879: Coup Cabal

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 22:08

The safety pin is a variation of the regular pin which includes a simple spring mechanism and a clasp. The clasp serves two purposes: to form a closed loop thereby properly fastening the pin to whatever it is applied to, and to cover the end of the pin to protect the user from the sharp point.

Safety pins are commonly used to fasten pieces of fabric or clothing together. Safety pins, or more usually a special version with an extra safe cover, called a nappy pin, are widely used to fasten cloth diapers (nappies), as the safety clasp prevents the baby from being jabbed. Similarly, they can be used to patch torn or damaged clothing. Safety pins can also be used as an accessory in jewelry, like earrings, chains, and wristbands. Sometimes they are used to attach an embroidered patch. Size 3 is often used in quilting and may be labelled for purchase as a "quilting pin". Size 4 and larger may be called "blanket pins" and deemed acceptable as kilt pins for informal dress, depending upon design and appearance.

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The fibula, a form of brooch, was invented by the Myceaneans on the Greek Peloponnesus between the 14th and 13th Century BC, and is considered an early precursor to a safety pin since they were used in a similar manner. However, it had a major flaw. It had no clasp or spring at the end to help put it in place. Over the centuries, the fibula became forgotten.[1]

Invention of the safety pinEdit

Hunt's 1849 patent on the safety pin, U.S. patent #6,281American mechanic Walter Hunt is regarded as the inventor of the safety pin that bears resemblance to those used today. The safety pin included a clasp that covered the point and kept it from opening, and a circular twist at the bend to act as a spring and hold it in place.[2] Charles Rowley (Birmingham, England) independently patented a similar safety pin in October 1849,[3] although the company no longer makes these.

Hunt made the invention in order to pay off a $15 debt to a friend. He used a piece of brass wire that was about 8 inches long and made a coil in the center of the wire so it would open up when released. The clasp at one end was devised in order to shield the sharp edge from the user.[4]

After being issued U.S. patent #6,281 on April 10, 1849,[5] Hunt sold the patent to W. R. Grace and Company for $400 (roughly $10,000 in 2008 dollars). Using that money, Hunt then paid the $15 owed to a friend and kept the remaining amount of $385 for himself. What Hunt failed to realize is that in the years to follow, W.R. Grace and Company would make millions of dollars in profits from his invention.[6]

This has a special sliding cap over the top of the clasp to hold the pin more securely in place.[citation needed]

Whilst the cover on the safety pin makes it less likely to hurt someone, a version was invented specially for use with babies' nappies, the nappy pin. This is larger and stronger than the typical safety pin. Modern nappy pins have the sliding cap to lock the pin.

The laryngologist Dr. Chevalier Jackson devised special instruments for removing swallowed safety pins. Because small children often swallowed them and open pins could be lodged dangerously in their throats, Jackson called them "danger pins" and sometimes displayed arrangements of those he had extracted. Safety pin ingestion is still a common problem in some countries, including Turkey, today.[7]

During the emergence of punk rock in the late seventies, safety pins became associated with the genre, its followers and fashion.[8] Some claim the look was taken originally from Richard Hell whom the British punks saw in pictures, and whose style they adopted.[9] This is disputed by a number of artists from the first wave of British punks, most notably Johnny Rotten, who insists that safety pins were originally incorporated for more practical reasons, for example, to remedy "the arse of your pants falling out". British punk fans, after seeing the clothing worn by such punk forerunners, then incorporated safety pins into their own wardrobe as clothing decoration or as piercings, shifting the purpose of the pins from practicality to fashion. The safety pin subsequently has become an image associated with punk rock by media and pop-culture outlets.

As political statementEditAfter the 2016 UK Brexit vote and again after the 2016 US presidential election, safety pins were worn as a symbol of solidarity with minorities, refugees, immigrants and others who had been blamed and demonised in the press in the lead up to the vote.[10][11] There was some criticism of the gesture as empty "slacktivism".[12]

^"Science Inventions The Safety Pin". Ring of Fire Science Company. ^"Walter Hunt". National Inventors Hall of Fame. ^"Charles Rowley". Charles Rowley. ^"Science Inventions The Safety Pin". Ring of Fire Science Company. ^"Walter Hunt". United States Patent and Trademark Office. ^"Science Inventions The Safety Pin". Ring of Fire Science Company. ^T¼rkyilmaz Z, Karabulut R, S¶nmez K, Basaklar AC, Kale N (2007). "A new method for the removal of safety pins ingested by children"(PDF). Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. 36 (3): 206''7. PMID 17450267. ^Punks: A Guide to an American Subculture, p53, Sharon M. Hannon, ABC-CLIO, 2010^According to a few documentaries and Malcolm McLaren, who has credited this style to his first impressions of Richard Hell while he was in New York managing The New York Dolls.^Jessica Durando, "Why Donald Trump protesters are wearing safety pins", USA Today, November 11, 2016.^Emma Stefansky, "In the Wake of the Election, Many are Wearing Safety Pins in Silent Protest", Vanity Fair, November 13, 2016.^Kim LaCapria, "'Safety Pin' Solidarity Meme", Political news, Snopes.com, November 14, 2016.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fibulae.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 22:10

''History offers even more sobering warnings: Armed confrontation usually occurs around the climax of Crisis. If there is confrontation, it is likely to lead to war. This could be any kind of war '' class war, sectional war, war against global anarchists or terrorists, or superpower war. If there is war, it is likely to culminate in total war, fought until the losing side has been rendered nil '' its will broken, territory taken, and leaders captured.'' '' The Fourth Turning '' Strauss & Howe -1997

Via TheBurningPlatform.com | As we enter the final stretch of this vitriolic, deplorable, venomous, propaganda saturated, deceitful, rigged presidential election spectacle, it becomes painfully obvious this Fourth Turning is careening toward bloodshed, bedlam, confrontation, and civil war. The linear fixated establishment, who fancy themselves intellectually superior to the irredemables, are too blinded by their sociopathic, increasingly audacious subversion of the Constitution, to grasp the level of rage and disillusionment of a white working class that has been screwed over for decades.

As the Wall Street shysters frantically accelerate their embezzlement of what remains of middle class wealth, with the Fed and the corporate media propagandists as their wing-men, the country devolves into a corporate fascist state. The disposition of the nation grows dark like the sky before an approaching deadly blizzard. As passions boil over and violence portends, this Fourth Turning hastens towards a bloody decade ahead with an uncertain climax.

If you think this is just hyperbole, you either haven't studied history or your cognitive dissonance and normalcy bias prevent you from seeing the unavoidable societal altering clashes, which occur like clockwork on an eighty year cycle, when the portents are right in front of your eyes. Historian Arnold Toynbee's great war cycle that arise every 80 years or so, aligns perfectly with the Fourth Turning generational theory. Great wars occur when the generation that doesn't remember the last catastrophic war ascends to leadership of the country.

We are eight years into a Crisis period which won't end until the mid-2020s. As this bitterly vicious presidential campaign accelerates towards a finale which will leave the country divided and irate, the hostile opposing forces will be seeking revenge, retribution, and retaliation no matter the outcome. There is no doubt the regeneracy is well under way.

''The next Fourth Turning is due to begin shortly after the new millennium, midway through the Oh-Oh decade. Around the year 2005, a sudden spark will catalyze a Crisis mood. Remnants of the old social order will disintegrate. Political and economic trust will implode. Real hardship will beset the land, with severe distress that could involve questions of class, race, nation and empire. The very survival of the nation will feel at stake. Sometime before the year 2025, America will pass through a great gate in history, commensurate with the American Revolution, Civil War, and twin emergencies of the Great Depression and World War II.'' '' Strauss & Howe''The Fourth Turning

It was five years ago I spent a couple fascinating hours with Neil Howe, co-author of the Fourth Turning, during the Occupy Wall Street protests. He thought the protests were all passion and no depth, engineered by anarchist Boomers. He was right. I thought OWS might be the start of the regeneracy, but it flamed out quickly. It was only a foreshadowing of what was to come. Whatever event or movement created the regeneracy, it would be driven by the toxic combination of debt, civic decay, and global disorder.

Neil was particularly worried about the Federal Reserve zero interest rate policy and how it was ruining our economic system, creating disincentives to saving and encouraging warped, debt driven speculation. And that was in 2011. The Fed keeping interest rates near zero on behalf of a corrupt establishment for the last eight years has been the primary factor in creating the anger, disillusionment and revolutionary spirit driving the regeneracy.

No critical thinking human being can deny this tumultuous presidential election and its equally turbulent primaries have been fueled by the dreadful self-serving response of the establishment to the 2008 Wall Street created financial collapse; the geopolitical anarchy created by U.S. interventionism in the Middle East; the civic decay created by a failing government educational system; rampant debt financed materialism enabled and encouraged by the financial/media complex; and racial division facilitated by the president and his social justice warrior brethren.

The rescue of Wall Street and destruction of Main Street by the Fed, Wall Street and the captured politicians of both parties in Washington D.C. has created the angry, acrimonious, throw the bums out mood boiling over in flyover America. The widening Grand Canyon gap in wealth between the haves and the have nots, produced by solutions from sociopaths in suits has reached the pitchfork and torch level.

The linear thinking ruling class has been in denial since this Crisis catalyzed in September 2008. Their looting, pillaging and ransacking campaign, designed to enrich and empower a small cadre of shadowy, powerful, wealthy men, had been successful for decades. When you control the currency and interest rates; rig the financial markets; buy the politicians; write the laws and regulations; own the corporate propaganda machines known as the mainstream media; operate a high tech surveillance state; create a dumbed down populace through government school indoctrination; and distract the masses with iGadgets, reality TV, hero worship, professional sports, social media, irrelevant cultural issues, and literally thousands of other modern day bread and circuses; you become arrogant and careless.

These sociopaths are so consumed with their ravenous fleecing of the middle class, waging wars for profit, and shredding the Constitution, they failed to recognize 2008 for the seismic earth shattering event that will change everything. The mood of the country shifted like tectonic plates beneath the nation. The mood continues to grow dimmer, as the peasants grow poorer and the modern day aristocracy (Wall Street bankers, corporate executives, corrupt politicians, shadowy billionaires) accumulate obscene ill-gotten wealth through their complete capture of the system. This perverted, degenerative, criminal degradation of our society is powerfully summed up by Jesse from Jesse's Caf(C) Americain:

''Not all sociopaths wield knives and knotted cords. Some wear suits, and are exceptionally intelligent and articulate, obsessively driven, and are able to use and undermine the law and the rules for their advantage, like weapons. It is never about the win, never about the money. It is about the kill, the expression of their hatred, about elevating themselves with the suffering of others. Bind, torture, kill. Not only with ropes and knives, but also with power and money, and the subversion of law. Lawlessness is their addiction, their will to power.

When societies become lax and complacent, these sociopaths can possess great political power through great amounts of unprincipled money. And over time they become almost anti-human, destroyers of all that is good, all that is life, all that offends their insatiable sickness with its goodness. They twist the public against itself, and turn a broad sweep of society into their killing grounds. This is the undeniable lesson of the last century. There are monsters, and they walk among us.''

Neil Howe has noted in previous articles the catalyst, climax and resolution of Fourth Turnings can be specifically dated. But the regeneracy is more of an era than a date. With only three previous American Fourth Turnings, I imagined the regeneracy to be a specific event where the American people, faced with growing peril and danger, put aside their differences and rallied around a strong leader to build something new. Boy was I wrong.

