the virus.
On Saturday, Dr. Scott Atlas tweeted that evidence showed masks don’t work, according to NBC News. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance in April urging Americans to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of coronavirus after weeks of recommending the opposite.
“Masks work? NO: LA, Miami, Hawaii, Alabama, France, Phlippnes, UK, Spain, Israel,” Atlas’ deleted tweet said, according to NBC News.
He continued, “WHO:’widesprd use not supported’ + many harms; Heneghan/Oxf CEBM:’ despite decades, considerble uncertainty re value’; CDC rvw May: ‘no sig red’n in inflnz transm’n’; learn why.”
A link to Atlas’ tweet now includes a link to Twitter’s enforcement policies.
“The Tweet was in violation of our COVID-19 Misleading Information Policy,” a Twitter spokesperson told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Twitter prohibits coronavirus-related content it deems misleading and harmful. The company says it determines information to be misleading based on official guidance from public health authorities.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Atlas praised President Donald Trump’s messaging on masks in a follow-up tweet Saturday.
“That means the right policy is @realDonaldTrump guideline: use masks for their intended purpose – when close to others, especially hi risk. Otherwise, social distance. No widespread mandates. #CommonSense,” he tweeted.
Trump hired Atlas as a top health adviser in August, according to The Associated Press. He is a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and former chief of neuroradiology at the university’s medical center.
Like the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) has changed its mask-wearing guidance. In April, the WHO issued guidance only recommending that health care workers wear masks before reversing that guidance in June.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-10-19--Biden Evidence Mounts While Forces Within America ‘Meddle’

This weekend in an appearance on Justice with Jeanine Pirro , I made it clear that there are people right here in America deliberately trying to manipulate the 2020 election .
This was in the context of Big Tech ’ s effort to shut down free speech and censor the very real story of Joe Biden and his son , and I said I ’ m much more worried about Silicon Valley than I am the Russians .
Silicon Valley has done much more than the Russians have .
I said the Russians might ’ ve put their thumb on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Silicon Valley takes the fat woman and sits her right in the middle of the scale and tells her not to get up .
That ’ s not intended as a jab to any woman — or man , Lord help me — who ’ d like to lose some pounds .
It ’ s just to make the point of what the anti-Trump forces are doing .
I also said that if it weren ’ t for former Acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell and current DNI John Ratcliffe , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it .
Thanks largely to them , we ’ re learning that it ’ s not just Big Tech trying to silence the Hunter Biden story .
It ’ s actually people within our own government , particularly the FBI , who were putting all their weight on the scale to protect the Bidens and damage Trump .
Much of this has to do with the laptop of Hunter Biden ’ s that curiously ended up being hoarded by the FBI in late 2019 ( impeachment time ! )
and for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s left to the Senate and Republicans in the House to take this information and find out what they can .
Sen. Ron Johnson , who chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs , sent a letter this weekend to Pete Kadrik of Blue Star Strategies — a Democrat-led firm that lobbied for corrupt energy company Burisma — saying that the company hadn ’ t been completely responsive to a subpoena issued last May for all records relating to their work for Burisma Holdings since January of 2013 .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inexperienced Hunter Biden big bucks to be on their board of directors . )
Sen. Johnson told Mr. Kadrik that one document in particular had been withheld , one that they became aware of on October 15 .
This missing document is an email providing an account of a December 2 , 2015 , conference call that was hosted by the White House to discuss Joe Biden ’ s upcoming trip to Ukraine .
As Sen. Johnson told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Sunday , that was the trip during which they believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and prime minister the ultimatum he later bragged about : Fire head prosecutor Viktor Shokin ( who was looking into Burisma ) or lose $ 1 billion of aid .
Johnson ’ s committee never got this document , and they want to know why .
The reason they became aware of the conference call is that there ’ s a reference to it and to a memo about it from the Blue Star Strategies team on the hard drive of Hunter Biden ’ s laptop , and they want to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the hard drive says , “ This morning the White House hosted a conference call regarding the Vice President ’ s upcoming trip to Ukraine .
Attached is a memo from the Blue Star Strategies team with the minutes of that call , which outlined the trip ’ s agenda and addressed several questions regarding U.S. policy toward Ukraine.
