The Wicomico County Council has voted to accept a federal grant award of $820,000 from the National Parks Service through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for development of the property known as "Pirate's Wharf." The grant is administered through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
"We are pleased that the County Council has voted to support this project," said Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver. "We look forward to transforming this property into a quality of life asset for County residents and visitors alike."
A work group established by the County Executive in 2017 recommended public water access, multi-use/low-impact recreational activities and maintenance of the property's natural resources as top priorities to consider in future development. The master planning process has begun and will continue over the next several months.
"The Pirate's Wharf development project supports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' mission of creating diverse outdoor recreational opportunities for Maryland citizens and visitors," said Ingrid Brofman, Natural Resources Planner at Maryland DNR. "This additional access to nature on the beautiful Wicomico River will provide residents enjoyment, along with increased health benefits from walking, kayaking and spending time outdoors."
The LWCF grant requires completion of the project within a four-year period, though County officials are hopeful the project can be completed sooner.
Questions related to the project should be directed to Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism at 410-548-4900.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Union Organizers Honored by State Communist Party
The Connecticut Communist Party honored a pair of union organizers, including an official who nearly captured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, at its annual awards ceremony.
The party presented the People's World Amistad Awards to Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman in recognition of her upstart challenge against establishment Democrat, as well as longtime union official Shellye Davis. The party described the honorees as "fierce warriors in the forefront demanding workers' and immigrant rights, social justice, peace and equality for a better and sustainable world" in an announcement. The award ceremony was held at a Methodist Church in New Haven on Dec. 8 to mark the 99th anniversary of the Communist Party USA.
More here
The party presented the People's World Amistad Awards to Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman in recognition of her upstart challenge against establishment Democrat, as well as longtime union official Shellye Davis. The party described the honorees as "fierce warriors in the forefront demanding workers' and immigrant rights, social justice, peace and equality for a better and sustainable world" in an announcement. The award ceremony was held at a Methodist Church in New Haven on Dec. 8 to mark the 99th anniversary of the Communist Party USA.
More here
Polar vortex may be on the horizon
Climate researchers are sounding the alarm on a polar vortex that’s predicted to sweep through the U.S.’ east coast later this month and inflict one of the harshest winters in years, The Washington Post reported.
Judah Cohen, a researcher from Atmospheric and Environmental Research, told the outlet his climate models indicate a vortex is likely to hit in late December or early January. A polar vortex disruption occurs when the stratosphere – where most weather occurs – suddenly warms, causing winds to decrease or change direction. The vortex will then be displaced and split apart, spilling cold air into the mid-latitudes.
“Confidence is growing in a significant PolarVortex disruption in the coming weeks. This could be the single most important determinant of the weather this winter across the Northern Hemisphere,” Cohen wrote on his blog and Twitter feed last week.
Last year a vortex that originated in Eurasia swept eastern North America, causing windstorms that lasted weeks.
“We were still feeling the impacts into the end of April,” Cohen said.
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https://www.foxnews.com/weather/polar-vortex-may-be-on-the-horizon-scientists-warn
Judah Cohen, a researcher from Atmospheric and Environmental Research, told the outlet his climate models indicate a vortex is likely to hit in late December or early January. A polar vortex disruption occurs when the stratosphere – where most weather occurs – suddenly warms, causing winds to decrease or change direction. The vortex will then be displaced and split apart, spilling cold air into the mid-latitudes.
“Confidence is growing in a significant PolarVortex disruption in the coming weeks. This could be the single most important determinant of the weather this winter across the Northern Hemisphere,” Cohen wrote on his blog and Twitter feed last week.
Last year a vortex that originated in Eurasia swept eastern North America, causing windstorms that lasted weeks.
“We were still feeling the impacts into the end of April,” Cohen said.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/weather/polar-vortex-may-be-on-the-horizon-scientists-warn
Comey Refuses to Say Whether He Leaked Classified Information
Former FBI Director James Comey refused to comment Monday when a reporter asked whether he leaked classified information to prompt the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
"My understanding is that when you shared your memos with your legal team, that there was a follow-up for a classified containment operation by the bureau. Was there a spill of classified information when you shared those memos?" Fox News correspondent Catherine Herridge asked Comey.
"I'm not going to talk about something like that," Comey responded.
"Well that's important to talk about, whether classified information was mishandled," Herridge followed up.
"Whether you think it is or not, I'm not going to talk about it one way or another," Comey said, before taking a question from another reporter.
"My understanding is that when you shared your memos with your legal team, that there was a follow-up for a classified containment operation by the bureau. Was there a spill of classified information when you shared those memos?" Fox News correspondent Catherine Herridge asked Comey.
"I'm not going to talk about something like that," Comey responded.
"Well that's important to talk about, whether classified information was mishandled," Herridge followed up.
"Whether you think it is or not, I'm not going to talk about it one way or another," Comey said, before taking a question from another reporter.
Americans Say No. 1 Problem is 'Government,' No. 2 is 'Immigration'
A new survey shows that the "top problem" cited by Americans is "government," and the second top problem is "immigration." For contrast, among the issues seen as least problematic for Americans are "unemployment-jobs" and "gun control/guns."
In the survey, conducted by Gallup after the midterm elections, the polling firm asked Americans about the country's top problems and then listed those issues that were "mentioned by at least 3% of respondents."
Nineteen percent of respondents cited "government" as the problem, making it the top issue of concern. In second place came "immigration," cited by 16% of the respondents.
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In the survey, conducted by Gallup after the midterm elections, the polling firm asked Americans about the country's top problems and then listed those issues that were "mentioned by at least 3% of respondents."
Nineteen percent of respondents cited "government" as the problem, making it the top issue of concern. In second place came "immigration," cited by 16% of the respondents.
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Sen. Jim Inhofe Has a Plan to Fund Trump’s Border Wall
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) argued on Tuesday morning that limiting benefits such as tax credits for illegal immigrants could easily result in enough funds to pay for a border wall.
President Donald Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigration ever since he began running for the presidency.
He has been most recently fought to get $5 billion to fund a security wall along the southern border. The president even threatened a government shutdown to get the funds.
Inhofe has another plan for the source of the money.
“You require a work-authorized Social Security number to claim a child tax credit, an earned income tax credit or any of the other tax credits,” Inhofe told host Laura Ingraham on “The Laura Ingraham Show.”
“Currently only the child needs a Social Security number, not the parent who actually receives the money.”
The WALL Act would fund the border wall through the money saved on limiting those programs to people in the country legally.
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[It's not 'Trump's border wall'.. it's OUR border wall. --Editor]
President Donald Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigration ever since he began running for the presidency.
He has been most recently fought to get $5 billion to fund a security wall along the southern border. The president even threatened a government shutdown to get the funds.
Inhofe has another plan for the source of the money.
“You require a work-authorized Social Security number to claim a child tax credit, an earned income tax credit or any of the other tax credits,” Inhofe told host Laura Ingraham on “The Laura Ingraham Show.”
“Currently only the child needs a Social Security number, not the parent who actually receives the money.”
The WALL Act would fund the border wall through the money saved on limiting those programs to people in the country legally.
More
[It's not 'Trump's border wall'.. it's OUR border wall. --Editor]
D.C. Moves To Decriminalize Metro Fare Evasion
WASHINGTON — Washington D.C. moves to join the likes of California, Seattle, Portland and New York next year with the decriminalization of fare evasion on its Metro trains, citing adisproportionate effect of such laws on people of color.
The legislation, which passed 11 to two in the council’s Dec. 4 meeting, was created by D.C. Councilmember Trayon White, who made headlines earlier this year when he accused Jews of controlling the weather.
“I’ve seen with my own eyes and read stories,” said White. “91 percent of citations given were issued to black people.”
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The legislation, which passed 11 to two in the council’s Dec. 4 meeting, was created by D.C. Councilmember Trayon White, who made headlines earlier this year when he accused Jews of controlling the weather.
“I’ve seen with my own eyes and read stories,” said White. “91 percent of citations given were issued to black people.”
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O'Rourke Removed From 'No Fossil Fuel Money' Pledge Following Report of Donations From Oil, Gas Execs
Rep. Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke (D., Texas) has been removed from a list of candidates who pledged to reject fossil fuel donations over $200 after it was revealed he took multiple contributions from oil and gas executives.
Oil Change USA, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., removed O'Rourke's name from a list of those who signed the pledge, according to Sludge. The pledge dictates a politician and their campaign "adopt a policy to not knowingly accept any contributions over $200 from the PACs, executives, or front groups of fossil fuel companies—companies whose primary business is the extraction, processing, distribution, or sale of oil, gas, or coal."
Sludge reported earlier this month that O'Rourke received $430,000 from individuals in the oil and gas industries. The report was later updated to note that "the O’Rourke campaign had not returned 29 ‘large donations' of over $200 from oil and gas executives," according to the most recent campaign finance report.
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Oil Change USA, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., removed O'Rourke's name from a list of those who signed the pledge, according to Sludge. The pledge dictates a politician and their campaign "adopt a policy to not knowingly accept any contributions over $200 from the PACs, executives, or front groups of fossil fuel companies—companies whose primary business is the extraction, processing, distribution, or sale of oil, gas, or coal."