In retrospect, the American people were numbed by the Great Depression and the bloody initial battles of the Civil War. They just let FDR and Lincoln do whatever they needed to do. The regeneracy marks a growth in centralized authority and resolute governance at a time of great risk and urgency. I believe this era of regeneracy began at the outset of the presidential primaries early in 2016.

Based upon the reaction of the citizens in the last ten months, the dire problem facing the nation, perceived as the largest threat to our future, happens to be the Deep State establishment currently ruling the country. The captured mainstream media and grey beards running both political parties were completely stunned, horrified, and irate at the unprecedented success achieved by the two anti-establishment candidates, Trump and Sanders.

This election was supposed to follow the script as planned and coordinated by the establishment, with Hillary Clinton defeating Jeb Bush and continuing the corrupt status quo policies agreed to by the bought off leaders of both parties. They badly miscalculated the mood of the country and the whirlwind of change seeking to sweep away the stubborn remnants of a crooked, decrepit, putrid, existing social order. This collective middle finger to the establishment could only happen during a Fourth Turning.

This regeneracy is well under way and is poised to transform and replace the very foundation of this crumbling empire of debt, delusions, and denial. The unanswered question is what happens next. I posed that question to Neil Howe five years ago and he said the specific events of a Fourth Turning are unknowable, but the reaction to those events by the generational cohorts is consistent over time.

We are seeing the reaction of critical thinking Americans as they come to the realization the system is rigged against them. A revolutionary spirit is once again rising among the deplorables. I also asked Neil about the theory Fourth Turnings alternate between external conflicts and internal conflicts. He found the subject fascinating, but didn't think there were enough data points to make a determination.

Based on the current path of this Fourth Turning, I'm now convinced of this alternating sequence between advancement cycles and atonement cycles. The advancement cycles can be seen as establishing, whereas atonement cycles are disestablishing. It is apparent each Fourth Turning alternates between an external struggle and an internal struggle. The American Revolution was a struggle against an external oppressor '' Great Britain.

The Civil War was an internal struggle between the industrial North and the agrarian South. The Depression/World War II struggle was mainly against an external threat '' Germany, Japan, and Italy. The American Revolution established our country. There was optimism and elation as a new republic, forged under an enlightened Constitution and led by judicious intelligent men, was born. It was clearly an advancement cycle.

The Civil War disestablished states' rights, slavery, agrarian society and Constitutional rights. It was an atonement cycle for our actual and implicit sins. There was no glorious high. The resolution felt more like defeat, with the country exhausted, bitter and angry. The country had exhausted itself, spilling the blood of over one million men. The new High after an atonement cycle is like a cold miserable rainy dark Spring.

The Great Depression/World War II Fourth Turning established a new world order led by the United States. As the only major country left unscathed by the ravages of global war, the U.S. became the producer for the world, whose dollar was unquestioned as the currency of global trade. The new High was unleashed with fanfare and adulation. It was like a delightfully warm Spring, with flowers blooming and children frolicking.

All signs point toward this Fourth Turning being a life or death struggle between the ruling class of sociopathic bankers, corporate elites, and sleazy politicians versus the oppressed and infuriated middle class. The lying, deceit, rigging, deception, theft and other crimes perpetrated by the ruling elites will be atoned for. The heroic patriotic revelations from Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and Bradley (Chelsea) Manning proving the government and politicians to be lying, corrupt, immoral, sociopathic traitors to the Constitution have undermined the last vestiges of trust in the system and the establishment. The alignment of generational dynamics will provoke the responses to events moving forward. We have been badly led. A silent coup by Deep State perpetrators has led to the complete capture of our economic, financial, judicial and political systems.

A vast swath of the populace has been lured into living beyond their means. The existing system is unsustainable. The Boomer generation does not want to yield on their perceived entitlements. The Millennial generation is saddled with un-payable debts, living in their parents' basements, working the night shift at Ruby Tuesday. Generation X is trapped in the middle of this generational struggle. The huge economic imbalances, created by politicians buying votes and engineering wealth inequality to benefit the few, have built up over decades like flood waters behind a weakening levee. When the levee breaks the morally bankrupt criminal social order will be swept away in the raging torrent to follow.

Winter will eventually turn into Spring, but it might be a bitter, gloomy, austere Spring. Every Fourth Turning brings on forecasts of imminent doom, but that is also a trait of Prophet (Trump, Clinton) Generations. It's how they feel about the prospects of their imminent die off; they expect the entire world to go with them. The 2008 financial crisis was horrific, scary and an eye opener for those who blindly believed what they were told by their establishment zoo keepers. The regeneracy has begun; trust in the system has further disintegrated; this presidential election has further deepened this distrust of the entrenched establishment; and the coming bust for stocks, bonds, and real estate will knock out the supports for the dwindling remaining trust in this crooked system.

''This might result in a Great Devaluation, a severe drop in the market price of most financial and real assets. This devaluation could be a short but horrific panic, a free-falling price in a market with no buyers. Or it could be a series of downward ratchets linked to political events that sequentially knock the supports out from under the residual popular trust in the system. As assets devalue, trust will further disintegrate, which will cause assets to devalue further, and so on.''

Eventually, all of America's lesser problems will combine into one giant problem. The very survival of the society will feel at stake, as leaders lead and people follow. The emergent society may be something better, a nation that sustains its Framers' visions with a robust new pride. Or it may be something unspeakably worse. The Fourth Turning will be a time of glory or ruin.'' '' Strauss & Howe''The Fourth Turning

The next ten or so years will be atonement for decades of bad choices, corrupt leadership, living beyond our means, waging wars of choice across the globe, believing blatant falsehoods, exhibiting willful ignorance, ignoring facts, and failing to uphold the Constitution. Don't think you can escape the consequences of this Fourth Turning. It doesn't matter whether you lived according to a moral code, avoided debt, worked hard, paid taxes, and generally lived an upstanding honorable life.

The death and destruction headed our way will engulf the innocent as well as the guilty. I'm reminded of the penultimate scene in Clint Eastwood's dark, brooding, vengeful western Unforgiven when Little Bill Daggett laments to ''killer of women and children'' William Munny that he doesn't deserve to die this way. Munny responds, ''deserves got nothin' to do with it.'' Then he pulls the trigger. This is the kind of future we will be dealing with, whether we like it or not.

In Part Two of this article I will use recent polling data to assess where the most likely sparks will arise to start the civil war conflagration which will accelerate the crumbling of the American Empire. To reinforce the obvious, Fourth TurningsNEVER de-intensify. They end after the spilling of much blood, incomprehensible destruction and the total defeat of the vanquished.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 13:52

A lot of you have asked what we're doing about misinformation, so I wanted to give an update.

The bottom line is: we take misinformation seriously. Our goal is to connect people with the stories they find most meaningful, and we know people want accurate information. We've been working on this problem for a long time and we take this responsibility seriously. We've made significant progress, but there is more work to be done.

Historically, we have relied on our community to help us understand what is fake and what is not. Anyone on Facebook can report any link as false, and we use signals from those reports along with a number of others -- like people sharing links to myth-busting sites such as Snopes -- to understand which stories we can confidently classify as misinformation. Similar to clickbait, spam and scams, we penalize this content in News Feed so it's much less likely to spread.

The problems here are complex, both technically and philosophically . We believe in giving people a voice, which means erring on the side of letting people share what they want whenever possible. We need to be careful not to discourage sharing of opinions or mistakenly restricting accurate content. We do not want to be arbiters of truth ourselves, but instead rely on our community and trusted third parties.

While the percentage of misinformation is relatively small, we have much more work ahead on our roadmap. Normally we wouldn't share specifics about our work in progress, but given the importance of these issues and the amount of interest in this topic, I want to outline some of the projects we already have underway:

- Stronger detection. The most important thing we can do is improve our ability to classify misinformation. This means better technical systems to detect what people will flag as false before they do it themselves.

- Easy reporting. Making it much easier for people to report stories as fake will help us catch more misinformation faster.

- Third party verification. There are many respected fact checking organizations and, while we have reached out to some, we plan to learn from many more.

- Warnings. We are exploring labeling stories that have been flagged as false by third parties or our community, and showing warnings when people read or share them.

- Related articles quality. We are raising the bar for stories that appear in related articles under links in News Feed.

- Disrupting fake news economics. A lot of misinformation is driven by financially motivated spam. We're looking into disrupting the economics with ads policies like the one we announced earlier this week, and better ad farm detection.

- Listening. We will continue to work with journalists and others in the news industry to get their input, in particular, to better understand their fact checking systems and learn from them.

Some of these ideas will work well, and some will not. But I want you to know that we have always taken this seriously, we understand how important the issue is for our community and we are committed to getting this right.

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Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:59

Breitbart News is preparing a lawsuit against a "major media company" over claims that it is a white nationalist website, it said in an exclusive statement to The Hill.

The website has been under intense scrutiny since President-elect Donald TrumpDonald TrumpReports: Trump team brings on adviser known for anti-Islam rhetoricTrump pushes back: Transition process 'is very organized'Trump team mulling Cruz for AG: reportMORE named Stephen Bannon as a senior White House counselor and strategist. Bannon is the former executive chairman of Breitbart News, and the site has become associated with the ''alt-right'' movement that helped propel Trump's candidacy.

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"Breitbart News Network, a pro-America, conservative website, is preparing a multi-million dollar lawsuit against a major media company for its baseless and defamatory claim that Breitbart News is a 'white nationalist website,''' the statement reads."Breitbart News cannot allow such vicious racial lies to go unchallenged, especially by cynical, politically-motivated competitors seeking to diminish its 42 million monthly readers and its number one in the world political Facebook page. Breitbart News rejects racism in all its varied and ugly forms. Always has, always will," the statement continues.

"The diversity of the company's news coverage and its staff continue to embody Andrew Breitbart's colorblind, distinctly American commitment to 'E pluribus unum''--out of many, one."

Breitbart News '-- which generated 240 million page views and attracted 37 million unique visitors in the month of October leading up to Election Day '-- would not comment on which major media company the publication plans to sue, nor when the suit will be filed.

Critics have taken aim at the site's coverage in recent days.

While Bannon was executive chairman of Breitbart, the website published a story by David Horowitz referring to conservative commentator Bill Kristol as a ''renegade Jew,'' something that has been mentioned repeatedly in media coverage calling Breitbart a white nationalist website.

Democrats have also slammed Bannon, arguing that Trump is bringing a ''white supremacist'' into the White House.

A spokesman for the Trump transition defended Bannon on Monday, calling the media coverage of his appointment ''irresponsible.''

''What I think is frustrating is when we see so much news coverage, particularly on this network, unfortunately, on the issues that divide us after the election,'' Jason Miller, communications director for Trump's transition team, said on CNN's ''New Day.''

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Source: Scripting News

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:58

It's very wrong for Facebook to not take an active role in getting fake news stories off the site or at least appropriately and clearly labeled as probably humor or a scam.

The company goes to such extremes to prevent people from using fake names or impersonating others, why would it allow sites to pretend to be real news sites when they're scams?

This is a cross-post of a post on Facebook. Please comment, share and like that post. Thanks.

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Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:54

False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical ''News'' Sources

Disclaimer 1: All of the contents in this document reflect the opinion of the author and are for educational purposes only. This resource was split into categories around 8:00pm EST on 11/15/16.

CATEGORY 1: Below is a list of fake, false, or regularly misleading websites that are shared on Facebook and social media. Some of these websites may rely on ''outrage'' by using distorted headlines and decontextualized or dubious information in order to generate likes, shares, and profits. These websites are categorized with the number 1 next to them.

CATEGORY 2: Some websites on this list may circulate misleading and/or potentially unreliable information, and they are marked with a 2.