” Why is the FBI Sitting on Evidence ?
Of course , Maria brought up what we ’ ve all been wondering ever since the New York Post broke their the laptop story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this laptop in December of 2019 , during the impeachment of President Trump , did they sit on it , when it contained evidence that showed Trump was justified in asking President Zelensky to investigate ?
The computer store owner said he tried to give the laptop to the FBI but they initially didn ’ t seem interested .
( According to Devin Nunes , ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee , this man wanted to give it to them specifically because it was relevant to the impeachment of Trump . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by FBI agent Joshua Wilson ( who , perhaps tellingly , has specialized for five years in child pornography cases ) with a grand jury subpoena to turn it over , which he did .
The store owner , as you know , had the presence of mind to copy the hard drive first and , after hearing nothing back from the FBI , took a copy to the Senate .
Sen. Johnson ’ s committee contacted the FBI to ask if they could verify anything about the laptop and its contents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of days , Sen. Johnson wrote to the FBI .
“ The FBI has a duty , ” he told Maria , “ to inform us if they believe this is , maybe , Russian disinformation .
They should give us a defensive briefing .
They should tell us about that.
” And if the store owner is trying to pass off something that isn ’ t real — which is a crime — the FBI should tell them that as well .
Even Biden Doesn ’ t Deny the Emails are Genuine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No one , even Biden ’ s campaign , has said these emails are fake .
If they were , you know they ’ d proclaim that .
Considering , then , that these are genuine and that they would ’ ve been extremely relevant to the impeachment case against Trump , why did the FBI sit on them ?
Were they covering up to protect the Biden family , or were they withholding exculpatory evidence against the President during his sham impeachment ?
Given the way the FBI has been operating for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my guess is that it ’ s both .
It ’ s like that old commercial , “ Certs is a candy mint , AND a breath mint !
” Sen. Johnson also brought up the totally separate email evidence uncovered by investigative reporter Peter Schweizer that we reported on last week .
“ This requires serious investigation , ” he said , “ and the fact that the mainstream media is suppressing this information from the American public is a scandal in and of itself.
” Agreed .
So what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that weight off the scales of justice ?
President Trump must put all the power he has into play .
He can start inside the government , at the very top , with FBI Director Chris Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel , who both should be sent packing .
Much more will come out over the next couple of weeks .
( This is why early voting is such a bad idea . )
There are reportedly three laptops in the FBI ’ s possession : Hunter Biden ’ s , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the third from … Hunter ’ s psychiatrist .
Does the FBI really have THAT ?
It ’ s not likely they would unless they ’ re looking at charges for child pornography/sexual abuse .
Steve Bannon has apparently been in charge of the “ roll-out plan ” for the evidence , so he must already know what ’ s coming and when .
Here ’ s what he says we can expect .
Finally , here ’ s the computer repair shop owner ’ s story , as told by Rudy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani : Computer shop owner who found alleged Hunter Biden emails told FBI he was ‘ really afraid ’ Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events .
A New York Times best-selling author , he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN .

This weekend in an appearance on Justice with Jeanine Pirro, I made it clear that there are people right here in America deliberately trying to manipulate the 2020 election. This was in the context of Big Tech’s effort to shut down free speech and censor the very real story of Joe Biden and his son, and I said I’m much more worried about Silicon Valley than I am the Russians. Silicon Valley has done much more than the Russians have. I said the Russians might’ve put their thumb on the scale in the elections, but Silicon Valley takes the fat woman and sits her right in the middle of the scale and tells her not to get up.
That’s not intended as a jab to any woman — or man, Lord help me — who’d like to lose some pounds. It’s just to make the point of what the anti-Trump forces are doing. I also said that if it weren’t for former Acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell and current DNI John Ratcliffe, we wouldn’t be finding out much about it.
It’s Not Just Big Tech
Thanks largely to them, we’re learning that it’s not just Big Tech trying to silence the Hunter Biden story. It’s actually people within our own government, particularly the FBI, who were putting all their weight on the scale to protect the Bidens and damage Trump. Much of this has to do with the laptop of Hunter Biden’s that curiously ended up being hoarded by the FBI in late 2019 (impeachment time!) and for months afterwards.