Sludge reported earlier this month that O'Rourke received $430,000 from individuals in the oil and gas industries. The report was later updated to note that "the O’Rourke campaign had not returned 29 ‘large donations' of over $200 from oil and gas executives," according to the most recent campaign finance report.
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FBI Memo Raises New Questions About Timing Of Andrew McCabe’s Firing
The FBI’s top internal affairs official told bureau leaders that it was “unlikely” that a final decision would be made on whether then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe could be fired before his March 18 retirement date, according to documents released Tuesday.
But that assessment, which was laid out in the documents, ended up being wrong. McCabe was fired two days before retirement for a “lack of candor” with investigators probing leaks that McCabe authorized to the press.
The memo, sent by Candice Will, the head of the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), to FBI Director Christopher Wray and current Deputy Director David Bowdich, raises questions about whether the FBI and Justice Department sped up the investigation of McCabe in order to fire him before his scheduled retirement.
McCabe and his attorneys have argued that the FBI and Justice Department caved to pressure from President Donald Trump, who called for McCabe to be fired and stripped of his pension for various alleged misdeeds. Trump cited political donations from a top Hillary Clinton ally to McCabe’s wife’s political campaign for Virginia state Senate.
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But that assessment, which was laid out in the documents, ended up being wrong. McCabe was fired two days before retirement for a “lack of candor” with investigators probing leaks that McCabe authorized to the press.
The memo, sent by Candice Will, the head of the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), to FBI Director Christopher Wray and current Deputy Director David Bowdich, raises questions about whether the FBI and Justice Department sped up the investigation of McCabe in order to fire him before his scheduled retirement.
McCabe and his attorneys have argued that the FBI and Justice Department caved to pressure from President Donald Trump, who called for McCabe to be fired and stripped of his pension for various alleged misdeeds. Trump cited political donations from a top Hillary Clinton ally to McCabe’s wife’s political campaign for Virginia state Senate.
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Forbes Reporter Uses 3D-Printed Head; Fools Facial Recognition Security On Phones
A cybersecurity reporter and his team at Forbes used a 3D printer to replicate his head and subsequently unlocked several smartphone brands that offer facial recognition security features. Facial recognition, and fingerprint and iris detection, are known as “biometric” tools.
Reporter Thomas Brewster writes that he and his team used a “spoof face” to successfully unlock four Android devices, “an LG G7 ThinQ, a Samsung S9, a Samsung Note 8 and a OnePlus 6.” Brewster adds that an iPhone X was never fooled by the facsimile of his face.
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Reporter Thomas Brewster writes that he and his team used a “spoof face” to successfully unlock four Android devices, “an LG G7 ThinQ, a Samsung S9, a Samsung Note 8 and a OnePlus 6.” Brewster adds that an iPhone X was never fooled by the facsimile of his face.
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Sentencing Delayed In Michael Flynn Case After Judge Blasts Ex-National Security Adviser
Michael Flynn’s sentencing in the special counsel’s case was delayed for 90 days on Tuesday during a hearing that saw the judge handling the case question whether the former national security adviser committed treason against the U.S.
Flynn’s lawyer, Robert Kelner, took Judge Emmet Sullivan up on an offer to delay sentencing until the retired lieutenant general finishes his cooperation with prosecutors handling other criminal investigations.
The delay comes as a surprise since Flynn’s team appeared poised to go through with sentencing at the beginning of Tuesday’s hearing. The special counsel’s office had recommended that Flynn be sentenced to the low-end of a zero to six month sentencing guideline because of his “substantial cooperation” with prosecutors.
But those plans seemingly went awry after Sullivan lambasted Flynn for lying to the FBI and for working as an unregistered foreign agent of Turkey.
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Flynn’s lawyer, Robert Kelner, took Judge Emmet Sullivan up on an offer to delay sentencing until the retired lieutenant general finishes his cooperation with prosecutors handling other criminal investigations.
The delay comes as a surprise since Flynn’s team appeared poised to go through with sentencing at the beginning of Tuesday’s hearing. The special counsel’s office had recommended that Flynn be sentenced to the low-end of a zero to six month sentencing guideline because of his “substantial cooperation” with prosecutors.
But those plans seemingly went awry after Sullivan lambasted Flynn for lying to the FBI and for working as an unregistered foreign agent of Turkey.
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Jordan Candler: Google's BIG Lie: 'Without Political Bias'
The search giant's CEO claims there's nothing to see here. History says he's wrong.
It’s no secret that Google has already crossed “The Creepy Line.” A lot of sketchy conduct is happening behind the scenes, which implicates not just consumers and privacy but also politics and policy. Not that the tech giant will admit to such deleterious behavior, of course.
This week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai faced the House Judiciary Committee, where he laughably asserted, “I lead this company without political bias and work to ensure that our products continue to operate that way. To do otherwise would go against our core principles and our business interests.”
Actually, to do otherwise would reinforce Google’s core principles, and that’s exactly what the company has done. Last year, our Thomas Gallatin reported, “Robert Epstein of the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology … ran an experiment to determine just how biased toward leftist politics were the nation’s leading social media giants. … Epstein found that Google searches returned twice as many pro-Hillary Clinton news articles as did Yahoo. Even more disturbing was Google’s targeting tactic. Men in blue states saw more than double the pro-Clinton articles than did women in red states.”
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It’s no secret that Google has already crossed “The Creepy Line.” A lot of sketchy conduct is happening behind the scenes, which implicates not just consumers and privacy but also politics and policy. Not that the tech giant will admit to such deleterious behavior, of course.
This week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai faced the House Judiciary Committee, where he laughably asserted, “I lead this company without political bias and work to ensure that our products continue to operate that way. To do otherwise would go against our core principles and our business interests.”
Actually, to do otherwise would reinforce Google’s core principles, and that’s exactly what the company has done. Last year, our Thomas Gallatin reported, “Robert Epstein of the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology … ran an experiment to determine just how biased toward leftist politics were the nation’s leading social media giants. … Epstein found that Google searches returned twice as many pro-Hillary Clinton news articles as did Yahoo. Even more disturbing was Google’s targeting tactic. Men in blue states saw more than double the pro-Clinton articles than did women in red states.”
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Report: 70,000 Gang Members Across State of Georgia Include Children, Correctional Officers
Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta reports that Georgia investigators believe there are more than 70,000 gang members across the entire state that are able to remain active by infiltrating the prison system and recruiting correctional officers who then assist in the respective gang's bidding. These gangs also grow by targeting children as young as nine years old via the internet.
Channel 2's Mark Winnie attended the second annual Georgia Anti-Gang Network meeting this past week and spoke with several investigators.
Via Channel 2:
"Across the state, how many investigations do you have going on involving the corruption of corrections officers by gangs?” Winne asked Georgia Department of Correction Director Clay Nix.
“Numerous,” Nix answered.
Nix said Georgia’s prison system is not only battling against inmates who are in gangs, but also corrections officers, who are recruited after hiring.
“Also, they reach out to other gang members who have no criminal record and encourage them to come to work for us,” Nix said.
“That’s happened?” Winne asked Nix.
“It has. Several times in the past,” Nix said.
Nix, continued, elaborating how these gangs are able to control contraband distribution in and out of the prison system via these embedded correctional officers. Nix showed Winne "pictures of a haul of suspected gang-related contraband that consisted of 61 homemade weapons, cell phones, suspected cocaine, suspected meth and marijuana." These illegal substances were taken just hours before the meeting began,
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Channel 2's Mark Winnie attended the second annual Georgia Anti-Gang Network meeting this past week and spoke with several investigators.
Via Channel 2:
"Across the state, how many investigations do you have going on involving the corruption of corrections officers by gangs?” Winne asked Georgia Department of Correction Director Clay Nix.
“Numerous,” Nix answered.
Nix said Georgia’s prison system is not only battling against inmates who are in gangs, but also corrections officers, who are recruited after hiring.
“Also, they reach out to other gang members who have no criminal record and encourage them to come to work for us,” Nix said.
“That’s happened?” Winne asked Nix.
“It has. Several times in the past,” Nix said.
Nix, continued, elaborating how these gangs are able to control contraband distribution in and out of the prison system via these embedded correctional officers. Nix showed Winne "pictures of a haul of suspected gang-related contraband that consisted of 61 homemade weapons, cell phones, suspected cocaine, suspected meth and marijuana." These illegal substances were taken just hours before the meeting began,
More
Hungary's Fidesz Party Blames Socialists, Soros For Violent Street Protests
After police arrested dozens of demonstrators who tried to storm the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest earlier this week, the country’s ruling Fidesz Party has blamed socialist lawmakers and liberal billionaire George Soros - whose "Open Society Foundation" was recently driven out of the country by a series of laws penalizing foreign interlopers in Hungarian politics - for stoking civil unrest in response to reforms to labor laws and the country’s judiciary that were recently passed by parliament.