CATEGORY 3: Other websites on this list sometimes use clickbait-y headlines and social media descriptions, and they are marked with a 3.

CATEGORY 4: Other sources on this list are purposefully fake with the intent of satire/comedy, which can offer important critical commentary on politics and society, but have the potential to be shared as actual/literal news. I'm including them here, for now, because 1.) they have the potential to perpetuate misinformation based on different audience (mis)interpretations and 2.) to make sure anyone who reads a story byThe Onion, for example, understands its purpose. If you think this is unnecessary, please see Literally Unbelievable.

Note: I will be updating the categorizations and adding links gradually through the next couple of days.

Many of the websites on this list continue to offer valuable journalism and/or satirical commentary. For example, a website included on this list wrote anoverall thoughtful piece about the list, but the headline suggests that every source on this list is fake, which misrepresents the list. Finally,I do not condone plug-ins that automaticallyblockany of the websites listed below. And as a reminder, not all of the sources listed below should be considered fake.

100PercentFedUp.com (2,3)

EnduringVision.com (1)

PakAlertPress.com

21stCenturyWire.com (2, 3)

FPRNradio.com

PoliticalBlindSpot.com

70news.wordpress.com (1)

The Free Thought Project (3)

PoliticalEars.com

Abcnews.com.co (1)

GeoEngineeringWatch.org

Politicalo (1)

ActivistPost.com (2, 3)

*Website Removed* (temporarily)

PoliticusUSA

Addicting Info (3)

GovtSlaves.info

PrisonPlanet.com

AmericanNews.com (1)

GulagBound.com

PrisonPlanet.tv

AnonNews.co (3)

HangTheBankers.com

Private-eye.co.uk (includes 4)

Associated Media Coverage

HumansAreFree.com

ProjectVeritas

BeforeItsNews.com

Huzlers (4)

*Website Removed* (temporarily)

Being Liberal

IfYouOnlyNews

React 365

BigAmericanNews.com

Indecision Forever (1)

RealFarmacy.com

BigPZone.com

IJR (Independent Journal Review)

RealNewsRightNow.com (1, 4)

Bipartisan Report (3)

InfoWars (1, 2)

RedFlagNews.com

BizPac Review

Infowars.com

Red State (3)

Blue Nation Review (2,3)

IntelliHub.com

Reductress (4)

Breitbart (2, 3)

Inquisitr.com

RileNews.com (1, 4)

Call the Cops (4)

JonesReport.com

Satira Tribune

Cap News (4)

LewRockwell.com

Sprotspickle.com (4)

ChristWire.org (4)

Liberal America

The Blaze

Chronicle.su

LibertyTalk.fm

The Free Thought Project (3)

CivicTribune.com (1)

LibertyUnyielding

Borowitz Report (4)

ClickHole.com (4)

LibertyVideos.org

The Onion (4)

CoastToCoastAM.com (2)

LMR/LibertyMovementRadio.com

The Other 98% (3)

CollectiveEvolution (3)

MediaMass.net (1)

The Reporterz

ConsciousLifeNews.com (2)

MegynKelly.us (1)

The Stately Harold

ConservativeOutfitters.com (2)

MSNBC.com.co (1)

TheDailySheeple.com

ConspiracyWire (WideAwakeAmerica.com) (2)

MSNBC.website (1)

TheNewsNerd.com

CountdownToZeroTime.com (2)

Naha Daily (4)

TheRunDownLive.com

CounterPsyOps.com

National Report

TheUsPatriot.com

*Website Removed* (temporarily)

NationalReport.net (1)

TruthFrequencyRadio.com

CreamBMP.com (1)

NaturalNews.com

Twitchy.com (3)

DailyBuzzLive.com

NC Scooper

UnconfirmedSources.com

DailyCurrant.com

NCT (New Century Times)

*Website Removed* (temporarily)

*Website Removed* (temporarily)

News Examiner

USA Supreme

Daily Wire

News-Hound.com (1)

US.Blasting.News

DCClothesLine.com

NewsBiscuit.com (1)

US Uncut (3)

DCGazette.com (1)

Newslo (1, 4)

VeteransToday.com

DerfMagazine.com

NewsMutiny.com (1, 4)

*Website Removed*

(temporarily)

Disclose.tv

Newswatch 28

WakingUpWisconsin.com

DrudgeReport.com.co (1)

Newswatch 33

Winning Democrats

DuffleBlog.com (4)

NewsWire-24.com

WitScience.org

DuhProgressive.com

NoDisInfo.com

World Net Daily

Embols.com

Now8News

World News Daily Report (4)

Empire Herald

NowTheEndBegins.com

WorldTruth.tv

Empire News (1)

Occupy Democrats (3)

ZeroHedge

EmpireNews.com

Endingthefed.com

Tips for analyzing news sources:

Avoid websites that end in ''lo'' ex: Newslo (above). These sites take pieces of accurate information and then packaging that information with other false or misleading ''facts'' (sometimes for the purposes of satire or comedy).Watch out for websites that end in ''.com.co'' as they are often fake versions of real news sources Watch out if known/reputable news sites are not also reporting on the story. Sometimes lack of coverage is the result of corporate media bias and other factors, but there should typically be more than one source reporting on a topic or event.Odd domain names generally equal odd and rarely truthful news.Lack of author attribution may, but not always, signify that the news story is suspect and requires verification.Some news organizations are also letting bloggers post under the banner of particular news brands; however, many of these posts do not go through the same editing process (ex: BuzzFeed Community Posts, Kinja blogs,Forbes blogs).Check the ''About Us'' tab on websites or look up the website on Snopes or Wikipedia for more information about the source.Bad web design and use of ALL CAPS can also be a sign that the source you're looking at should be verified and/or read in conjunction with other sources.If the story makes you REALLY ANGRY it's probably a good idea to keep reading about the topic via other sources to make sure the story you read wasn't purposefully trying to make you angry (with potentially misleading or false information) in order to generate shares and ad revenue.It's always best to read multiple sources of information to get a variety of viewpoints and media frames. Some sources not yet included in this list (although their practices at times may qualify them for addition), such asThe Daily Kos,The Huffington Post, and Fox News, vacillate between providing important, legitimate, problematic, and/or hyperbolic news coverage, requiring readers and viewers to verify and contextualize information with other sources.Bio: I am an assistant professor of communication & media, and this list started as a resource for my students, who are learning about journalism/social media/media literacy.

Update 1: I've received hundreds of emails with suggestions, very few of which are duplicates, so it will take me a while to sift through and verify them. I will add them as appropriate. (EDIT 11/15/2016 @ 3:42 EST: I have a list of sources, suggested by all of you, that will take me a long time to get through)

Update 2: Yes, I am considering further coding/categorizing these sources for clarity and creating a more durable/dynamic database. This is likely just step 1.

Update 3:Some people are asking which news sources I trust, and all I can say is that I read/watch/listen very widely, from mainstream, corporate owned sources (The New York Times,The Washington Post, The Boston Globe,The Wall Street Journal,Forbes) as well asThe Atlantic,National Public Radio, and various local and alternative sources with different political perspectives, some of which are included on this list. The problem: Even typically reliable sources, whether mainstream or alternative, corporate or nonprofit, rely on particular media frames to report stories and select stories based on different notions of newsworthiness. The best thing to do in our contemporary media environment is to read/watch/listen widely and often, and to be criticalof the sources we share and engage with on social media.

Update 4: A group of AWESOME librarians will be working with this list to provide more detail, examples of the news articles in question, etc. I will post what they make here when it is complete.

Update 5: It should be noted I'm not the first person to call out some of these websites. When I first started compiling this specific large list on Monday, some friends alerted me to many websites doing similar and great work, such asEd Brayton's recent post at Patheos (I included many of the websites on his list after checking them myself if I was unfamiliar). I plan on providing more links to outside resources in the near future.

(C) 2016 by Melissa Zimdars.

The work 'False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and Satirical ''News'' Sources'

is made available under a Creative Commons

Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Archived Version

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:53

Nov. 15, 2016, 6:18 p.m.

During the election, many people fell prey to fake news stories on social media -- even the president-elect ended up retweeting fake statistics. A professor of communication has created a list of unreliable news sites to help people do better.

Melissa Zimdars, an assistant professor of communication at Merrimack College in Massachusetts, put together a publicly available Google doc cataloging "False, misleading, clickbait-y and satirical 'news' sources." It's been making the rounds on social media as people seek to cleanse their newsfeeds of misinformation.

Many of the sites on the list are aggregators '' they take news stories from other sources and rewrite them with more inflammatory headlines and without contextual facts.

Breitbart, the "platform for the alt-right" whose chairman was just named Trump's chief strategist, is on there, as is InfoWars. Alex Jones, who runs InfoWars, said Trump personally called to thank him for helping him win the election.

The list also includes outright satirical sites like The Onion and less well-known ones like Christwire.org and Daily Currant, as well as some of the hyperpartisan Facebook pages notorious for sharing exaggerated, misleading, or outright false news, including Occupy Democrats and Addicting Info. (A BuzzFeed investigation last month found some fake news sites are seeded by Macedonian teenagers looking to make quick money off ads.)

"Not all of these sources are always or inherently problematic, neither are all of them fake or false," Zimdars notes in the document. "... They should be considered in conjunction with other news/info sources due to their tendency to rely on clickbait headlines or Facebook descriptions, etc."

Farther down, she gives tips for how people can identify potentially fake news. Things like strange domain names, unusual domain extensions, and using ALL CAPS should be warning signs. And make sure to look for who else is reporting the news: "Sometimes lack of coverage is the result of corporate media bias and other factors, but there should typically be more than one source reporting on a topic or event."

Both Facebook and Google have recently announced they will take steps to block fake news sites from accessing their advertising services.

UPDATE, 10:03 p.m.:The list was updated by its creator after this post was published. We have updated the image on the story to reflect the more recent version.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 20:50

A Bloomberg News piece featured as a main headline on the widely trafficked news aggregator DrudgeReport.com cites a quote from President Elect Donald Trump that doesn't exist.

Bloomberg editor Ros Krasney literally invented a tweet he attributed to the president elect Saturday morning in an article discussing the Hamilton musical controversy, at which Vice President Elect Mike Pence was booed.

Here it is from Bloomberg:

''I settled the Trump University cheated more than 6,000 students with false promises of teaching them his real estate secrets,'' the president-elect said on Twitter.

Trump of course never said this.

Here's what he actually said:

And they call Infowars.com fake news!

Update: Bloomberg later corrected their tweet:

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 15:49

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) filed legislation Tuesday that would eliminate the Electoral College, so that presidential elections would be decided by the popular vote.

Boxer introduced the bill when the Senate came into session Tuesday, NBC News reported.

The move is in response to Donald Trump's presidential victory last week. The president-elect won through the Electoral College, although Hillary Clinton is leading the popular vote by nearly a million votes, a statement from Boxer's office read.

Trump won the presidency by securing at least 290 electoral votes while Hillary Clinton recieved 228, with two states still left to call, according to NBC News. Boxer was a Clinton supporter.

Photos

"When all the ballots are counted, Hillary Clinton will have won the popular vote by a margin that could exceed two million votes, and she is on track to have received more votes than any other presidential candidate in history except Barack Obama," Boxer said.

Trump will be the fifth president in U.S. history to win the election despite losing the popular vote. George W. Bush won the most recent such election, in 2000.

"This is the only office in the land where you can get more votes and still lose the presidency," Boxer said in a statement. "The Electoral College is an outdated, undemocratic system that does not reflect our modern society, and it needs to change immediately. Every American should be guaranteed that their vote counts."