No one, even Biden’s campaign, has said these emails are fake. If they were, you know they’d proclaim that.
As usual, it’s left to the Senate and Republicans in the House to take this information and find out what they can. Sen. Ron Johnson, who chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, sent a letter this weekend to Pete Kadrik of Blue Star Strategies — a Democrat-led firm that lobbied for corrupt energy company Burisma — saying that the company hadn’t been completely responsive to a subpoena issued last May for all records relating to their work for Burisma Holdings since January of 2013. (As you know, Burisma paid the inexperienced Hunter Biden big bucks to be on their board of directors.) Sen. Johnson told Mr. Kadrik that one document in particular had been withheld, one that they became aware of on October 15.
The Missing Document
This missing document is an email providing an account of a December 2, 2015, conference call that was hosted by the White House to discuss Joe Biden’s upcoming trip to Ukraine. As Sen. Johnson told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Sunday, that was the trip during which they believe Biden must’ve given the Ukrainian president and prime minister the ultimatum he later bragged about: Fire head prosecutor Viktor Shokin (who was looking into Burisma) or lose $1 billion of aid. Johnson’s committee never got this document, and they want to know why.
The reason they became aware of the conference call is that there’s a reference to it and to a memo about it from the Blue Star Strategies team on the hard drive of Hunter Biden’s laptop, and they want to be able to verify this.
The email on the hard drive says, “This morning the White House hosted a conference call regarding the Vice President’s upcoming trip to Ukraine. Attached is a memo from the Blue Star Strategies team with the minutes of that call, which outlined the trip’s agenda and addressed several questions regarding U.S. policy toward Ukraine.”
Why is the FBI Sitting on Evidence?
Of course, Maria brought up what we’ve all been wondering ever since the New York Post broke their the laptop story: Why, if the FBI had this laptop in December of 2019, during the impeachment of President Trump, did they sit on it, when it contained evidence that showed Trump was justified in asking President Zelensky to investigate?
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The computer store owner said he tried to give the laptop to the FBI but they initially didn’t seem interested. (According to Devin Nunes, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, this man wanted to give it to them specifically because it was relevant to the impeachment of Trump.) But in December, he was served by FBI agent Joshua Wilson (who, perhaps tellingly, has specialized for five years in child pornography cases) with a grand jury subpoena to turn it over, which he did. The store owner, as you know, had the presence of mind to copy the hard drive first and, after hearing nothing back from the FBI, took a copy to the Senate. Sen. Johnson’s committee contacted the FBI to ask if they could verify anything about the laptop and its contents. After hearing nothing back in a couple of days, Sen. Johnson wrote to the FBI.
“The FBI has a duty,” he told Maria, “to inform us if they believe this is, maybe, Russian disinformation. They should give us a defensive briefing. They should tell us about that.” And if the store owner is trying to pass off something that isn’t real — which is a crime — the FBI should tell them that as well.
Even Biden Doesn’t Deny the Emails are Genuine
But here’s the key: No one, even Biden’s campaign, has said these emails are fake. If they were, you know they’d proclaim that. Considering, then, that these are genuine and that they would’ve been extremely relevant to the impeachment case against Trump, why did the FBI sit on them? Were they covering up to protect the Biden family, or were they withholding exculpatory evidence against the President during his sham impeachment?
Given the way the FBI has been operating for at least the past several years, my guess is that it’s both. It’s like that old commercial, “Certs is a candy mint, AND a breath mint!”
Sen. Johnson also brought up the totally separate email evidence uncovered by investigative reporter Peter Schweizer that we reported on last week. “This requires serious investigation,” he said, “and the fact that the mainstream media is suppressing this information from the American public is a scandal in and of itself.”
What’s It Gonna Take?
Agreed. So what’s it gonna take to get all that weight off the scales of justice? President Trump must put all the power he has into play. He can start inside the government, at the very top, with FBI Director Chris Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel, who both should be sent packing.
Much more will come out over the next couple of weeks. (This is why early voting is such a bad idea.) There are reportedly three laptops in the FBI’s possession: Hunter Biden’s, another from his business partner Devon Archer, and the third from … Hunter’s psychiatrist. Does the FBI really have THAT? It’s not likely they would unless they’re looking at charges for child pornography/sexual abuse.