Since the laws passed Parliament on Tuesday despite opposition lawmakers’ attempts to stymie the vote with harassment tactics (one lawmaker even blocked the speaker’s podium in an attempt to stop the vote), police in Budapest have struggled to repel large crowds of demonstrators. Some of the protesters have even put on masks despite organizers of the demonstration asking participants not to cover their face.
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Since the laws passed Parliament on Tuesday despite opposition lawmakers’ attempts to stymie the vote with harassment tactics (one lawmaker even blocked the speaker’s podium in an attempt to stop the vote), police in Budapest have struggled to repel large crowds of demonstrators. Some of the protesters have even put on masks despite organizers of the demonstration asking participants not to cover their face.
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NANCY? Pelosi suffers multiple brain freezes during short appearance
The likely next Speaker of the House — and second in line to the presidency — suffered several brain freezes during a brief 18-minute appearance before reporters today
Numerous times during the press conference, she awkwardly paused, staring at reporters, groping for words.
“… it is a bill that, uh,” she said early on, her eye spasming, “is much needed for our farmers and ranchers,” she continued, suffering a jaw problem, forcing her to repeat “ranchers.”
Moments later, Pelosi said, “I think we only had 47 votes against it in— yeah,” pausing, adding, “in the House of Representatives.”
No reporters in the room apparently aren’t ever alarmed by Pelosi’s behavior, as none of them report on it.
More/Video
Numerous times during the press conference, she awkwardly paused, staring at reporters, groping for words.
“… it is a bill that, uh,” she said early on, her eye spasming, “is much needed for our farmers and ranchers,” she continued, suffering a jaw problem, forcing her to repeat “ranchers.”
Moments later, Pelosi said, “I think we only had 47 votes against it in— yeah,” pausing, adding, “in the House of Representatives.”
No reporters in the room apparently aren’t ever alarmed by Pelosi’s behavior, as none of them report on it.
More/Video
Democrats Emerge From Election As Party of the Rich
Maybe it’s time to rebrand the Democrats as the party of the rich.
This month saw the election of Jay Robert “J.B.” Pritzker as governor of Illinois. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, is worth an estimated $3.2 billion, and spent $171.5 million to get himself elected, according to Money magazine.
Another winner was Edward M. “Ned” Lamont Jr., in the Connecticut governor’s race. Lamont, an heir to the J.P. Morgan banking fortune of his great-grandfather Thomas Lamont, estimated hisassets in 2006 at between $90 million and $300 million, and showed reporters tax returns last month with income totaling $18 million over five years.
The winner of the election for governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, filed financial disclosure forms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives indicating estimated wealth of more than $300 million.
Pritzker, Lamont, and Polis are all Democrats.
The Democratic Party’s list of possible presidential contenders for 2020 includes Michael Bloomberg, whose fortune is estimated by Forbes at about $47 billion. A declared presidential candidate is a Democratic congressman from Maryland, John Delaney, who is worth an estimated $90 million. John Forbes Kerry might have another go at it, having recently acquired an $11.75 million, 18.75-acre property on Martha’s Vineyard to go with his $10 million house on Boston’s Louisburg Square.
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This month saw the election of Jay Robert “J.B.” Pritzker as governor of Illinois. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, is worth an estimated $3.2 billion, and spent $171.5 million to get himself elected, according to Money magazine.
Another winner was Edward M. “Ned” Lamont Jr., in the Connecticut governor’s race. Lamont, an heir to the J.P. Morgan banking fortune of his great-grandfather Thomas Lamont, estimated hisassets in 2006 at between $90 million and $300 million, and showed reporters tax returns last month with income totaling $18 million over five years.
The winner of the election for governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, filed financial disclosure forms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives indicating estimated wealth of more than $300 million.
Pritzker, Lamont, and Polis are all Democrats.
The Democratic Party’s list of possible presidential contenders for 2020 includes Michael Bloomberg, whose fortune is estimated by Forbes at about $47 billion. A declared presidential candidate is a Democratic congressman from Maryland, John Delaney, who is worth an estimated $90 million. John Forbes Kerry might have another go at it, having recently acquired an $11.75 million, 18.75-acre property on Martha’s Vineyard to go with his $10 million house on Boston’s Louisburg Square.
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Debunking 3 Big Media Myths About Trump Border Enforcement
The mainstream media and Democrats have criticized the Trump administration’s response to the migrant caravans storming the nation’s southern border.
However, many of the critiques either don’t provide full context or are factually incorrect, based on information released Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security.
Here are three narratives that the Department of Homeland Security is pushing back against:
1. Separating Myth From Fact on Child Separation
The long-running narrative has been that Border Patrol officials are separating children from parents. However, that doesn’t take into account fraudulent families, DHS spokeswoman Katie Waldman noted in a statement.
From April 19 to Sept. 30, the government separated a total of 507 illegal immigrants within “family units” that weren’t legitimate, meaning the adults were not parents or guardians of the children, Waldman said.
A total of 170 family units were separated based on lack of family relation, she said, including 197 adults and 139 juveniles. Another 87 family units, including 171 adults, were separated based on a child determined to be over 18.
The Rio Grande Valley in Texas had the highest number of reported fraudulent cases.
“In response to the misreporting from multiple outlets, I wanted to highlight the rampant fraud taking place at our Southern border,” Waldman said in the statement. “Aliens know that if they bring any minor with them, they will be apprehended by Border Patrol and released into the interior of the United States.”
More
However, many of the critiques either don’t provide full context or are factually incorrect, based on information released Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security.
Here are three narratives that the Department of Homeland Security is pushing back against:
1. Separating Myth From Fact on Child Separation
The long-running narrative has been that Border Patrol officials are separating children from parents. However, that doesn’t take into account fraudulent families, DHS spokeswoman Katie Waldman noted in a statement.
From April 19 to Sept. 30, the government separated a total of 507 illegal immigrants within “family units” that weren’t legitimate, meaning the adults were not parents or guardians of the children, Waldman said.
A total of 170 family units were separated based on lack of family relation, she said, including 197 adults and 139 juveniles. Another 87 family units, including 171 adults, were separated based on a child determined to be over 18.
The Rio Grande Valley in Texas had the highest number of reported fraudulent cases.
“In response to the misreporting from multiple outlets, I wanted to highlight the rampant fraud taking place at our Southern border,” Waldman said in the statement. “Aliens know that if they bring any minor with them, they will be apprehended by Border Patrol and released into the interior of the United States.”
More
SCOTUS Weighs Limits on Police Seizure of Property
Timbs v. Indiana could open floodgates of asset forfeiture cases
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case which could have a profound impact on the ability of states to seize the property of ordinary citizens.
The case, Timbs v. Indiana, is expected by some court watchers to continue the court's steely-eyed suspicion of state laws that concern the seizing of property allegedly associated with criminal activity.
Directly at issue in the case is whether or not the state of Indiana was justified in seizing plaintiff Tyson Timbs's 2012 Land Rover. Timbs, who has a history of opioid abuse, used the car several times in the process of selling heroin to undercover narcotics officers in Indiana. The third time he attempted such a sale, he was pulled over and arrested. The Land Rover, which contained no drugs and was worth some $31,000, was seized.
Timbs plead guilty, and was given a year of home detention and five years' probation. Separately, the state sought to forfeit Timbs's car to itself. A lower court found that "while the negative impact on our society of trafficking in illegal drugs is substantial, a forfeiture of approximately four (4) times the maximum monetary fine is disproportional to [Petitioner's] illegal conduct."
As such, that court concluded that the forfeiture violated the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits "excessive fines." The state appealed that decision to the Indiana Supreme Court, which rejected it on the grounds that the Supreme Court "has never held that the States are subject to the Excessive Fines Clause."
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The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case which could have a profound impact on the ability of states to seize the property of ordinary citizens.
The case, Timbs v. Indiana, is expected by some court watchers to continue the court's steely-eyed suspicion of state laws that concern the seizing of property allegedly associated with criminal activity.
Directly at issue in the case is whether or not the state of Indiana was justified in seizing plaintiff Tyson Timbs's 2012 Land Rover. Timbs, who has a history of opioid abuse, used the car several times in the process of selling heroin to undercover narcotics officers in Indiana. The third time he attempted such a sale, he was pulled over and arrested. The Land Rover, which contained no drugs and was worth some $31,000, was seized.
Timbs plead guilty, and was given a year of home detention and five years' probation. Separately, the state sought to forfeit Timbs's car to itself. A lower court found that "while the negative impact on our society of trafficking in illegal drugs is substantial, a forfeiture of approximately four (4) times the maximum monetary fine is disproportional to [Petitioner's] illegal conduct."
As such, that court concluded that the forfeiture violated the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits "excessive fines." The state appealed that decision to the Indiana Supreme Court, which rejected it on the grounds that the Supreme Court "has never held that the States are subject to the Excessive Fines Clause."
More
“Between 6,000 and 10,000 churches in the U.S. are dying each year” – and that means that over 100 will die this week
Any institution needs resources in order to survive, and churches are not any different
America is littered with thousands upon thousands of church buildings that aren’t being used anymore.