Four years ago, Trump called the Electoral College "a disaster for a democracy," in a tweet sent on Nov. 6, 2012.

In an interview with "60 Minutes" that aired on Sunday Trump said he wasn't going to change his mind about preferring an outcome where the person with the most votes wins "just because I won."

Still he added, "There's a reason for doing this because it brings all the states into play. Electoral College and there's something very good about that. ... I do respect the system."

On Tuesday morning, a week after the election, the president-elect sent two tweets conveying his support for the Electoral College, which he now calls "genius."

"If the election were based on total popular vote I would have campaigned in N.Y. Florida and California and won even bigger and more easily," he said.

In a follow-up tweet he said: "The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!"

If Boxer's amendment were to pass, it would amend the U.S. Constitution, and "would take effect when ratified by three-fourths of states within seven years after its passage in the U.S. Congress," the statement from Boxer's office read.

The bill is not expected to advance in the GOP-controlled House and Senate.

The LA Times reports that Boxer has previously sponsored legislation to repeal the Electoral College, but that those bills weren't considered.

Published at 10:23 AM PST on Nov 15, 2016 | Updated at 5:09 AM PST on Nov 16, 2016

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Source: The Intercept

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:54

The Democratic trouncing last week has set off a contest for control of the party. So far, three individuals have stepped up to announce their bids for chair of the Democratic National Committee, vying to replace interim chair Donna Brazile. It's a race that pits a left-wing member of Congress against two corporate lobbyists.

First, there's Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim-American ever elected to Congress. Ellison has long been an advocate for his party's left faction, and is currently a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

In announcing his bid for DNC chair, Ellison emphasized the need for the party to adopt a full-time organizing approach and build a multiracial coalition.

''It is not enough for Democrats to ask for voters' support every two years. We must be with them through every lost paycheck, every tuition hike, and every time they are the victim of a hate crime,'' he said in his announcing statement. ''When voters know what Democrats stand for, we can improve the lives of all Americans, no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation. To do that, we must begin the rebuilding process now.''

Two other individuals have thrown their hats into the ring, and both have deep ties to Washington's lobbying industry.

First, there's Vermont's former Democratic Gov. Howard Dean, who said that the party needs to re-focus on ''the young'' and rebuild its 50-state strategy, which he emphasized during his own tenure as DNC chair between 2005 and 2009:

Interestingly, Dean told MSNBC last week that he objects to Ellison's bid because he's an active member of Congress and ''you cannot do this job if it's not full time. Period. Full stop. End of story.''

But he isn't exactly unemployed himself. His day job is as a ''senior advisor in the Public Policy and Regulation practice'' at Dentons, a massive lobbying and law firm where he worked alongside another key Dentons staffer '-- Trump-backer Newt Gingrich '-- to promote the firm's business.

Dean has in the past angrily denied that he lobbies, and it is true that he is not a registered federal lobbyist. But we know, for example, that he was retained by the drug industry '-- and began writing in favor of its policy agenda. He has reversed himself on a campaign pledge he made during his presidential bid in 2004, now arguing that Medicare should not be able to negotiate for lower drug prices. Additionally, he has given paid speeches for the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), a fringe Iranian exile group, while attacking the nuclear agreement with Iran '-- just like another Trump backer, Rudy Giuliani.

Last, we have South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison. Harrison appeared on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show on Monday to announce his bid. ''I love this party. Everything I am is because of this party,'' he told the host.

Harrison is a registered lobbyist at the Podesta Group, a powerful D.C.-based lobbying firm.

In the past, he's lobbied for clients including Wal-Mart and Lockheed Martin.

He informed Maddow that he's taking an unpaid leave from the firm, to the chagrin of his wife. ''People you know they criticize lobbyists all the time,'' he said. ''And what I tell people is that is how I take care of my family. I pay my grandmother's mortgage. I have $160,000 in student debt. And when you're a poor kid, who grows up, and you're able to be successful to do this, I mean -''

''What about people's concerns, though that your lobbying roster would be the special interests that you'd serve as chair?'' Maddow interrupted.

''The special interests that I care about are people like my grandmother,'' he replied, saying that he moved back to South Carolina because he cares about the state.

Top photo: Rep. Keith Ellison speaks during a press conference about Islamophobia at the National Press Club on May 24, 2016, in Washington, DC.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 16:11

On Sunday, I tweeted'...

We had an ''upfront deal'' with Twitter, which is a common setup where we commit to spending a certain amount on advertising and in exchange receive discounts, perks, and custom solutions.

Our upfront deal was signed in August.

Deal Highlights:

$5MM Spend CommitmentDiscounts on Promoted TrendsBonus Media on Other SpendingValue Adds, such as Custom Hashtag EmojisWe also had several promoted trends reserved/purchased:

7/21 RNC Day 49/26 1st Debate10/9 2nd Debate11/5 Sun Before Election DayCUSTOM HASHTAG EMOJISTwitter'Š'--'Šor well, Dorsey'Š'--'Šrestricted us on the most unique part of our deal, the custom hashtag emojis, of which we had two.

It's an emoji tied to a specific hashtag. When anyone uses that hashtag, the emoji is automatically added at the end.

We planned to launch both of our emojis for the first debate. One was a contrasting emoji for the popular #CrookedHillary. They were going to be featured in our promoted trend for maximum exposure.

ROUND ONE'Š'--'ŠFIRST DEBATEAt the beginning of September, I outlined several possible emoji concepts for the TW creative team to make.

About 2 weeks before the 9/26 debate, the TW team provided several designs that were pre-approved by their legal and policy teams. One included was a hand receiving a moneybag:

Emoji originally designed and approved by Twitter to be used with #CrookedHillaryNext, I met with TW in NY, at Trump Tower, to tweak the already approved emoji designs. Pushing the envelope, the hand/moneybag emoji evolved into a running stick figure with a moneybag:

Evolution of the already approved ''hand w/ moneybag'' emojiThe TW team thought this had a good chance of getting approved since all that changed was a hand to a stick figure.

Sure, it was more aggressive and eye-catching, but that was the goal. I was fine with the hand/moneybag emoji, which was already approved, so I figured we might as well see if we can go further.

Well, I was wrong.

Day after day, TW wouldn't give us an official yay/nay and my contacts inside TW told me the new design was causing a lot of heartburn and ''big meetings'' with folks at the top.

Jack Dorsey was never named, just adam bain, TW COO.

I wasn't too worried because our plans could continue with the hand/moneybag emoji, even if they denied the more aggressive evolution.

Then, finally, a couple days before the first presidential debate, TW reached out for a call with Dan Greene, VP of US Sales.

CALL RUNDOWN:Newly evolved running stick figure emoji was not approved.Approval on the previously OK'd (hand/moneybag) emoji was pulled back and was no longer allowed to be used.Twitter's reason: We couldn't accuse someone of committing a crime they did not commit or were not under investigation for. (Seriously, they said this.)They claimed to fear litigation from HRC.I told them we were trying to show she's gotten wealthy from public office'Š'--'Šthey did not budge.I asked, why were able to use (still approved) emojis that showed emails being destroyed or phones being destroyed (which could also represent committing a crime)'Š'--'Šthey could not explain.I asked, if the Clinton Foundation were being investigated for financial crimes, could we use it'Š'--'Šthey said no.Dan apologized and admitted TW's wrongdoing in pulling back an emoji that was previously approved.To me, this was clearly a BS reason that was made up to give them an out. I was also confidentially told from TW staff that the running stick figure emoji reached Adam Bain, COO, and he personally put a stop to it.

Given that TW had pulled back a previously approved emoji and disrupted our strategy for the debate just days before, we cancelled our promoted trend (costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars).

TRYING AGAIN in GOOD FAITH'Š'--'ŠSECOND DEBATEThe next plan was to launch with the second presidential debate. TW, admitting wrongdoing for how they handled the first, extended a $50K discount (''make good'') so we would agree to keep our next trend and give this another shot.

I took them at their word and proceeded. Foolish of me.

ROUND 2 RUNDOWN:Worked with TW team and our internal creative team to create a moneybag with wings emoji:RNC originally designed emoji on the right and Twitter design, adjusted to meet their specs, on the leftKnowing I needed to appease TW's legal team, I sent it with an explanation to help fend off the HRC lawyers they feared.Explanation: ''The emoji represents govt waste and money flying away from taxpayers. Our internal polling has shown this to be a top issue for voters and it'd be inappropriate to restrict us from being able to discuss this important topic.''Wednesday 10/5, we receive approval from their policy and legal team!Screenshot from official Twitter PDF with finalized emoji designThursday, 10/6, we have a call with their comms team to plan the rollout, including the list of media they'll be leaking the story and emojis to.Slated to launch at 3am ET on Saturday 10/8, with press teasers to go out on Friday 10/7, driven by their comms team.Screenshot from a sample tweet sent by TW's team, showing the emoji in place for launchFriday 10/7 PM, hours before launch, TW asks for a call, with Jack Dorsey, CEO, Adam Bain COO, and Dan Greene, VP US Sales.My internal TW contacts informed me that on Thursday night, 10/6, TW CEO, Jack Dorsey, personally killed the emoji and notified his senior staff.I asked if ''There's going to be another BS legal reason like last time'' and they responded, ''No,Jackjust killed it, there isn't one.'' They were shocked that this was happening.On the call, Jack and Adam started with a lovefest by telling us how great our use of the platform has been. They then told us a last-minute legal review was triggered and they needed to pull the emoji because there wasn't a paid-for-by disclaimer. (Again. Seriously, they said this.)However, both DNC and RNC conventions had custom emojis this cycle and they did not use disclaimers.Red Elephant emoji in use for RNConvention'Š'--'ŠNo disclaimer neededIt's also been reported that a top FEC official has said ''the agency does not regulate emojis and that such transparency isn't required on tweets.''Jack and Adam apologized repeatedly and offered a new incentives package to keep our promoted trend that was just a day away.We told them it was BS and what they were doing with a public platform was incredibly reckless and dangerous. We voiced that it was clearly a political move and telling us otherwise was just insulting.

Jack maintained their talking points and stayed on message. He also pushed back on it being one-sided, because they were ''stopping this feature for ALL political campaigns.''

But, the only other campaign large enough to have this type of deal would have been the Clinton campaign and my contacts inside TW informed me that they did not have one in place.

So basically, ''cancelling for all political campaigns'' really meant cancelling ONLY for Donald J. Trump's campaign.

In return, I cancelled our 10/9 and 11/5 promoted trends. Further, I pulled all persuasion and lead gen spending, costing Twitter millions of dollars.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 15:38

Galician Country Homes is a family orientated business created to give a sales and related services of rustic properties throughout Galicia.

The North West of Spain and more specifically Galicia is a paradise forthose who love peace and a different lifestyle, and live authentically in rural communities. Definitely a way of life closer to its natural origins, living in stone houses as years ago. Really the restoration of old houses is not excessively expensive, The walls are normally sound and this makes the restoration much easier.

Mark Adkinson the owner has lived in Galicia for over forty years. He and his wife Rosi have restored their own house themselves (nobody else took part).

Mark works in rural Galicia for the last few decades directly in contact with its people and culture. He now feels to be completely Galego. He speaks several languages including Galego (with a slight Manchester accent'...) So you have the opportunity to have a guide, somebody who will help you find your future home, a friendly expert to help to control the restoration of your houses and certainly a friend in the future.

What is more Mark is very well known in Galicia for the battle that he is putting up in favor of the Galician ecology as the President of AEMS (Rivers with Life Galicia) an association that won the National Ecology Prize for its defense of the Spanish rivers and their flora and fauna.