Steve Bannon has apparently been in charge of the “roll-out plan” for the evidence, so he must already know what’s coming and when. Here’s what he says we can expect.
And here’s Rudy Giuliani’s preview of coming attractions.
Finally, here’s the computer repair shop owner’s story, as told by Rudy Giuliani to Mark Levin on Sunday.
Giuliani: Computer shop owner who found alleged Hunter Biden emails told FBI he was ‘really afraid’
Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events. A New York Times best-selling author, he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN.
Originally published at MikeHuckabee.com. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-10-19--How to Hold Big Tech Accountable for Biased Panic Porn

In The Price of Panic , we argue that Big Tech — from social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter , to video platforms ( YouTube ) and search engines ( Google ) — was the catalyst for the social contagion that has shut down the world .
Facebook and YouTube have spent the last seven months validating “ official ” opinion and suppressing contrary opinions even from genuine experts .
The latest outrage ?
Twitter has blocked a tweet , and locked the account of Dr. Scott Atlas , who is an advisor to the president of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He knows as much about the complexities of health policy as any of the officials lionized by social media giants .
And his views are backed up by solid scientific evidence , shared by thousands of health scientists and practitioners .
Obviously , these companies have ceased to provide open platforms for debate and information .
They ’ ve become , instead , protectors of a party line — a line they helped create .
It ’ s time to hold them accountable .
Of course , general panic could have spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neutral platforms .
According to Metcalfe ’ s Law , the power of a network goes up in proportion to the square of the number of users .
Such a network effect means that a video of an old man falling dead on a street in China can soon find itself playing on a billion smartphones — without any help .
Unfortunately , Twitter , Facebook , and other platforms have worked overtime to boost the signals of experts who preach panic , while at the same time purging dissenters , like Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Indeed , as we show in detail in The Price of Panic , these platforms have propped up purveyors of panic porn , experts and non-experts .
And they ’ ve suppressed many genuine experts on the other side .
This has made the pandemic panic not just scary , but creepy .
Can we do anything to limit Big Tech ’ s perverse control over public debate ?
The standard libertarian response is “ no.
” These are private companies , so they can ’ t rightly be punished for censorship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to scrutiny , though .
First , these companies dominate the public square .
With such great power over the commons comes great responsibility .
Second , they benefit from a law that assumes they will be neutral platforms rather than publishers .
Withdrawing that legal protection is not a government takeover .
Indeed , we ’ re highly skeptical of calls to make these platforms public utilities .
This would just result in what economists call “ regulatory capture.
” Instead of having private companies policing speech , as we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mongrels doing the same , only with more power .
Nor should the government break up tech companies just because they succeed in the marketplace .
Network effects mean that the best networks will tend to be the biggest .
Forcing networks to break up would be , in effect , to prevent them from being good networks .
Fortunately , nothing like that needs to happen .
At the moment , Facebook , Twitter , and other such companies enjoy the legal status of neutral platforms .
In this way , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verizon .
They ’ re not responsible for third-party content , so they can ’ t be sued because a third party commits libel on their platform .
That would be fair if they really were neutral — if they treated posts and tweets the way Verizon and AT & T treat phone calls or text messages .
But they ’ re not .
As a result , they get to have their cake and eat it too .
All because of the Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.
” This was a good rule at the time .
It allowed internet and social media companies to thrive .
But Congress designed it for genuinely open platforms .
Most of the current players have long since become something else .
2020 has just exposed what they ’ ve become .
Congress should tweak Section 230 so that non-neutral services don ’ t benefit from its regulatory cover .
Tech companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act like a neutral platforms by allowing anyone to post legal content or lose this legal privilege .
In the latter case , government would treat them as publishers that are legally liable for what ’ s posted on their platforms .
One criticism of this approach is that , if government treats , say , Twitter or Facebook as publishers , they would control even more content than they do now .
That ’ s true .
But it would also mean that they would lose market share to competitors who will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the moment , they benefit from their legal status as dominant , neutral platforms , while acting as biased political publishers .