As you will see below, between 6,000 and 10,000 churches are dying in the United States every single year, and that means that more than 100 will die this week alone. And of course thousands of others are on life support. All over the country this weekend, small handfuls of people will gather in huge buildings which once boasted very large congregations. At one time, America was widely considered to be “a Christian nation”, but that really isn’t true anymore. Asan excellent article in The Atlantic has noted, even though most Americans still consider themselves to be “Christian”, the numbers are telling us a very different story…
Many of our nation’s churches can no longer afford to maintain their structures—6,000 to 10,000 churches die each year in America—and that number will likely grow. Though more than 70 percent of our citizens still claim to be Christian, congregational participation is less central to many Americans’ faith than it once was. Most denominations are declining as a share of the overall population, and donations to congregations have been falling for decades. Meanwhile, religiously unaffiliated Americans, nicknamed the “nones,” are growing as a share of the U.S. population.
In fact, the “nones” have risen from just 6 percent of the population in 1991 to 25 percent today. That makes them the single largest “religious group” in the United States.
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America is littered with thousands upon thousands of church buildings that aren’t being used anymore.
As you will see below, between 6,000 and 10,000 churches are dying in the United States every single year, and that means that more than 100 will die this week alone. And of course thousands of others are on life support. All over the country this weekend, small handfuls of people will gather in huge buildings which once boasted very large congregations. At one time, America was widely considered to be “a Christian nation”, but that really isn’t true anymore. Asan excellent article in The Atlantic has noted, even though most Americans still consider themselves to be “Christian”, the numbers are telling us a very different story…
Many of our nation’s churches can no longer afford to maintain their structures—6,000 to 10,000 churches die each year in America—and that number will likely grow. Though more than 70 percent of our citizens still claim to be Christian, congregational participation is less central to many Americans’ faith than it once was. Most denominations are declining as a share of the overall population, and donations to congregations have been falling for decades. Meanwhile, religiously unaffiliated Americans, nicknamed the “nones,” are growing as a share of the U.S. population.
In fact, the “nones” have risen from just 6 percent of the population in 1991 to 25 percent today. That makes them the single largest “religious group” in the United States.
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Ocean City Elementary Dismissing School For Today
UPDATE: Due to the colder temperatures, students will be moved inside into a cleared part of the building. Pick up for these students will be on the east side of the building. Parents/guardians MUST bring a photo ID to pick up.
The 'Likely False' Dossier and Other Collusion Fairytales
Fast-forward two long years swamped with investigations and Democrat efforts to undermine Americans’ faith in our election integrity, and Isikoff now says many of the claims in the dossier “will never be proven and are likely false.” But why worry about facts when there’s an elected president to undermine? After all, Isikoff still insists the dossier author, Christopher Steele, “was clearly onto something” regarding “a major Kremlin effort to interfere in our elections” and help Trump.
That latter point brings us to the latest story from The Washington Post:
Read more here
How Liberal Policy Keeps Black Kids From Succeeding
What do you think of the proposition that no black youngsters should be saved from educational rot until all can be saved?
Black people cannot afford to accept such a proposition. Actions by the education establishment, black and white liberal politicians, and some civil rights organizations appear to support the proposition.
Let’s look at it with the help of some data developed by my friend and colleague Thomas Sowell.
The Nation’s Report Card for 2017 showed the following reading scores for fourth-graders in New York state’s public schools: Thirty-two percent scored below basic, with 32 percent scoring basic, 27 percent scoring proficient, and 9 percent scoring advanced. When it came to black fourth-graders in the state, 19 percent scored proficient, and 3 percent scored advanced.
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Black people cannot afford to accept such a proposition. Actions by the education establishment, black and white liberal politicians, and some civil rights organizations appear to support the proposition.
Let’s look at it with the help of some data developed by my friend and colleague Thomas Sowell.
The Nation’s Report Card for 2017 showed the following reading scores for fourth-graders in New York state’s public schools: Thirty-two percent scored below basic, with 32 percent scoring basic, 27 percent scoring proficient, and 9 percent scoring advanced. When it came to black fourth-graders in the state, 19 percent scored proficient, and 3 percent scored advanced.
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Federal Judicial Vacancies Getting Worse
There are currently 126 vacancies in U.S. district courts and the 13 U.S. Courts of Appeals. Back in July 2016, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) warned of a “vacancy crisis,” and yet thanks to the partisan obstructionist tactics of his party, that crisis has now increased by 52%. The Daily Signal notes, “We’re in the longest period of triple-digit vacancies in 25 years.”
We have repeatedly exposed the Democrats’ obstructionist tactics as they have sought to prevent President Donald Trump from filling as many of these judicial vacancies as possible. However, as this lame-duck session of the Senate comes to a close, it has been a Republican who is most to blame.
Departing Sen. Jeff Flake (AZ) has made the obstruction of Trump’s judicial nominees his lasting legacy.
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We have repeatedly exposed the Democrats’ obstructionist tactics as they have sought to prevent President Donald Trump from filling as many of these judicial vacancies as possible. However, as this lame-duck session of the Senate comes to a close, it has been a Republican who is most to blame.
Departing Sen. Jeff Flake (AZ) has made the obstruction of Trump’s judicial nominees his lasting legacy.
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Fire At Ocean City Elementary School
Abortion in US Reaches Lowest Level on Record, Report Finds
The pro-life movement had a good year in 2015: Fewer American women reported having abortions than at any other time since abortion was legalized in the U.S., according to a new government report.
Using the most recent data available, the abortion surveillance report published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 638,169 abortions were reported in 2015, a 2 percent drop from the 652,639 abortions reported in 2014.
“This is welcome news. Medicine and technology continue to shape how we view children in the womb and underscores their undeniable humanity,” Melanie Israel, a research associate in the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal.
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Using the most recent data available, the abortion surveillance report published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 638,169 abortions were reported in 2015, a 2 percent drop from the 652,639 abortions reported in 2014.
“This is welcome news. Medicine and technology continue to shape how we view children in the womb and underscores their undeniable humanity,” Melanie Israel, a research associate in the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal.
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UK School District: “Boys” Can Also Have Menstrual Periods
In a move one member of Parliament has called “insanity,” schools in Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England will now teach elementary-age students that menstruation is not “gender-specific.”
This follows the institution of the Red Boxes program, which will provide “period products” for children in all schools. The Red Boxes program is a “national voluntary organization” specifically aimed at addressing “period poverty,” or the inability of some girls due to limited financial resources to acquire things like tampons and absorptive pads needed to manage menstruation.
The measures were approved December 3 by the “Neighbourhoods, Inclusion Communities & Equalities Committee” – or NICE – of the Brighton & Hove City Council.
According to the NICE guidelines available online, schools are to speak in an inclusive manner to all students about periods or menstrual cycles.
The guidelines include these statements:
This follows the institution of the Red Boxes program, which will provide “period products” for children in all schools. The Red Boxes program is a “national voluntary organization” specifically aimed at addressing “period poverty,” or the inability of some girls due to limited financial resources to acquire things like tampons and absorptive pads needed to manage menstruation.
The measures were approved December 3 by the “Neighbourhoods, Inclusion Communities & Equalities Committee” – or NICE – of the Brighton & Hove City Council.
According to the NICE guidelines available online, schools are to speak in an inclusive manner to all students about periods or menstrual cycles.
The guidelines include these statements:
“Language and learning about periods is inclusive of all genders, cultures, faiths and sexual orientations. For example; ‘girls and women and others who have periods.’”
“Trans boys and men and non-binary people may have periods.”
“Periods are something to celebrate and we can see this in ceremonies and celebrations across the world.”
Not Yet Been Taught To Read
“Research has determined that dyslexia and other reading disabilities stem from a core deficit in phonological awareness, a skill that is needed to associate spoken words with written language.” Spalding Reading International
The underlying meaning of the term ‘dyslexia’is almost always “has not yet been taught to read. Traditionally, such poor readers were referred to simply as “bad readers.” It is time for educators to accurately define this overused term so that parents better understand the problems that their children are facing, and make better decisions even if those mean removing children from schools that fail to teach reading to enroll them in schools where full literacy is considered the achievable goal. Spalding Reading International defines the core deficit of such readers asphonological awareness. It is time that all schools employ teachers who know how to teach all children the skills for phonological awareness, then teach all children to read by teaching them to accurately use the complete system of phonics for both receptive and expressive literacy. Phonics is, and always has been, the code in which English speech is recorded for later reading. It is time to let both the students and their parents in on that secret.
When it became obvious, even to those outside the realm of schooling, that teachers, were failing to teach children to read using the See & Say Method with its Dick & Jane typebooks,, damage control became necessary. By bringing into use the term dyslexia,educators were provided with the means to transfer their own failures onto parents, genetics, birth defects, family dynamics, birth order, housing, neighborhoods, income levels, –anything but—the true reason that children were no longer learning to read.
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The underlying meaning of the term ‘dyslexia’is almost always “has not yet been taught to read. Traditionally, such poor readers were referred to simply as “bad readers.” It is time for educators to accurately define this overused term so that parents better understand the problems that their children are facing, and make better decisions even if those mean removing children from schools that fail to teach reading to enroll them in schools where full literacy is considered the achievable goal. Spalding Reading International defines the core deficit of such readers asphonological awareness. It is time that all schools employ teachers who know how to teach all children the skills for phonological awareness, then teach all children to read by teaching them to accurately use the complete system of phonics for both receptive and expressive literacy. Phonics is, and always has been, the code in which English speech is recorded for later reading. It is time to let both the students and their parents in on that secret.