What we offerGalician Country Homes (www.galicianrustic.com) will find your dream house in rural Galicia. We can find you accommodation and take you to see the houses that you wish to see, etc. Whenever possible we will help you ask for subventions, etc. to fix up or to restore your houses. If you need a project we have architects and technical services collaborating...

Show moreWhy GaliciaInvesting in Galicia today is investing in a healthier future, life quality, tranquility and welfare. Galicia is booming, the climate has changed in recent years to the point that Galicia has no longer winters that it once had, and summers are warm without being too hot now. In Galicia it sometimes seems that time stops: lying in a field of...

Show moreWhere we liveThis is our house in Rbade, Lugo. When we bought it several years ago, it was a complete ruin; many properties in rural Galicia are in a similar state. It took twenty months, but we did all the work on the house ourselves, so we know exactly how much work goes into a restoration project, how much it really costs, how long it...

Show moreThe difference between our recommendations and others is quite simply: our clients DO EXIST and are willing to give emails, phone numbers, etc. Please feel free to contact them if you have any doubts about the veracity of what is written here.

21/09/2007 On relocating to Spain, Galician country homes made everything really easy. Our sale went through with no complications and Mark has been invaluable since then, helping us find workmen, sorting out our phone and getting us lots of discounts...

Kevin and Louise Pringle13/11/2007 We met Mark a year ago when we first moved to Spain, having purchased a large house here in Galicia. As we couldn't speak Spanish we were trying to buy gas heaters and bottles without papers (impossible). The shop owner...

John and Ann Smith04/12/2007 Mark has fulfilled his promises and has far exceeded our expectations; he is always on hand to answer any queries or problems. Thanks to Mark we have found an amazingly beautiful house with neighbors to match and a lifestyle...

Ian and Shenna Trust31/01/2008 Thanks so much for taking care of us Mark when we were over this Christmas. We wanted to tell you that we are so happy that you are there to help us though the complications of re-locating ourselves and...

Cross family07/05/2008 I work for a charity in London who manages a couple of refuges on the pilgrim routes through Spain to Santiago de Compostela. Having recently retired from work I was looking to buy a property in Galicia in order...

Graham Scholes12/12/2008 Although we did not buy our property (an old watermill) from Mark, we luckily found his great website. At short notice he kindly came over at the weekend to give generously of his time. His advice was really helpful...

Alastair and Kate Turnbull29/01/2009 Title: Green Spain region Message: to FCarlos Hola from northern California! Washington is beautiful, we actually planned on moving there until we discovered Galicia. you will find the climate very similiar to yours, wet lush green forests rivers mountains...

Post on Spain expat30/04/2010 A needle in a haystack If you're looking for a needle in a haystack, based on our experience, Mark should be able to help you find it. We just got back from our first visit to Galicia and spent three amazing...

Happy visitors and clients29/12/2008 Recientemente ped­ a Mark que me ayudara durante un d­a en Galicia, comenzamos en un pueblo que me hab­a gustado en un viaje anterior, pero donde Mark nunca hab­a estado. Llegamos a las 9 de la ma±ana antes de...

Visitante sorprendido26/12/2011 Dear Mark, I thank you for your Christmas wishes and wish both you and your family a very Happy Christmas and New Year. I would also like to use this opportunity to thank you once again for finding me...

Grateful Client28/04/2012 Gracias Mark! Mark agradezco enormemente tu atenci"n y asesoramiento ya que cada problema que ha surgido tº le dabas soluci"n. No puedo ms que recomendar tus servicios ya que eres una persona imparable y especialmente motivadora para la gente que...

Cliente Agradecido02/11/2012 Dear Mark, At the stage of now having reached the end of the whole process of the acquisition of our property in Galicia we would like to thank you very much indeed for all your many services, supports and...

Happy clients08/11/2012 Hola Mark, Estamos muy contentos de haberte conocido y de haber compartido contigo un d­a maravilloso. Queremos agradecerte especialmente tu amabilidad, atenci"n y hospitalidad. No es muy habitual que un agente inmobiliario trate a sus clientes con tanto esmero....

Visitantes contentos10/01/2013 Hi Mark Thank you Sooo much, you've renewed my faith in estate agents ! What a breath of fresh air to liase with someone who actualy seems to want to sell a property and seems genuinely interested in their...

Satisfied potential client20/09/2013 Despu(C)s de buscar una casa rural en Galicia durante varios meses, tuvimos la oportunidad de conocer a Mark. Nos gust" su entusiasmo, dedicaci"n a su profesi"n, y su cercan­a como persona. Es obvio que a Mark le mueve no...

Cliente satisfecho25/08/2014 Not only does Mark Adkinson have a remarkable variety of excellent rural properties to show, but he will entertain you with his extensive knowledge and obvious love of Galicia... It is also very positive to know that Mark involves himself in numerous & valuable protection of...

Gratefull visitor28/02/2016 Linsay Stevenson Despu(C)s de casi un a±o de vivir en la casa que adquir­ a trav(C)s de Mark, estoy totalmente feliz. Veo que, el tiempo que invert­ viendo muchas propiedades, las comparaciones y comprobaciones que me llevaron a la...

Clienta feliz24/09/2015 Dear Mark, We would like to thank you for your time and efforts. You have been incredibly helpful when we where looking at properties in Galicia. Not only did you show us some great properties and took the time to explain...

Satisfied visitorsUso de CookiesEste sitio web utiliza cookies para que usted tenga la mejor experiencia de usuario. Si continºa navegando est dando su consentimiento para la aceptaci"n de las mencionadas cookies y la aceptaci"n de nuestra pol­tica de cookies, pinche el enlace para mayor informaci"n.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 23:13

CREDIT: AP Photo/Alex BrandonFriday evening, the Washington Post reported that about 100 foreign diplomats gathered at President-elect Donald Trump's hotel in Washington, DC to ''to sip Trump-branded champagne, dine on sliders and hear a sales pitch about the U.S. president-elect's newest hotel.'' The tour included a look at the hotel's $20,000 a night ''town house'' suite. The Post also quoted some of the diplomats saying they intended to stay at the hotel in order to ingratiate themselves to the incoming president.

''Why wouldn't I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, 'I love your new hotel!''' said one diplomat from an Asian nation. ''Isn't it rude to come to his city and say, 'I am staying at your competitor?'''

The incoming president, in other words, is actively soliciting business from agents of foreign governments. Many of these agents, in turn, said that they will accept the president-elect's offer to do business because they want to win favor with the new leader of the United States.

In an exclusive exchange with ThinkProgress, Richard Painter, a University of Minnesota law professor who previously served as chief ethics counsel to President George W. Bush, says that Trump's efforts to do business with these diplomats is at odds with a provision of the Constitution intended to prevent foreign states from effectively buying influence with federal officials.

The Constitution's ''Emoluments Clause,'' provides that ''no person holding any office of profit or trust under'' the United States ''shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.''

The diplomats' efforts in seek Trump's favor by staying in his hotel ''looks like a gift,'' Painter told ThinkProgress in an email, and thus is the very kind of favor the Constitution seeks to prevent.

To explain, the ordinary rule under the Emoluments Clause is that federal officials may do business with foreign governments so long as they do not receive special treatment. If the president owns a $200,000 Rolls Royce, Painter told ThinkProgress, they can sell that car to the Queen of England, so long as they only receive its fair market value. If Her Majesty The Queen pays $250,000 for the Rolls Royce, however, that would violate the Emoluments Clause.

There's a catch, however, for someone like Trump who trades on the value of his own name. ''Anything in excess of fair market value is a gift,'' according to Painter, ''and I don't think you can take into account the value of the name Trump in calculating fair market value.'' The diplomats are not staying in one of Trump's expensive luxury hotels because Trump is charging their nation a reasonable market rate for a night's stay. They are staying in the hotel because of the added value that comes from doing business with the President of the United States.

''It had better stop by January 20,'' says Painter.

In a follow up exchange, ThinkProgress asked whether Trump really can cure this impending violation of the Emoluments Clause by acting differently once he is sworn in as president. After all, the message that diplomats can earn the favor of the new president by staying in his hotels has already been received, and it can't exactly be unsaid.

Painter responded that ''the only good answer,'' for the president-elect ''is to sell the hotel or give it to his kids (and pay the gift tax) by January 20.''

Assuming that Trump does not divest from his hotel, however, it may prove difficult to enforce the Constitution against him. There are few court cases dealing with the Emoluments Clause. Typically, the country has relied on internal safeguards within the executive branch and fear of political embarrassment to prevent violations by the president.

Moreover, while it is conceivable that a rival hotel may have standing to sue Trump for taking away its business with foreign diplomats in violation of the Constitution, it's far from clear that any hotel business will want to risk a feud with the notoriously vindictive president-elect.

There is, however, at least one remedy under the Constitution for such a violation of the public trust by the president: impeachment.

UPDATE: On Twitter, Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe agrees with Painter (the thread Tribe refers to links to this article).

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Sun, 20 Nov 2016 11:42

By DAMIAN PALETTA and CAROL E. LEEThe Wall Street Journal

Nov. 19, 2016 9:54 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON'--The U.S. government's top military and intelligence leaders have recommended that President Barack Obama remove National Security Agency Director Adm. Michael Rogers from office, several people familiar with the matter said, amid questions about his leadership.

The call for his ouster, which came a month ago, is a rare rebuke of a top military commander, particularly when he is being considered for a senior intelligence post in the Trump administration.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper have recommended that Mr. Obama direct Adm. Rogers to leave his command, the people familiar with the matter said. Adm. Rogers has served in the Navy since 1981 and leads both the NSA and Cyber Command.

Adm. Rogers declined to comment. Spokesmen for the Pentagon and Office of the Director of National Intelligence also declined to comment. The effort to oust Adm. Rogers was first reported Saturday by the Washington Post.

The NSA is going through a turbulent period. The agency is a division of the military that conducts spying and surveillance against foreign targets and came under heavy pressure following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to detect and intercept new plots. But its mandate was secretly expanded following those attacks, and it swept up and stored the telephone records of millions of Americans.

This surveillance expansion was revealed in 2013 by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, which led to a public backlash against the agency. Adm. Rogers assumed command in 2014 and was charged with reforming the NSA, improving morale and responding to the new threats posed by Islamic militants.

But he is also the leader of the Pentagon's Cyber Command, which Mr. Carter revealed earlier this year had begun offensive missions'--essentially, computerized attacks'--against Islamic State in an effort to disrupt the intelligence network.

Adm. Rogers's critics say the agency wasn't able to handle the simultaneous tasks of defending the U.S. military from cyberattacks, conducting cyberattacks of its own and collecting information through surveillance activities amid intense public scrutiny. But his supporters say Adm. Rogers was doing the best he could given the competing missions and directives, particularly as the federal government fumbled to find a way to deter foreign countries from using digital attacks against the U.S.

The NSA has faced other challenges in recent months. In October, the Justice Department charged a former NSA and Pentagon contractor with stealing thousands of pages of classified documents and digital records that included the identities of U.S. spies and secret programs. Even though the man charged in the case, Harold Miller, was accused of stealing the records over two decades, it became another embarrassment for the NSA and its ability to protect secrets, particularly after Mr. Snowden's revelations forced the agency to rethink how it prevents leaks.

The White House and national security officials have spent months studying whether to split the NSA and Cyber Command apart, essentially having two leaders run the agencies separately instead of one. This has been a source of tension between Adm. Rogers and Messrs. Carter and Clapper, the people familiar with the matter said.