If forced to make the choice , these companies may find they prefer the advantage of neutrality .
And if they don ’ t , then let them face real competition .
Jay W. Richards , Douglas Axe , and William Briggs are the authors of The Price of Panic : How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe .

In The Price of Panic, we argue that Big Tech — from social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, to video platforms (YouTube) and search engines (Google) — was the catalyst for the social contagion that has shut down the world.
Facebook and YouTube have spent the last seven months validating “official” opinion and suppressing contrary opinions even from genuine experts. The latest outrage? Twitter has blocked a tweet, and locked the account of Dr. Scott Atlas, who is an advisor to the president of the United States. Atlas is a genuine expert. He knows as much about the complexities of health policy as any of the officials lionized by social media giants. And his views are backed up by solid scientific evidence, shared by thousands of health scientists and practitioners.
Obviously, these companies have ceased to provide open platforms for debate and information. They’ve become, instead, protectors of a party line — a line they helped create. It’s time to hold them accountable.
Quashing Dissenters
Of course, general panic could have spread even if the social media platforms were neutral platforms. According to Metcalfe’s Law, the power of a network goes up in proportion to the square of the number of users. Such a network effect means that a video of an old man falling dead on a street in China can soon find itself playing on a billion smartphones — without any help.
Unfortunately, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms have worked overtime to boost the signals of experts who preach panic, while at the same time purging dissenters, like Scott Atlas, who urge caution and calm. Indeed, as we show in detail in The Price of Panic, these platforms have propped up purveyors of panic porn, experts and non-experts. And they’ve suppressed many genuine experts on the other side.
This has made the pandemic panic not just scary, but creepy.
Not a Government Takeover
Can we do anything to limit Big Tech’s perverse control over public debate? The standard libertarian response is “no.” These are private companies, so they can’t rightly be punished for censorship.
This claim doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, though. First, these companies dominate the public square. With such great power over the commons comes great responsibility.
Second, they benefit from a law that assumes they will be neutral platforms rather than publishers. Withdrawing that legal protection is not a government takeover.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Indeed, we’re highly skeptical of calls to make these platforms public utilities. This would just result in what economists call “regulatory capture.” Instead of having private companies policing speech, as we have now, we’d have public-private mongrels doing the same, only with more power.
Nor should the government break up tech companies just because they succeed in the marketplace. Network effects mean that the best networks will tend to be the biggest. Forcing networks to break up would be, in effect, to prevent them from being good networks.
Remove Regulatory Protection
Fortunately, nothing like that needs to happen.
At the moment, Facebook, Twitter, and other such companies enjoy the legal status of neutral platforms. In this way, they’re like AT&T and Verizon. They’re not responsible for third-party content, so they can’t be sued because a third party commits libel on their platform.
That would be fair if they really were neutral — if they treated posts and tweets the way Verizon and AT&T treat phone calls or text messages. But they’re not. As a result, they get to have their cake and eat it too. All because of the Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. It mandates that “no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”
Section 230 needs to be tweaked so that non-neutral services don’t benefit from its regulatory cover.
This was a good rule at the time. It allowed internet and social media companies to thrive. But Congress designed it for genuinely open platforms. Most of the current players have long since become something else. 2020 has just exposed what they’ve become. Congress should tweak Section 230 so that non-neutral services don’t benefit from its regulatory cover.
Tech companies would then have to choose: Either act like a neutral platforms by allowing anyone to post legal content or lose this legal privilege. In the latter case, government would treat them as publishers that are legally liable for what’s posted on their platforms.
One criticism of this approach is that, if government treats, say, Twitter or Facebook as publishers, they would control even more content than they do now. That’s true. But it would also mean that they would lose market share to competitors who will provide the service they refuse to provide. At the moment, they benefit from their legal status as dominant, neutral platforms, while acting as biased political publishers.
If forced to make the choice, these companies may find they prefer the advantage of neutrality. And if they don’t, then let them face real competition.
Jay W. Richards, Douglas Axe, and William Briggs are the authors of The Price of Panic: How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe.