When it became obvious, even to those outside the realm of schooling, that teachers, were failing to teach children to read using the See & Say Method with its Dick & Jane typebooks,, damage control became necessary. By bringing into use the term dyslexia,educators were provided with the means to transfer their own failures onto parents, genetics, birth defects, family dynamics, birth order, housing, neighborhoods, income levels, –anything but—the true reason that children were no longer learning to read.
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Donald Trump School Safety Report Recommends Trained and Armed School Personnel
President Donald Trump’s school safety commission recommends that schools train and arm personnel to help prevent mass shootings, White House officials previewed on Tuesday.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos briefed reporters on the contents of the report prior to the release.
The report urges school districts and states to partner with local law enforcement in the training and arming of local school personnel.
White House administration officials stressed to reporters that the report recommended that only “highly-trained school personnel” should have access to weapons.
They recommended that schools could benefit from some mentors, custodial staff, administrators and in some cases teachers, have access to weapons.
Devos recommended that military veterans and retired law enforcement officers be hired at schools.
“This report concludes that students would benefit from more veterans and retired law enforcement officers leveraging their knowledge and experience to serve in a variety of school roles,” DeVos.
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Education Secretary Betsy DeVos briefed reporters on the contents of the report prior to the release.
The report urges school districts and states to partner with local law enforcement in the training and arming of local school personnel.
White House administration officials stressed to reporters that the report recommended that only “highly-trained school personnel” should have access to weapons.
They recommended that schools could benefit from some mentors, custodial staff, administrators and in some cases teachers, have access to weapons.
Devos recommended that military veterans and retired law enforcement officers be hired at schools.
“This report concludes that students would benefit from more veterans and retired law enforcement officers leveraging their knowledge and experience to serve in a variety of school roles,” DeVos.
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Judicial Watch: Documents Reveal Obama State Department Urgently Provided Classified ‘Russiagate’ Documents to Multiple Senators Immediately Ahead of Trump Inauguration
The documents reveal the Obama State Department urgently gathering classified Russia investigation information and disseminating it to members of Congress within hours of Donald Trump taking office
Judicial Watch today released two sets of heavily redacted State Department documents, 38 pages and 48 pages, showing classified information was researched and disseminated to multiple U.S. Senators by the Obama administration immediately prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The documents reveal that among those receiving the classified documents were Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Sen. Robert Corker (R-TN).
Judicial Watch obtained the documents through a June 2018 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed against the State Department after it failed to respond to a February 2018 request seeking records of the Obama State Department’s last-minute efforts to share classified information about Russia election interference issues with Democratic Senator Ben Cardin (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:18-cv-01381)).
The documents reveal the Obama State Department urgently gathering classified Russia investigation information and disseminating it to members of Congress within hours of Donald Trump taking office.
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Judicial Watch today released two sets of heavily redacted State Department documents, 38 pages and 48 pages, showing classified information was researched and disseminated to multiple U.S. Senators by the Obama administration immediately prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The documents reveal that among those receiving the classified documents were Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Sen. Robert Corker (R-TN).
Judicial Watch obtained the documents through a June 2018 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed against the State Department after it failed to respond to a February 2018 request seeking records of the Obama State Department’s last-minute efforts to share classified information about Russia election interference issues with Democratic Senator Ben Cardin (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:18-cv-01381)).
The documents reveal the Obama State Department urgently gathering classified Russia investigation information and disseminating it to members of Congress within hours of Donald Trump taking office.
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Subject: "Sellers Have Gotten Greedy": Metro NY Leads Nationwide Trend Of Tumbling Housing Prices
The signs of a housing slowdown are starting to reach across New York City and the metro area. For instance, a newBloomberg article talks about a home in Long Island that recently sat idly on the market until its taxes and its price were both moved lower. As we have already written about earlier this year, buyers in places like Connecticut are looking to rent houses – sometimes even for $10,000 a month – before buying them. Real estate brokers in the metro area and places like Hoboken are noticing business slow down.
Greg Heym, chief economist of Terra Holdings, told Bloomberg:
“Brokers ask me, ‘When is it going to get better? ‘Better’ for this market, in this area, is lower prices.”
It doesn’t matter whether it’s high-rises in the city or homes in the suburbs: years of price appreciation, combined with caps on property tax deductions and rising rates are all guiding prices lower and slowing the market down.
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Greg Heym, chief economist of Terra Holdings, told Bloomberg:
“Brokers ask me, ‘When is it going to get better? ‘Better’ for this market, in this area, is lower prices.”
It doesn’t matter whether it’s high-rises in the city or homes in the suburbs: years of price appreciation, combined with caps on property tax deductions and rising rates are all guiding prices lower and slowing the market down.
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More Than 150 People Are Moving Out Of Chicago Every Day
With its nation-leading murder rate, lake-effect weather and endemic corruption and financial mismanagement, who really wants to live in Chicago? Well, the data is in, and as Mayor Rahm Emmanuel prepares to hand power to a new administration next year, his legacy - already marred by the above-mentioned scourges - has accrued another ignominious distinction. According to Census data analyzed by Bloomberg, Chicago experienced the highest daily net migration in the US, losing 156 residents a day (strictly due to migration, not murder) a day in 2017.
After Chicago, Los Angeles came second with 128, followed by New York with 132.
On the other side of that coin were cities across the US sun belt, like Dallas (No. 1, with 246 net incoming), followed by Phoenix (with 174) and Atlanta (No. 3 with 147).
In terms of total net migration for the year, the tallies differed only slightly. While the sun belt was the biggest beneficiary of Americans' growing preference for sunnier weather, lower rents and plentiful job opportunities...
Dallas was the greatest beneficiary of this domestic migration, adding nearly 59,000 domestic movers in 2017, followed by Phoenix (51,000) and Tampa (41,000), which serve as anchors for the western and southern regions that got the bulk of the gains.
...some of America's largest cities saw net outflows as rising rents, crumbling (or inadequate) public infrastructure. The city with the biggest outflow was NYC, followed by Los Angeles and - in third place - beautiful Bridgeport, Conn.
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After Chicago, Los Angeles came second with 128, followed by New York with 132.
On the other side of that coin were cities across the US sun belt, like Dallas (No. 1, with 246 net incoming), followed by Phoenix (with 174) and Atlanta (No. 3 with 147).
In terms of total net migration for the year, the tallies differed only slightly. While the sun belt was the biggest beneficiary of Americans' growing preference for sunnier weather, lower rents and plentiful job opportunities...
Dallas was the greatest beneficiary of this domestic migration, adding nearly 59,000 domestic movers in 2017, followed by Phoenix (51,000) and Tampa (41,000), which serve as anchors for the western and southern regions that got the bulk of the gains.
...some of America's largest cities saw net outflows as rising rents, crumbling (or inadequate) public infrastructure. The city with the biggest outflow was NYC, followed by Los Angeles and - in third place - beautiful Bridgeport, Conn.
More
GOP operatives in key states warn Trump 2020 is slow out of the gate
President Trump’s re-election campaign has yet to place staff in key states, with some Republicans anxious that the plodding pace of hiring for 2020 could squander the advantages of incumbency.
Republican operatives in a half-dozen states critical to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence winning a second term say they have seen few signs of life from the re-election campaign. With the eventual Democratic nominee sure to be mired in a competitive and possibly lengthy primary, some GOP insiders fret that Trump-Pence could miss an opportunity to enter the general election better organized and more prepared to compete.
“We just came through a tough general election here in Pennsylvania and there hasn’t been a lot of focus on 2020 yet. There’s clearly some concern,” said Charlie Gerow, a veteran Republican consultant in a state crucial to Trump’s fortunes. “It’s going to be difficult for President Trump to repeat here, but it’s clearly doable. To beat the odds, as he did in 2016, the campaign will have to have a strong ground game.”
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Republican operatives in a half-dozen states critical to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence winning a second term say they have seen few signs of life from the re-election campaign. With the eventual Democratic nominee sure to be mired in a competitive and possibly lengthy primary, some GOP insiders fret that Trump-Pence could miss an opportunity to enter the general election better organized and more prepared to compete.
“We just came through a tough general election here in Pennsylvania and there hasn’t been a lot of focus on 2020 yet. There’s clearly some concern,” said Charlie Gerow, a veteran Republican consultant in a state crucial to Trump’s fortunes. “It’s going to be difficult for President Trump to repeat here, but it’s clearly doable. To beat the odds, as he did in 2016, the campaign will have to have a strong ground game.”
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Facebook Blocks Christmas Ads from ‘Christ Centered Gamer’
Facebook recently refused to run Christmas buying guide advertisements from Christian gaming review website “Christ Centered Gamer,” a decision the social media giant told Breitbart News was an “error,” but the company has made no move to reverse the decision and has not contacted Christ Centered Gamer since.