The White House was expected to push for the agencies to split on Dec. 1. That date was moved up, to Oct. 1, in an effort to expedite the changes. But the plan was shelved following pushback from Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R., Ariz.), people familiar with the matter said.

Following the Washington Post report, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R., Calif.) sent a letter to Messrs. Carter and Clapper, calling for more information about their reported push to have Adm. Rogers removed.

''Since Admiral Rogers was appointed as NSA Director in April 2014, I have been consistently impressed with his leadership and accomplishments,'' Mr. Nunes wrote. ''His professionalism, expertise and deckplate leadership have been remarkable during an extremely challenging period for NSA. I know other members of Congress hold him in similarly high esteem.''

He directed both Messrs. Carter and Clapper to notify him no later than Monday when they would be able to testify before Congress about their push to remove Adm. Rogers.

Mr. Nunes is on the transition team advising President-elect Donald Trump on how to build his national security team, and Mr. Trump's top national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, is close to Adm. Rogers. Mr. Trump met with Adm. Rogers on Thursday, and he is a leading candidate to take over Mr. Clapper's job as the next director of national intelligence, people familiar with the matter said.

Earlier this week, Adm. Rogers in a public appearance repeated U.S. intelligence conclusions that Moscow sought to tamper with U.S. elections by hacking into mailboxes of the Democratic National Committee and dumping their contents in the weeks before voting.

''This was not something that was done by chance, this was not a target that was selected purely arbitrarily,'' he said in a question-and-answer session at a Wall Street Journal conference in Washington, D.C. ''This was a conscious effort by a nation state to attempt to achieve a specific effect.''

Write to Damian Paletta at damian.paletta@wsj.com and Carol E. Lee at carol.lee@wsj.com

http://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-intelligence-chiefs-push-to-oust-nsa-director-1479610439

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Pentagon and intelligence community chiefs have urged Obama to remove the head of the NSA

The Washington Post

November 19 at 2:15 PM

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The heads of the Pentagon and the nation's intelligence community have recommended to President Obama that the director of the National Security Agency, Adm. Michael S. Rogers, be removed.The recommendation, delivered to the White House last month, was made by Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr., according to several U.S. officials familiar with the matter.Action has been delayed, some administration officials said, because relieving Rogers of his duties is tied to another controversial recommendation: to create separate chains of command at the NSA and the military's cyberwarfare unit, a recommendation by Clapper and Carter that has been stalled because of other issues.

The news comes as Rogers is being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to be his nominee for director of national intelligence to replace Clapper as the official who oversees all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies. In a move apparently unprecedented for a military officer, Rogers, without notifying superiors, traveled to New York to meet with Trump on Thursday at Trump Tower. That caused consternation at senior levels of the administration, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel matters.

The White House, Pentagon and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. The NSA did not respond to requests for comment. Carter has concerns with Rogers's performance, officials said. The driving force for Clapper, meanwhile, was the separation of leadership roles at the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, and his stance that the NSA should be headed by a civilian.

In a speech before the National Press Club on July 16, the director of the National Security Agency, Adm. Michael S. Rogers said that the agency is increasingly involved in responding to cyber threats. (C-SPAN)

[Trump's security picks signals intent to keep hard-line promises]

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, on Saturday sent Clapper and Carter a letter defending Rogers. ''I have been consistently impressed with his leadership and accomplishments,'' said Nunes, who is also a member of Trump's transition team. ''His professionalism, expertise and deckplate leadership have been remarkable during an extremely challenging period for NSA. I know other members of Congress hold him in similarly high esteem.''

Rogers, 57, took the helm of the NSA and Cyber Command in April 2014 in the wake of revelations by a former intelligence contractor of broad surveillance activities that shook public confidence in the agency. The contractor, Edward Snowden, had secretly downloaded vast amounts of digital documents that he shared with a handful of journalists. His disclosures prompted debate over the proper scale of surveillance and led to some reforms.

But they also were a black eye for an agency that prides itself on having the most skilled hackers and cybersecurity professionals in government. Rogers was charged with making sure another insider breach never happened again.

Instead, in the past year and a half, officials have discovered two major compromises of sensitive hacking tools by personnel working at the NSA's premier hacking unit: the Tailored Access Operations. One involved a Booz Allen Hamilton contractor, Harold T. Martin III, who is accused of carrying out the largest theft of classified government material. Although some of his activity took place before Rogers arrived and at other agencies, some of it '-- including the breach of some of the most sensitive tools '-- continued on Rogers's watch, the officials said.

Martin's alleged theft was discovered when some of the tools he is accused of stealing were mysteriously released online in August. They included computer code based on obscure software flaws that could be used to take control of firewalls and networks '-- what one former TAO operator called ''the keys to the kingdom.''

Martin, who moved from the NSA to a job in a Defense Department acquisitions agency last year, was arrested in August. The news broke last month.

[Government alleges NSA contractor stole 'astonishing quantity' of classified material]

But there was a second, previously undisclosed breach of cybertools, discovered in the summer of 2015, which was also carried out by a TAO employee, one official said. That individual also has been arrested, but his case has not been made public. The individual is not believed to have shared the material with another country, the official said.

Rogers was put on notice by his two bosses '-- Clapper and Carter '-- that he had to get control of internal security and improve his leadership style. There have been persistent complaints from NSA personnel that Rogers is aloof, frequently absent and does not listen to staff input. The NSA is an intelligence agency but part of the Defense Department, hence the two overseers.

FBI agents investigating the Martin breach were appalled at how lax security was at the TAO, officials said. ''[Rogers] is a guy who has been at the helm of the NSA at the time of some of the most egregious security breaches, most recently Hal Martin,'' a senior administration official said. ''Clearly it's a sprawling bureaucracy .'‰.'‰. but I think there's a compelling case that can be made that some of the safeguards that should have been put in place were either not fully put in place or not implemented properly.''

At the same time, Rogers has not impressed Carter with his handling of U.S. Cyber Command's cyberoffensive against the Islamic State. Over the past year or so, the command's operations against the terrorist group's networks in Syria and Iraq have not borne much fruit, officials said. In the past month, military hackers have been successful at disrupting some Islamic State networks, but it was the first time they had done that, the officials said.

The expectation had been that Rogers would be replaced before the Nov. 8 election, but as part of an announcement about the change in leadership structure at the NSA and Cyber Command, a second administration official said.

''It was going to be part of a full package,'' the official said. ''The idea was not for any kind of public firing.'' In any case, Rogers's term at the NSA and Cyber Command is due to end in the spring, officials said.

The president would then appoint an acting NSA director, enabling his successor to nominate their own person. But a key lawmaker, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, threatened to block any such nominee if the White House proceeded with the plan to split the leadership at the NSA and Cyber Command.

The rationale for splitting what is called the ''dual-hat'' arrangement is that the agencies' missions are fundamentally different, that the nation's cyberspies and military hackers should not be competing to use the same networks, and that the job of leading both organizations is too big for one person.

But McCain is concerned that placing Cyber Command under its own leadership will hinder its effectiveness, as it is highly dependent on the NSA for capabilities.

Meanwhile, in February, Rogers announced a major reorganization, which he called NSA21, at the NSA to better adapt to the digital age. He has merged the agency's spying and hacking arms with its computer-security division into one Directorate of Operations. That reorganization has only intensified the discontent that has marked Rogers's tenure at the agency, current and former officials said.

''The morale is horrible,'' one former senior official said. Especially during a period of change, a leader needs to be present, the official said. ''Any leader knows that when you institute change, you have to be there. You have to help heal the wounds, be very active. He was not.''

But Saxby Chambliss, a former Republican senator from Georgia who served on the Select Committee on Intelligence, said that he thinks highly of Rogers. ''When it comes to the world of cyber, there's nobody more capable than Mike Rogers in the military world today,'' he said.

Nonetheless, Rogers has seen other embarrassing network breaches on his watch. In 2013, Iranian hackers managed to penetrate the Navy's unclassified network when Rogers was head of the 10th Fleet/Navy Cyber Command, the unit responsible for protecting the Navy's networks. It took months to expel the attackers.

Rogers is a Navy cryptologist whose military career spans 35 years. He began his career as a surface-warfare officer in 1981. A Chicago native, he also has served as head of the Chairman's Action Group, an in-house Pentagon think tank to advise on policy and long-term issues, under then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, and as director of intelligence at Pacific Command and then on the Joint Staff.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-and-intelligence-community-chiefs-have-urged-obama-to-remove-the-head-of-the-nsa/2016/11/19/44de6ea6-adff-11e6-977a-1030f822fc35_story.html

Ellen Nakashima is a national security reporter for The Washington Post. She focuses on issues relating to intelligence, technology and civil liberties.

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Obama Is Considering Removing N.S.A. Leader

WASHINGTON '-- President Obama is considering removing Adm. Michael S. Rogers from his posts as leader of the National Security Agency and United States Cyber Command after top officials expressed frustration over the speed at which Admiral Rogers had moved to combat the Islamic State and over the agency's repeated loss of closely guarded secrets, administration and intelligence officials said Saturday.

President-elect Donald J. Trump is considering Admiral Rogers, who is responsible for surveillance and the growing arsenal of cyberweapons, for a top post in his administration, including director of national intelligence overseeing all 16 intelligence agencies. Admiral Rogers met with Mr. Trump on Thursday, apparently without the White House's knowledge.

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/us/politics/obama-remove-nsa-leader-michael-rogers.html?_r=0

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Link to Article

Archived Version

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 03:21

Concrete Suggestions in Preparation for January 2017's change in American government (bydemographic issue, but for any interested readers)

(Note: This list is a living document compiled and moderated byKara Hurvitz, an attorney and advocate based out of Boston. It has received contributions from attorneys, other professionals, and lay people all over the country. In light of its collaborative nature and the contributions of many non-attorneys, nothing in this document should be construed as official legal advice or the formation of an attorney-client relationship.Also, due to extremely high traffic, this version of the doc is being made read-only to aid accessibility.[a] I have createda second document with commenting permissions, and encourage you to go to this link with things to add! I will periodically edit this document to reflect the changes made in the other one. Thank you so much for your contributions and your focus on helping people survive the upcoming change in government!