thestream--2020-10-19--DNI Ratcliffe: ‘No Intelligence’ to Suggest Hunter Biden Emails Sourced to Russia

John Ratcliffe , the director of national intelligence , said Monday that the intelligence community does not have evidence that the release of emails from Hunter Biden ’ s purported laptop is part of a Russian intelligence operation , as Rep. Adam Schiff and other Democrats have suggested .
“ It ’ s simply not true , ” Ratcliffe said in an interview on Fox Business ’ Mornings with Maria when asked about Schiff ’ s claim .
In an interview on Friday , Schiff accused President Donald Trump of aiding Russia ’ s propaganda efforts when he touted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on emails purported to be from Biden ’ s laptop .
Rudy Giuliani , a personal lawyer for Trump , provided the alleged Biden documents to The Post .
He claims he obtained them from the owner of a computer shop in Delaware who says that Biden dropped of his computer for repair in April 2019 but never came back to get it .
Schiff and other Democrats have suggested that Russia may have been involved in either obtaining the emails or helping release them .
They have pointed to Giuliani ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year with Andrii Derkach , a Ukrainian lawmaker who the U.S. government sanctioned last month because of his ties to Russian intelligence .
“ Let me be clear , ” he said Monday , “ the intelligence community doesn ’ t believe that because there is no intelligence that supports that.
” “ We have shared no intelligence with [ Schiff ] or any other member of Congress that Hunter Biden ’ s laptop is part of a Russian disinformation campaign , ” he continued .
Ratcliffe said that he would know because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not the laptop was part of a Russian disinformation effort .
“ If it was I would know that , and it ’ s not , ” he said .
Ratcliffe then took a swipe at Schiff , saying that he is “ using the intelligence community to leverage some political narrative.
” “ Don ’ t drag intelligence community into this , ” he warned the California Democrat .
“ Hunter Biden ’ s laptop is not part of some Russian disinformation campaign , and I think it is clear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden campaign and Hunter Biden have not disputed the authenticity of any of the emails from his purported laptop that have been published so far .
They have also not denied that Biden dropped off the laptop at a computer shop last year .
Fox News reported Friday that a recipient of a Biden email in one of the Post ’ s stories confirmed its authenticity .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, said Monday that the intelligence community does not have evidence that the release of emails from Hunter Biden’s purported laptop is part of a Russian intelligence operation, as Rep. Adam Schiff and other Democrats have suggested.
“It’s simply not true,” Ratcliffe said in an interview on Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria when asked about Schiff’s claim.
In an interview on Friday, Schiff accused President Donald Trump of aiding Russia’s propaganda efforts when he touted a series of New York Post stories based on emails purported to be from Biden’s laptop.
Rudy Giuliani, a personal lawyer for Trump, provided the alleged Biden documents to The Post. He claims he obtained them from the owner of a computer shop in Delaware who says that Biden dropped of his computer for repair in April 2019 but never came back to get it.
Schiff and other Democrats have suggested that Russia may have been involved in either obtaining the emails or helping release them. They have pointed to Giuliani’s interactions late last year and earlier this year with Andrii Derkach, a Ukrainian lawmaker who the U.S. government sanctioned last month because of his ties to Russian intelligence.
Ratcliffe pushed back on Schiff’s conspiracy theory.
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“Let me be clear,” he said Monday, “the intelligence community doesn’t believe that because there is no intelligence that supports that.”
“We have shared no intelligence with [Schiff] or any other member of Congress that Hunter Biden’s laptop is part of a Russian disinformation campaign,” he continued.
Ratcliffe said that he would know because of his position as intelligence chief whether or not the laptop was part of a Russian disinformation effort.
“If it was I would know that, and it’s not,” he said.
WATCH:
Ratcliffe then took a swipe at Schiff, saying that he is “using the intelligence community to leverage some political narrative.”
“Don’t drag intelligence community into this,” he warned the California Democrat.
“Hunter Biden’s laptop is not part of some Russian disinformation campaign, and I think it is clear that the American people know that.”
The Biden campaign and Hunter Biden have not disputed the authenticity of any of the emails from his purported laptop that have been published so far. They have also not denied that Biden dropped off the laptop at a computer shop last year.
Fox News reported Friday that a recipient of a Biden email in one of the Post’s stories confirmed its authenticity.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].