Popular Christian video game review website Christ Centered Gamer ran into issues when attempting to advertise on Facebook recently when the social media platform refused to publish their advertisement. Christ Centered Gamer (CCG) publishes a yearly Christmas buying guide, listing some of the most fun and family-friendly games for Christian parents to purchase. The website attempted to run an advertisement on Facebook to promote its buying guide but the ad was refused by Mark Zuckerberg’s platform, the second largest digital advertiser in the world.
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Popular Christian video game review website Christ Centered Gamer ran into issues when attempting to advertise on Facebook recently when the social media platform refused to publish their advertisement. Christ Centered Gamer (CCG) publishes a yearly Christmas buying guide, listing some of the most fun and family-friendly games for Christian parents to purchase. The website attempted to run an advertisement on Facebook to promote its buying guide but the ad was refused by Mark Zuckerberg’s platform, the second largest digital advertiser in the world.
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New Legislation Will Force Creepy Sex-Hungry Lawmakers to Pay Off Sexual Misconduct Claims From Their Own Pocket!
US lawmakers will no longer be able to force American taxpayers to cover the costs of their sexual misconduct claims.
The Senate and US House passed a voice vote on Thursday to force sex-hungry lawmakers to pay for their own misconduct claims.
For years this taxpayers were forced to pay the fines.
More than $17 million was paid out in settlements between 1997 and 2017 in over 250 settlements
But will the DC elites they make the list public?
The Epoch Times reported:
Members of Congress will have to pay out of pocket to settle sexual misconduct claims under legislation that Congress passed this week.
Lawmakers could previously use public funds to settle the claims.
The House of Representatives and the Senate approved the bipartisan measure on a voice vote on Dec. 13.
“Time is finally up for members of Congress who think that they can sexually harass and get away with it. They will no longer be able to slink away with no one knowing that they have harassed. … They will pay back the U.S. Treasury,” one of the House co-sponsors, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), told reporters after the vote, reported Reuters.
“We want to thank 1,500 former staff members of Congress who wrote a letter to us who made the case all too clear, that sexual harassment in Congress was a huge problem,” she added.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who led the Senate legislation, said in a statement: “Today, the House and Senate came together to end a broken process that failed victims for far too long.”…
…According to a report from the Office of Compliance, more than $17 million was paid out in settlements between 1997 and 2017.
The money was paid out in over 250 settlements, the office said.
More/Source
The Senate and US House passed a voice vote on Thursday to force sex-hungry lawmakers to pay for their own misconduct claims.
For years this taxpayers were forced to pay the fines.
More than $17 million was paid out in settlements between 1997 and 2017 in over 250 settlements
But will the DC elites they make the list public?
The Epoch Times reported:
Members of Congress will have to pay out of pocket to settle sexual misconduct claims under legislation that Congress passed this week.
Lawmakers could previously use public funds to settle the claims.
The House of Representatives and the Senate approved the bipartisan measure on a voice vote on Dec. 13.
“Time is finally up for members of Congress who think that they can sexually harass and get away with it. They will no longer be able to slink away with no one knowing that they have harassed. … They will pay back the U.S. Treasury,” one of the House co-sponsors, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), told reporters after the vote, reported Reuters.
“We want to thank 1,500 former staff members of Congress who wrote a letter to us who made the case all too clear, that sexual harassment in Congress was a huge problem,” she added.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who led the Senate legislation, said in a statement: “Today, the House and Senate came together to end a broken process that failed victims for far too long.”…
…According to a report from the Office of Compliance, more than $17 million was paid out in settlements between 1997 and 2017.
The money was paid out in over 250 settlements, the office said.
More/Source
Hillary Clinton Responds to Court Order - Files New Email Answers Under Oath on Private Server!
On Friday morning Hillary Clinton responded to a court order forced by Judicial Watch to answer more questions about the setting up of her private server.
Judicial Watch appeared in a DC federal court last month on a motion to compel more testimony from Hillary Clinton as well as to make public video recordings of depositions of top Clinton aides such as Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills.
The court ruled that Hillary Clinton must answer more questions about the setting up of her private server under oath.
As expected, Hillary Clinton responded to the court order with her usual arrogance — she said she set up the server for “convenience,” and had “no role” in the process setting up the server.
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Judicial Watch appeared in a DC federal court last month on a motion to compel more testimony from Hillary Clinton as well as to make public video recordings of depositions of top Clinton aides such as Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills.
The court ruled that Hillary Clinton must answer more questions about the setting up of her private server under oath.
As expected, Hillary Clinton responded to the court order with her usual arrogance — she said she set up the server for “convenience,” and had “no role” in the process setting up the server.
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Major advertisers reject Tucker Carlson boycott
Several major firms are resisting calls from director Judd Apatow and other Twitter liberals to boycott Tucker Carlson’s TV show because he opposes illegal immigration.
Pacific Life, Indeed.com, IHOP and several other companies did pull their ads from the Fox News Channel show “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” but the resisters include such major firms as Farmer’s Insurance, Mitsubishi and John Deere.
In a statement to the Daily Beast, Farmers Insurance said it “invests in advertising across a broad range of networks and programs that reflect the diversity of opinions and viewpoints found across the nation.”
When Farmers advertises on political shows, the company explained, it “should not be construed to be an endorsement of any kind as to a show’s content or the individuals appearing on the show.”
The Japanese auto and ship giant concurred, telling the Beast that “our advertising media spend is determined based on demographics and psychographics, not politics.”
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Pacific Life, Indeed.com, IHOP and several other companies did pull their ads from the Fox News Channel show “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” but the resisters include such major firms as Farmer’s Insurance, Mitsubishi and John Deere.
In a statement to the Daily Beast, Farmers Insurance said it “invests in advertising across a broad range of networks and programs that reflect the diversity of opinions and viewpoints found across the nation.”
When Farmers advertises on political shows, the company explained, it “should not be construed to be an endorsement of any kind as to a show’s content or the individuals appearing on the show.”
The Japanese auto and ship giant concurred, telling the Beast that “our advertising media spend is determined based on demographics and psychographics, not politics.”
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Pentagon to Bill Saudi Arabia, UAE $331 Million for Fuel and Flight Hours
The U.S. will seek reimbursement for $331 million from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the refueling and flight hours that the U.S. Air Force has provided during the last three years in the Yemen conflict.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, disclosed the request Thursday following a months-long inquiry into how the Defense Department is accounting for fuel and flight hours spent supporting the Saudi-coalition air strikes in Yemen.
Last week, U.S. Central Command, the overseeing body for Middle East operations, found errors in its auditing, according a report in The Atlantic.
"In November, the Pentagon acknowledged that, in response to your letter, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) reviewed its records and found errors in accounting,'" Reed said in a statement.
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Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, disclosed the request Thursday following a months-long inquiry into how the Defense Department is accounting for fuel and flight hours spent supporting the Saudi-coalition air strikes in Yemen.
Last week, U.S. Central Command, the overseeing body for Middle East operations, found errors in its auditing, according a report in The Atlantic.
"In November, the Pentagon acknowledged that, in response to your letter, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) reviewed its records and found errors in accounting,'" Reed said in a statement.
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5 Takeaways From the Trump Administration’s School Safety Report
The Trump administration is calling for scrapping Obama administration regulations on school discipline, in a school safety report issued Tuesday responding to school shootings.
The Federal Commission on School Safety, established in response to the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in February, issued its final report, making a series of recommendations.
The 177-page report also tackles building security, violence in the media, and school resource officers, and opposes raising the age for buying guns.
“This is one of the most important things we can do for schools and communities to help them think about creating a positive culture and climate in schools,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told The Daily Signal, referring to the report. “We have to look at kids as individuals, and make sure they are not lost through the cracks and feel isolated.”
More here
The Federal Commission on School Safety, established in response to the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in February, issued its final report, making a series of recommendations.
The 177-page report also tackles building security, violence in the media, and school resource officers, and opposes raising the age for buying guns.
“This is one of the most important things we can do for schools and communities to help them think about creating a positive culture and climate in schools,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told The Daily Signal, referring to the report. “We have to look at kids as individuals, and make sure they are not lost through the cracks and feel isolated.”
More here
How Faux Capitalism Works In America
Stars in the Night Sky
The U.S. stock market’s recent zigs and zags have provoked much squawking and screeching. Wall Street pros, private money managers, and Millennial index fund enthusiasts all find themselves on the wrong side of the market’s swift movements. Even the best and brightest can’t escape President Trump’s tweet precipitated short squeezes.
The Donald mercilessly hits the shorts with a well-timed tweet. But as it turns out, this market is in a really bad mood at the moment. [PT]
The short-term significance of the DJIA’s 8 percent decline since early-October is uncertain. For all we know, stocks could run up through the end of the year. Stranger things have happened.
What is also uncertain is the nature of this purge: Is this another soft decline like that of mid-2015 to early-2016, when the DJIA fell 12 percent before quickly resuming its uptrend? Or is this the start of a brutal bear market – the kind that wipes out portfolios and blows up investment funds?