English language version

Transgender issues/suggestions

Other LGB issues/suggestions

Immigration issues/suggestions

Disability issues/suggestions

Reproductive issues/suggestions

Civil rights issues/protections

Criminal justice issues/suggestions

Civic engagement

Other Forms of Self-Protection

Suggestions for allies who want to help (of all types):

Spanish Translation: Sugerencias concretas en preparaci"n para enero

Problemas / sugerencias para individuos transg(C)neros

Otras cuestiones / sugerencias del LGB

Temas / sugerencias de inmigraci"n

Problemas de discapacidad / sugerencias

Asuntos para gente asignada sexo femenino / sugerencias

Derechos civiles / protecciones

Asuntos de justicia penal / sugerencias

Sugerencias para los aliados que quieran ayudar (de todo tipo):

Transgender issues/suggestionsMake the deeply personal, and absolutely important decision abouthow you want to proceed in this conservative climate. There is no shame in transitioning, but there is also no shame in deciding to put off transitioning until it's safer to do so.If you decide to continue with transition, beginthe process tochange gender markers on passports, birth certificates, and other forms of legal identification--thoughstate processes may not see changes immediately if at all,federal processes likely will:Passport processNote that current policy permitting the change of gender markers on passports was facilitated by the Obama administration's Department of State, andwe are likely to see changes to the policy after January 20.Note also that an active passport is a necessity for relocating (temporarily or otherwise) to anywhere else in the world, including Canada, so it is a very good idea to have one current and matching your other forms of identification! You canbegin the application process here. It ispossible, though expensive, to get a passport in just a few weeks. In emergency circumstances it is alsopossible to get a two-year limited validity passport, though this will be valid for less time and in fewer circumstances than a general passport.Several organizations have begun togather funds to help people cover the cost of expedited passport changes. ForMA-local folks,Mass Trans Political Coalitionhas a donation system in place. Forwest coast folks, Kendra Albert is organizing a similar effort- emailkendra.serra@riseup.net for details. For folks inother locations,Trans Relief is setting up a more national effort.Social Security Gender update processThis is roughly the same as the passport process, but does not have the same associated costsGeneral process:FInd a doctor in your area who is willing to write and sign an official letterTake the letter to your local social security administration office, along with proof of citizenship and proof of identityIn twenty-four hours, your gender marker should be changed on your card.Birth certificate processNote: regulations regarding changing sex on birth certificates differ by state--some will not allow changes to sex on certificates at all, some will only allow changes if SRS has been completed, and some will allow changes regardless of surgical status.States also differ in how they define SRS, and some will allow HRT in place of SRS to change records.The link above should have information on your specific state!State IDprocessIf you decide to continue with transition and want tolegally change your name:You will first need to submit a petition to your local courtIn some parts of the country, this is done at a Family and Probate CourtIn other parts of the country, this is done at a Chancery CourtContact local legal organizations for more information on where to file!Be aware that there are frequently filing fees, though these can sometimes be waived for indigent applicantsYou can search for examples of these petitions online, have an attorney help you with this process, or usethis templateAfter submitting this petition, you may need to set up a court date. You will be given a way to contact the relevant judge's assistant or someone who can schedule this for you.In court, you will need to have a court order prepared for the judge to sign. This sounds a bit intimidating, but a court order is simply a short document that declares what the change is going to be.Again, you can search for examples of court orders (your county may have an electronic system that will let you look up documents like these that have been accepted in your area), have an attorney help you with this, or you can usethis template.With your court order signed by the judge and filed with your local clerk, you can proceed with changing your information. Social security will be your first stop, and you can find the information about how to do this in the section about changing your gender marker.(This information was compiled and summarized by the owner ofthis blog, who lives in MS)Be aware that having a debt or criminal record may complicate the process. Some courts require background checks or judgement searches. If you encounter this, don't panic. Seek legal aid.New England has set up apro bono rapid response program for helping people make these changes to legal documentsIf you are on a federal employee health plan or a publicly-provided plan such as MassHealth (or an ACA-created plan),expedite what healthcare you can andexplore backup insurance options.The Commonwealth Care Connector is unlikely to see significant changes,especially in the short term, because it predates the ACABut Medicaid programming may become more streamlined and restrictive!Get all thenon-marriage materials taken care of in case those protections go away:Health care proxyPower of attorneyBeneficiaries of policiesLast will and testament (to ensure your spouse has a legal claim to your assets in the event of annulment)Check the laws in your state to see what makes a valid Last will.Make sure you make it air-tight and non-contestable.Get a lawyer if you can!Consider contributing to (and referring to)Refuge Restrooms, a web app that compiles information about gender neutral restrooms in public placesIf you are having suicidal thoughts,please contact one of the many support systems available, such as The Trevor Project (1-866-488-7386)If you are living with HIV/AIDS make sure to speak with a local clinic/your doctor/insurance provider to identify reliable sources from which to continue receiving your medications at a reasonable cost/for free. If you do not know your status, get tested at a local clinic or with your doctor.Familiarize yourself with the names and numbers ofnational and local legal protection groups, which will be working to provide advice, materials, and support over the coming months:National organizations:Transgender Legal Services NetworkTrans Road Map (legal section)National Center for Transgender EqualityLocal organizations:Boston -Mass Trans Political Coalition, GLAD New York City -The Sylvia Rivera Law ProjectState organizations:Oregon: PDX Trans PrideOther LGB issues/suggestionsMake the deeply personal, and absolutely important decision abouthow you want to proceed in this climate. There is no shame in deciding to be open about your identity, but there is also no shame in deciding to to be quiet about your identity until it's safer to be vocal about it.Consider legal marriage distinct from your wedding planning, andconsider getting legally married as soon as possible if you're in the planning stages. Marriage annulment is a distinct process from marriage issuance, and we're very very likely to see setbacks on the latter.[b][c][d]Familiarize yourself with the names and numbers oflegal protection groups, which will be working to provide advice, materials, and support over the coming months:National groups:Black and PinkLambda LegalNational Center for Lesbian RightsLocal groups, by location:Philadelphia - The Mazzoni CenterBoston - GLAD[e][f]If you are a same-sex couple with children, consider a co-parent adoption to solidify your joint parental rights.Get all thenon-marriage materials taken care of in case those protections go away:Health care proxyPower of attorneyBeneficiaries of policiesLast will and testament (to ensure your spouse has a legal claim to your assets in the event of annulment)Check the laws in your state to see what makes a valid Last will.Make sure you make it air-tight and non-contestable.Get a lawyer if you can!In the case of total revokement of citizenship for same-sex marriages, where one spouse was naturalized, some sort of action plan should be created. This should also include co-parent adoption immediately as per above (item #4)If you are having suicidal thoughts, please contact one of the many support systems available, such as The Trevor Project (1-866-488-7386)If you are living with HIV/AIDS make sure to speak with a local clinic/your doctor/insurance provider to identify reliable sources from which to continue receiving your medications at a reasonable cost/for free. If you do not know your status, get tested at a local clinic or with your doctor.Immigration issues/suggestionsGenerally, an application that you file is evaluated under law at time of filing, soif you need a visa extension, spouse visa, anything but DACA, do it now.That said,reviewthis article explaining realistic timeframes for immigration risksKnow your rights regarding immigration proceedingsBe aware of risks inherent in filing under DACA if you are filing for the first time, because that does not provide any protection except stay of deportation and we are very likely to see further changes to existing DACA precedentIf you or anyone you know is under 18 (or 21, in some states) and was born in another country,you may be able to apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, which allows you to become a legal resident.Be aware that SIJS requires:A determination from a family court judge that it is not viable to reunite you with one or more of your parentsA determination that it it is not in your interest to be sent back to your country of originA finding of abandonment, neglect, or abuse(Anyone who has a pending I-360 should consider filing their I-485 immediately, especially those from the Northern Triangle, as well as Mexico which may become backlogged again soon.) --Lily S. AxelrodFamiliarize yourself with the names and numbers ofnational and local legalprotection groups, which will be working to provide advice, materials, and support over the coming months:National resources:The National Immigration Law CenterThe Political Asylum Immigration Representation (PAIR) ProjectImmigration Law HelpUnited We DreamImmigrant Legal Resource CenterLocal resources by city orstate:Asian Americans Advancing Justice - affiliates in Atlanta, Chicago, San FranInternational Irish Immigration Center - BostonDespite the confusing name, this org helps all immigrant populations!Northwest Immigrant Rights Project - Washington stateThe Student Immigrant Movement - BostonAtlas:DIY - NYCBe wary of ''notarios'' or other non-lawyer ''immigration service'' for immigration advice. In Latin American legal systems, a ''notario'' often has a great deal of training and can be licensed to practice some areas of law.In the United States, a public notarydoes NOT have legal training and is NOT allowed to practice law, including giving any advice about immigration law or helping people prepare immigration applications. Notarios are often well-meaning, but they can severely damage someone's chances for successful status change. That said, there are forms of non-attorney who are permitted to represent people in some forms of immigration hearing; you can look up whether people are accredited for this at this link!If you're undocumented or at risk of losing your status, don't panic. Make a plan.[g] If you have children or other relatives who depend on you, make arrangements for their care. Save money for bond (often $3000-5000 for folks without criminal records, and well over $10,000 even for folks with just a single DUI. Really.). Keep all your documents in a safe place, and give copies to a trusted relative.Disability issues/suggestionsFamiliarize yourself with the names and numbers ofnational and local legal protection groups, which will be working to provide advice, materials, and support over the coming months:Yourlocal healthcare navigator agency (which can be found by entering your ZIP code intothis link)MA residents: Our healthcare navigator agency isHealthcare For AllHCFA also connects people to legal representation through its sister organization Health Law Advocates Yourlocal Disability Protection and Advocacy entity (which can be found by going tothis link and looking for the map in the upper right corner of the page labeled ''Find Help In Your State'')MA residents: Our P&A agency isThe Disability Law CenterFor people inrural areas, the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) can provide resourcesYour local Independent Living Center (peer-run disability rights organization). Most ILCs do not have lawyers on staff, but they can help with benefits issues (including healthcare, SSI, SNAP, EAEDC, etc.) and connect you to other resources. To find your local ILC, go to this link and look for your state.Other location-specific resources:Boston - The Mass Law Reform InstituteCalifornia - Disability Rights & Education Defense FundWashington- Disability Rights WashingtonNorth Carolina CIL websiteIf you are on a federal employee health plan or a publicly-provided plan such as MassHealth (or an ACA-created plan),expedite what healthcare you can andexplore backup insurance options.Try to geteducational supports such as Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans put in place before January, when official DOE policy is likely to change. TheFederation for Children with Special Needs can provide, or connect you with, IEP advocacy and assistance if you need it.For more information on current disability-related education policy,gohere[h]Complilation of education/continuous learning resources can be found onlinehere Note:Some of this archive is specific to North Carolina, but there are many national resources and legal references listed as wellResources for the Accessibility Community can be foundhereNote:Some of this archive is specific to North Carolina, but there are many national resources and legal references listed as wellIf you haven't already - find an online support groupMost support groups have an online element/discussion boardMany support groups are based on particular disease, disorder, or illness or a disability typeMore and more of these groups are integrating with social networking sites like Facebook, often forming Closed (Private) Groups to maintain privacySupport groups enable people with disabilities to commiserate, share insight, and most importantly -- share tips, tricks, and resources -- everything from legal advice, to doctor lists, to non-medical advice that facilitates accessibility and beyondOnline Support Groups:Invisible Disabilities AssociationNORD -Find Patient Organization (not just rare disorders)Reproductive issues/suggestionsConsidersetting up anIUD--once inserted,these are effective for years and reduce reliance on medical birth control. You can read about the basic types of IUD and their pros and cons here, but here is the short version:The ParaGard (copper IUD) is approved for10 years and lasts up to 12, and is hormone free.Pros: This option is free from the general mood consequences that hormonal birth control can cause.Cons: This option can cause heavier periods, especially in the first few months.The Mirena (progestin) IUD lasts 5 years and lasts up to 7 and treats heavy/painful periods.Pros: A common side effect of Mirena is lack of periods, this may be something to consider as prices for menstruation products could increase. Mirena and other amenorrhea-inducing forms of birth control are also used to manage other health issues relating to menstruation.Cons: A common side effect of Mirena is lack of periods, which some people find disquieting or uncomfortableThe Liletta is a generic alternative to the MirenaThe Skyla lasts 3 years andis specifically intended for uterus owners who haven't had kids.(But you can get the longer lasting ones if you have not had kids too.)Also, the Skyla can be used if you have had children and are sensitive to hormonal contraceptives, since it's a lower dose of hormone than the other hormonal IUDs.The Kyleena lasts for five years and does not impedemenstruationInsertion can be painful, but lasts about ten minutes.Taking an NSAID about half an hour prior to insertion may help some people with painAnother Long-Acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) is the hormonal implant, most commonly availableas either Nexplanon or Implanon.The implant is a very small rod (size of a matchstick) inserted under the skin of the upper arm to provide birth control. It's invisible and prevents pregnancy for up to 4 years. You can read more about hormonal implantshere.Familiarize yourself with the names and numbers oflocal legal protection groups, which will be working to provide advice, materials, and support over the coming months:The Center for Reproductive RightsNARAL pro-choice AmericaNational Organization for WomenThe Rape Abuse and Incest National NetworkIf you receive services through Planned Parenthood or receive other care through a federal or ACA-created plan,expedite what healthcare you can andexplore backup insurance options.Consider stocking up onPlan B or AfterPill (availableover the counter), for possible future personal useIf you are certain you do not want to bear children, consider gettingEssure [i][j][k]or a tubal ligation now if your insurance currently covers it, before coverage disappears.If you have not or your children have not yet received the HPV vaccine, consider initiating the series immediately in case your insurance stops covering it in the near future.Civil rights issues/protectionsFamiliarize yourself with the names and numbers ofnational and local legal protection groups, which will be working to provide advice, materials, and support over the comingmonths:The ACLU-national group and local affiliatesNational Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleThe Southern Poverty Law CenterThe National Lawyers' GuildThe Council on American-Islamic RelationsThe Anti-Defamation League[l][m]Native American Rights FundAsian American Legal Defense FundMexican American Legal Defense and EducationDownload apps thatassist with personal safety while traveling:TheCompanion app for Droid and iPhone helps you keep in touch with friends when they're going back home late at nightThe ACLU has issuedMobile Justice apps for recording interactions with law enforcementFamiliarize yourself withstate and federal agencies for enforcing civil rights, constitutional rights, worker's rights, and. Federal resources:The US Dept. of Justice - Civil Rights Division - complaints of discrimination in public accommodationThe US Dept. of Labor - Wage and Hour Division - wage and hour law complaintsEqual Employment Opportunity Commission - employment complaints for federally-protected classesOccupational Safety and Health Administration- workplace safety complaintsUS Dept. of Education - education discrimination complaintsUS Dept. of Housing and Urban Development - housing discrimination complaintsUS Office of Special Counsel- whistleblower protection complaintsFederal ADA and Disability Resources - includes breakdown of agencies that deal with accommodation, discrimination, and accessibility for those who qualify under the ADA as people with disabilitiesState resources:Office for Civil Rights -Regional OfficesAlaska -State Commission for Human RightsArizona -Attorney General's Office, Civil Rights DivisionArkansas -Department of Human Services [PDF]California -Attorney General's Office, Civil Rights Enforcement SectionColorado - Department of Regulatory Agencies - State civil rights complaintsConnecticut -Commission on Human Rights & OpportunitiesDelaware - Office of Civil Rights & Public TrustFlorida -Commission on Human RelationsGeorgia - Office of Civil RightsHawai'i - Civil Rights CommissionIdaho -Commission on Human RightsIllinois - Attorney General's Office, Civil Rights BureauIndiana - Civil Rights CommissionIowa - Civil Rights CommissionKansas - Human Rights CommissionKentucky - Commission on Human RightsLouisiana - Commission on Human RightsMaine - Human Rights CommissionMaryland - Commission on Civil RightsMassachusetts - Attorney General's Office, Civil Rights DivisionMichigan - Department of Civil RightsMinnesota - Department of Human RightsNew York -Division of Human RightsNew Mexico - Human Rights BureauCriminal justice issues/suggestionsNow is a good time toseal, expunge, or otherwise clean up criminal records in preparation for more stringent benefits laws and federal programs, though that process differs by locationFile/resolve anycampus assault cases that happen in the next sixty or so days as promptly as possible (which means before the end of the semester!), while schools are still required to investigate. It's probably a good idea toreview this Marshall Project summary of Obama's executive orders, since those are the most likely to be repealed quicklyNote: Most of these executive orders, while valuable, will be hard to immediately prepare for if undone by Trump :(Most criminal law and policy happensat the state level, so get involved in local organizations[I will keep thinking about concrete suggestions for this set of issues]Civic engagementVote and remind other people to vote -- and not just in presidential elections.Voter turnout drops dramatically in non-presidential election years, but local and state elections are just as important, not to mention local and state offices are often stepping stones to national office.You can read more about voter turnouthere.Call your local representatives (you can read instructions and how to find contact informationhere)Other Forms of Self-ProtectionLook intoself-defense classes if you are worried about being physically harassed or assaulted.IMPACT self-defense classes teach verbal skills for deescalating problems as well as physical skills, and provides specific classes for people with disabilities. There are chapters in major cities throughout the US, and some of their chapters offer LGBTQ-specific classes.http://www.impactselfdefense.org/Manydojos (schools of the martial arts) also have a Self Defense Class or offer lessons for beginners.There will often be specific seminars for children, if they are being bullied in schools, while adult classes are usually offered as being specific to women's self-defence.If the owner of the school is sympathetic, though, they will often allow men to join and learn basics (usually how to break out of wrist grabs and choke holds, as well as the most effective moves to ward off an attacker)Consider gettingfirst-aid certification, which is generally helpful knowledge under any emergency circumstancesFor more information onalternate forms of self-protection/defense, reviewthis alternate preparation guideSuggestions for allies who want to help (of all types):Familiarize yourself with the names and numbers oflocal legal protection groups, which will be working to provide advice, materials, and support over the coming months.For examples of organizations organized by specific cause, see the lists above :)I also recommend readingthis comprehensive list put together by JezebelConsidercontributing data to Refuge Restrooms, a webapp that compiles information about gender neutral restrooms in public places.Help friends who need to navigate complicated and intimidating processes by providingemotional, logistical, and financial support as appropriate--many things on the above list are scary, intimidating, and flat-out expensive!Note also that anactive passport is a necessity for relocating (temporarily or otherwise) to anywhere else in the world, including Canada, so it is a very good idea to have one current! You canbegin the application process here. It ispossible, though expensive, to get a passport in just a few weeks. In emergency circumstances it is alsopossible to get a two-year limited validity passport, though this will be valid for less time and in fewer circumstances than a general passport.Several organizations have begun togather funds to help people cover the cost of expedited passport changes. ForMA-local folks,Mass Trans Political Coalitionhas a donation system in place. Kendra Albert is organizing a similar effort- emailkendra.serra@riseup.net for details. For folks inother locations,Trans Relief is setting up a more national effort.If you're in NYC, fill out the''Yes, I'll Accompany My Neighbor'' formA suggestion for how to handle witnessing Islamophobic street harassment''In my ENL 181A class today, one ally suggestedsetting up a kind of buddy system for going to and from classes. So anyone that needs support or feels afraid to come onto campus can have someone there with them.''[n]People in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations:ask your neighbors what you can do to make them personally feel welcome.For example, be present during any police interactions they may have. Film them if necessary.Physicians and other clinicians can consider getting involved with theasylum network through Physicians for Human Rights, which performs asylum evaluations for immigrantsAMAB people should consider getting the Gardasil series if they haven't already. Certain strains of HPV can be dangerous, and individual prevention helps reduce the spread of infection to vulnerable populations.Louisiana still has an open Senate seat, which will be decided in a runoff election on December 10.Consider supporting Foster Campbell, the democrat, by donating or phone banking, as a way to limit Trump's power.Spread the word to people who live in Louisiana.Learn morehere;If you are considering wearing a safety pin:Back up this symbol with a genuine interest in helping -- here are some suggestions:Be a buddy as suggested in point 5Be a listening ear or a shoulder if somebody simply needs emotional support,Speak up when you see a bigoted encounter and it is safe to do so,Donate time or money to groups focused on helping those affected most.You can read more about the origins of the safety pin movement and its origins after Brexithere.Note that some white supremacist organizations have begun to discuss co-opting the safety pin movement, andsome marginalized persons also disapprove of or disagree with the movement in general.Contact local representatives (and start by readingthis excellent resource about how to talk effectively to legislators))Considerwearing a BodyCam to document interactionsBody cams are'...more subtle and disposable than cell phonesFaster to activate.Can often be set on a ''loop'' recording mode where they run all the time but then if something fast happens, you can press a button to save the last x minutes.Considerdonating time or money to organizations that will need extra funding in a Trump presidencyPlanned ParenthoodThe Center for Reproductive RightsThe NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense FundThe Trevor ProjectThe International Refugee Assistance ProjectMexican American Legal Defense and EducationLocal Activist Organizations, Free Legal Council Organizations(organizado por circunstancia demogrfica, pero para cualquier persona interesada)