The stars in the night sky tell us this is the latter. For example, when peering out into the night sky even the most untrained eye can identify the three ominous stars that are lining up with mechanical precision.
These stars include a stock market top, followed by a monster corporate debt buildup, and a fading economy. In short, the stock market’s latest break is presaging a corporate credit crisis and global recession.
More
The U.S. stock market’s recent zigs and zags have provoked much squawking and screeching. Wall Street pros, private money managers, and Millennial index fund enthusiasts all find themselves on the wrong side of the market’s swift movements. Even the best and brightest can’t escape President Trump’s tweet precipitated short squeezes.
The Donald mercilessly hits the shorts with a well-timed tweet. But as it turns out, this market is in a really bad mood at the moment. [PT]
The short-term significance of the DJIA’s 8 percent decline since early-October is uncertain. For all we know, stocks could run up through the end of the year. Stranger things have happened.
What is also uncertain is the nature of this purge: Is this another soft decline like that of mid-2015 to early-2016, when the DJIA fell 12 percent before quickly resuming its uptrend? Or is this the start of a brutal bear market – the kind that wipes out portfolios and blows up investment funds?
The stars in the night sky tell us this is the latter. For example, when peering out into the night sky even the most untrained eye can identify the three ominous stars that are lining up with mechanical precision.
These stars include a stock market top, followed by a monster corporate debt buildup, and a fading economy. In short, the stock market’s latest break is presaging a corporate credit crisis and global recession.
More
"No Wall In Any Form": Govt Shutdown Odds Explode Amid Trump-Schumer Standoff
With a potential government shutdown just days away, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) dug in on Sunday, telling Meet The Press that President Trump is "not going to get the wall in any form."
Last Tuesday Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) clashed over Trump's $5 billion demand for border wall funding in an awkwardly televised argument in the Oval Office, prompting Schumer to later declare on the Senate Floor: "I want to be crystal clear. There will be no additional appropriations to pay for the border wall. It’s done."
The New York Democrat echoed his comments on Meet The Press Sunday, telling host Chuck Todd that Trump doesn't have the votes in the House or the Senate - saying that the president is having a "temper tantrum" over the wall.
"They do not have the votes to pass the president’s proposal — $5 billion or whatever it is for the wall," said Pelosi at a recent news conference. "So … if nothing is going to change in that regard, I don’t know why we just don’t proceed to keep government open so that people can be home for the holidays."
Meanwhile, the odds of a shutdown spiked to 58% on PredictIt, nearly double what it was 24 hours ago
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Last Tuesday Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) clashed over Trump's $5 billion demand for border wall funding in an awkwardly televised argument in the Oval Office, prompting Schumer to later declare on the Senate Floor: "I want to be crystal clear. There will be no additional appropriations to pay for the border wall. It’s done."
The New York Democrat echoed his comments on Meet The Press Sunday, telling host Chuck Todd that Trump doesn't have the votes in the House or the Senate - saying that the president is having a "temper tantrum" over the wall.
"They do not have the votes to pass the president’s proposal — $5 billion or whatever it is for the wall," said Pelosi at a recent news conference. "So … if nothing is going to change in that regard, I don’t know why we just don’t proceed to keep government open so that people can be home for the holidays."
Meanwhile, the odds of a shutdown spiked to 58% on PredictIt, nearly double what it was 24 hours ago
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A neighbor anonymously called Christmas dragons in her yard ‘demonic.’ So she put more up.
The inflatable lawn ornaments, black and red, purple and green, were the epitome of cool to the former police officer and morgue worker, who is now a writer of sci-fi books.
And after what Rowland says was a smashing debut one Halloween, she decided to set the dragons up again for Christmas, outfitting them for the holiday season with garland, Santa hats and blue shawls meant to evoke biblical stories. The neighborhood loved them, she said. And she did, too.
This year was scheduled to be the fourth that the dragons would uneventfully grace her yard for Christmas.
But then an anonymous letter came in the mail.
“YOUR DRAGON DISPLAY IS ONLY MARGINALLY ACCEPTABLE AT HALLOWEEN,” it said. “IT IS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE AT CHRISTMAS. IT MAKES YOUR NEIGHBORS WONDER IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A DEMONIC CULT.”
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Illinois Pension Shortfall Worsens To $134 Billion Despite Strong Markets, Increased Contribs
The Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) has released its latest state pension report. The numbers confirm what taxpayers already know and what Illinois politicians continue to ignore: Illinois needs massive pension reforms.
COGFA says that the state’s pension debt rose by more than $4 billion despite strong stock markets, a booming national economy and billions more in taxpayer contributions.
The total shortfall for Illinois’ five state-run pension funds – for teachers, state workers, university employees, judges and lawmakers – rose to $133.5 billion in 2018 compared to last year’s $129.1 billion in 2017. The plans’ fiscal year ended June 30, 2018.
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COGFA says that the state’s pension debt rose by more than $4 billion despite strong stock markets, a booming national economy and billions more in taxpayer contributions.
The total shortfall for Illinois’ five state-run pension funds – for teachers, state workers, university employees, judges and lawmakers – rose to $133.5 billion in 2018 compared to last year’s $129.1 billion in 2017. The plans’ fiscal year ended June 30, 2018.
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Darrell Issa: Michael Flynn's conviction will be 'overturned' due to Justice Department, FBI wrongdoing
A court will overturn former national Security Adviser Michael Flynn's conviction for lying to the FBI, a House Judiciary Republican predicted Sunday.
The prognostication by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who is retiring from Congress in January, comes after a federal judge demanded more information about Flynn's dealings with the FBI ahead of his expected sentencing on Tuesday. Last December, Flynn pleaded guilty as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's federal Russia inquiry to lying during a January 2017 interview with investigators. He told them he did not discuss sanctions with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn's lawyers have argued their client should not receive prison time due to the casual nature of the sit-down, including how Flynn was not advised he was under scrutiny from the government.
"I would not be surprised a bit if the conviction of Flynn is overturned because of the Justice Department and the FBI's misconduct," Issa told Fox News.
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The prognostication by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who is retiring from Congress in January, comes after a federal judge demanded more information about Flynn's dealings with the FBI ahead of his expected sentencing on Tuesday. Last December, Flynn pleaded guilty as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's federal Russia inquiry to lying during a January 2017 interview with investigators. He told them he did not discuss sanctions with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn's lawyers have argued their client should not receive prison time due to the casual nature of the sit-down, including how Flynn was not advised he was under scrutiny from the government.
"I would not be surprised a bit if the conviction of Flynn is overturned because of the Justice Department and the FBI's misconduct," Issa told Fox News.
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POWELL: New Facts Indicate Mueller Destroyed Evidence, Obstructed Justice
The Supreme Court held long ago in Brady v. Maryland that the Constitution requires the prosecution, which holds all the cards in a criminal case, to give the defense all evidence favorable to the defendant, whether it impeaches a witness, mitigates punishment or shows his innocence. Indeed, the burden is on prosecutors to find anything in the possession of the government that is favorable to the defense.
From the minute Judge Emmet G. Sullivan received the case against Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, which will be decided on Tuesday, he ordered Mueller to provide the defense with allBrady material. Last week, Judge Sullivan specifically ordered Mueller to produce any FBI interview reports — called 302s — or memoranda relevant to the original interview of Gen. Flynn. Ironically, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley has been requesting the agents’ notes and 302s for two years. Did Mueller comply?
Remarkably, but not surprisingly to those who have read my book, Mueller has thumbed his nose at Judge Sullivan’s order. He produced only a 302 created by his own squad seven months later from his own agent’s interview of none other than the infamous, fired-for-bias, disgraced, Trump-loathing, former Agent Peter Strzok — the guy who swore he’d “stop” President Trump and devised “an insurance policy” with his mistress Lisa Page and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe in case Trump won the election. We are watching Mueller execute that insurance policy by the day.
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From the minute Judge Emmet G. Sullivan received the case against Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, which will be decided on Tuesday, he ordered Mueller to provide the defense with allBrady material. Last week, Judge Sullivan specifically ordered Mueller to produce any FBI interview reports — called 302s — or memoranda relevant to the original interview of Gen. Flynn. Ironically, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley has been requesting the agents’ notes and 302s for two years. Did Mueller comply?
Remarkably, but not surprisingly to those who have read my book, Mueller has thumbed his nose at Judge Sullivan’s order. He produced only a 302 created by his own squad seven months later from his own agent’s interview of none other than the infamous, fired-for-bias, disgraced, Trump-loathing, former Agent Peter Strzok — the guy who swore he’d “stop” President Trump and devised “an insurance policy” with his mistress Lisa Page and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe in case Trump won the election. We are watching Mueller execute that insurance policy by the day.
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Signs Of Coming Collapse: Citizens Worldwide Revolt Against Taxation & Illegal Aliens
There are many serious issues to address, relevant to current events. Just to skim some of what has happened most recently, the Dow Jones (although a “lagging” indicator) has been extremely volatile within the past month, appearing to be headed toward a loss for the year overall. Spending is down, and the “bubble” of pseudo-consumer confidence prior to Thanksgiving seems to have dissipated.
The main focus: the unrest that is swiftly crossing national borders has a common denominator in France, and now in Belgium and the Netherlands. That common denominator is that of the populace being fed up with the amount of taxation, coupled with the politicos pushing illegal Muslim aliens into nations that have been predominantly Christian for almost a thousand years.
In countries such as Germany, Sweden, and Norway (whose ancestors were not known for playing “softball,” i.e. the Saxons and Vikings, respectively) we have been witness to rapes and beatings perpetrated by Muslim illegal aliens with the governments either looking the other way or encouraging it. Soros and those of his ilk in the EU have been pushing this “forced integration” of an invasion of illegals with a huge ethnic and religious gap between them and the host nations.
1. The controllers (oligarchs and politicos) are pushing these (numerically speaking) armies of aliens into previously stable nations…for several express purposes:
2. The denigration of the nations’ borders, language, religion, family structure, and culture
3. To reduce the nations’ original populace to a state of abandoning their nationalities and nationalism
To place these aliens into a position where they will weaken the economies of the nations (by being forced onto the dole) and also utilizing their numbers for support when it comes time to “vote” in these nations.
We have been witnessing an internal conquest fomented upon each of these European nations more effective than any invasion with military resources. The controllers are “injecting” these aliens into the populations and allowing their destructive natures and habits (completely at odds with the host nation) to destroy those countries….from within.
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The main focus: the unrest that is swiftly crossing national borders has a common denominator in France, and now in Belgium and the Netherlands. That common denominator is that of the populace being fed up with the amount of taxation, coupled with the politicos pushing illegal Muslim aliens into nations that have been predominantly Christian for almost a thousand years.
In countries such as Germany, Sweden, and Norway (whose ancestors were not known for playing “softball,” i.e. the Saxons and Vikings, respectively) we have been witness to rapes and beatings perpetrated by Muslim illegal aliens with the governments either looking the other way or encouraging it. Soros and those of his ilk in the EU have been pushing this “forced integration” of an invasion of illegals with a huge ethnic and religious gap between them and the host nations.
1. The controllers (oligarchs and politicos) are pushing these (numerically speaking) armies of aliens into previously stable nations…for several express purposes:
2. The denigration of the nations’ borders, language, religion, family structure, and culture
3. To reduce the nations’ original populace to a state of abandoning their nationalities and nationalism
To place these aliens into a position where they will weaken the economies of the nations (by being forced onto the dole) and also utilizing their numbers for support when it comes time to “vote” in these nations.
We have been witnessing an internal conquest fomented upon each of these European nations more effective than any invasion with military resources. The controllers are “injecting” these aliens into the populations and allowing their destructive natures and habits (completely at odds with the host nation) to destroy those countries….from within.
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Analysts anticipate large 'financial wipeout' as major hedge funds close or report losses
U.S. stocks took dropped again on Monday as another day of big losses took the market to its lowest level in more than a year - and after a furious Donald Trump attacked the Federal Reserve on the eve of a key interest rates decision.
The sell-off was led by retail stocks over fears the economy is stuttering, and healthcare in the wake of a federal judge in Texas ruling that the 2010 Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.
All the major indexes fell with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 507 points, or 2.1 percent, to 23,592 - the lowest point in a year.
The plunge came despite Trump affirming that he is bailing out farmers for a second time, as part of a $12 billion payment program, just before markets closed.
'Today I am making good on my promise to defend our Farmers & Ranchers from unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations,' he tweeted. 'I have authorized Secretary Perdue to implement the 2nd round of Market Facilitation Payments. Our economy is stronger than ever–we stand with our Farmers!'
Trump was referring to the ripple effect that his steel and aluminum tariffs have had on the agricultural industry and other areas of the market. He has placed an additional $250 billion in tariffs on China.
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The sell-off was led by retail stocks over fears the economy is stuttering, and healthcare in the wake of a federal judge in Texas ruling that the 2010 Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.
All the major indexes fell with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 507 points, or 2.1 percent, to 23,592 - the lowest point in a year.
The plunge came despite Trump affirming that he is bailing out farmers for a second time, as part of a $12 billion payment program, just before markets closed.
'Today I am making good on my promise to defend our Farmers & Ranchers from unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations,' he tweeted. 'I have authorized Secretary Perdue to implement the 2nd round of Market Facilitation Payments. Our economy is stronger than ever–we stand with our Farmers!'
Trump was referring to the ripple effect that his steel and aluminum tariffs have had on the agricultural industry and other areas of the market. He has placed an additional $250 billion in tariffs on China.
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Darrel Issa believes Mueller's case against Michael Flynn will be thrown out of court
California Republican Rep Darrel Issa believes Special Counsel Robert Mueller's case against Michael Flynn will soon be thrown out of court.
Issa, who is retiring at the end of the year, told Fox News on Sunday that he believed the FBI had 'tricked' Trump's former National Security Adviser into not having a lawyer during a January 2017 interview.
Flynn later admitted he lied to federal authorities investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 election during the conversation.
Issa made the claims a day before former FBI director James Comey is set to testify again before House Republicans.
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Issa, who is retiring at the end of the year, told Fox News on Sunday that he believed the FBI had 'tricked' Trump's former National Security Adviser into not having a lawyer during a January 2017 interview.
Flynn later admitted he lied to federal authorities investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 election during the conversation.
Issa made the claims a day before former FBI director James Comey is set to testify again before House Republicans.
More/Video
Ron Paul: The Market Correction Could Make Things "Worse Than 1929"
Former presidential candidate, Dr. Ron Paul says that the current market conditions are ripe for a correction of 50% and Wall Street is vulnerable to depression-like conditions in the next year.
“It could be worse than 1929,” Dr. Paul said recently in an interview.
Paul said Thursday on CNBC‘s “Futures Now that “Once this volatility shows that we’re not going to resume the bull market, then people are going to rush for the exits.” Paul added that “it could be worse than 1929.”
He was referencing the fateful day in October of 1929 when the stock market crashed, and the United States was flung into the Great Depression that lasted ten years. During that year, a worldwide depression was ignited because of the U.S.’s market crash. The stock market began hemorrhaging and after falling almost 90 percent, sent the U.S. economy crashing a burning.
And of course, no one believes it could happen again. But Dr. Paul is continuously warning against the media’s constant optimism. As well-known Libertarian, Paul has been warning Wall Street that a massive market plunge is inevitable for years. He’s currently projecting a 50 percent decline from current levels as his base case, citing the ongoing U.S.-China trade war as a growing risk factor.
“I’m not optimistic that all of the sudden, you’re going to eliminate the tariff problem. I think that’s here to stay,” he said.
“Tariffs are taxes.” And these tariffs are a direct tax on the American economy and consumer.
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“It could be worse than 1929,” Dr. Paul said recently in an interview.
Paul said Thursday on CNBC‘s “Futures Now that “Once this volatility shows that we’re not going to resume the bull market, then people are going to rush for the exits.” Paul added that “it could be worse than 1929.”
He was referencing the fateful day in October of 1929 when the stock market crashed, and the United States was flung into the Great Depression that lasted ten years. During that year, a worldwide depression was ignited because of the U.S.’s market crash. The stock market began hemorrhaging and after falling almost 90 percent, sent the U.S. economy crashing a burning.
And of course, no one believes it could happen again. But Dr. Paul is continuously warning against the media’s constant optimism. As well-known Libertarian, Paul has been warning Wall Street that a massive market plunge is inevitable for years. He’s currently projecting a 50 percent decline from current levels as his base case, citing the ongoing U.S.-China trade war as a growing risk factor.
“I’m not optimistic that all of the sudden, you’re going to eliminate the tariff problem. I think that’s here to stay,” he said.
“Tariffs are taxes.” And these tariffs are a direct tax on the American economy and consumer.
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Elite Universities Hide Information On Funding From Ultraconservative Nation Of Qatar
The nation of Qatar, a Sharia-law monarchy that has been accused of trying to influence other countries’ governments, gave $1 billion to elite American universities since 2011, according to Department of Education data.
Some universities have refused to discuss where strings are attached to that money. The Qatar Foundation, for example, filed a lawsuit against the Texas attorney general Oct. 12 to hide information about the $225 million Qatar has awarded to Texas A&M University since 2011.
The Qatar Foundation hired the politically connected powerhouse law firm Squire Patton Boggs for the suit, which was filed in response to a researcher’s public information request regarding the foreign funding.
The biggest recipient of Qatar’s educational funding, Georgetown University, repeatedly ignored requests from The Daily Caller News Foundation for basic information about the funding and whether it implicates academic independence.
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Some universities have refused to discuss where strings are attached to that money. The Qatar Foundation, for example, filed a lawsuit against the Texas attorney general Oct. 12 to hide information about the $225 million Qatar has awarded to Texas A&M University since 2011.
The Qatar Foundation hired the politically connected powerhouse law firm Squire Patton Boggs for the suit, which was filed in response to a researcher’s public information request regarding the foreign funding.
The biggest recipient of Qatar’s educational funding, Georgetown University, repeatedly ignored requests from The Daily Caller News Foundation for basic information about the funding and whether it implicates academic independence.
More