Problemas / sugerencias para individuos transg(C)nerosTome la decisi"n profundamente personal e importante sobre c"mo usted desea proceder en este clima. No hay verg¼enza en la transici"n, pero tampoco hay verg¼enza en la decisi"n de posponer la transici"n hasta que sea ms seguro hacerlo.Si decide continuar con la transici"n, inicie el proceso de cambio de g(C)nero en pasaportes, partidas de nacimiento y otras formas de identificaci"n legal::Proceso de partida de nacimientoProceso de pasaporteTenga en cuenta que la pol­tica actual que permite el cambio de marcadores de g(C)nero en los pasaportes fue creada por orden ejecutiva y es probable que sea revocada despu(C)s del 20 de enero.Tenga en cuenta tambi(C)n que un pasaporte activo es una necesidad para trasladarse (temporalmente o de otra manera) a cualquier otro lugar en el mundo, incluyendo Canad, por lo que es una muy buena idea tener una actual que coincida con sus otras formas de identificaci"n! Puede iniciar el proceso de solicitud aqu­. Es posible, aunque caro, obtener un pasaporte en pocas semanas. En circunstancias de emergencia tambi(C)n es posible obtener un pasaporte de validez limitada de dos a±os, aunque esto ser vlido por menos tiempo y en menos circunstancias que un pasaporte general.Proceso de documento de identidad estatalActualizaci"n de G(C)nero de la Seguridad SocialParecido al del pasaporte y es gratis.Busque un doctor en suFBusque un m(C)dico en su rea que est(C) dispuesto a escribir y firmar una carta oficial. Ll(C)velo a su oficina local de tarjetas de seguridad social junto con una prueba de ciudadan­a, y prueba de identidad, y en 24 horas, su marcador de g(C)nero se cambia.https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/2856/How-do-I-change-my-gender-on-Social-Security-s-recordsSi usted est en un plan de salud para empleados federales o en un plan proporcionado por el pºblico, como MassHealth (o un plan creado por ACA), agilice lo que usted puede y explore las opciones de seguro alternativo.Es poco probable que el Commonwealth Care Connector vea cambios significativos, especialmente a corto plazo, porque es anterior a la ACAPero la programaci"n de Medicaid puede ser ms gil y restrictiva.Obtenga todos los materiales no matrimoniales tomados en cuenta en caso de que esas protecciones desaparezcan:Proxy de saludPoder legalBeneficiarios de las polizasšltima voluntad y testamento (para asegurar que su pareja tiene una reclamaci"n legal)Check the laws in your state to see what makes a valid Last will. Make sure you make it air-tight and non-contestable. Get a lawyer if you can!Consider contributing to (and referring to) Refuge Restrooms, a web app that compiles information about gender neutral restrooms in public placesFamiliar­cese con los nombres y nºmeros de grupos locales de protecci"n legal, que trabajarn para proporcionar asesoramiento, materiales y apoyo durante los pr"ximos meses:Mass Trans Political CoalitionGLAADTransgender Legal Services NetworkTrans Road Map (legal section)The Sylvia Rivera Law ProjectOtras cuestiones / sugerencias del LGBTome la decisi"n profundamente personal de c"mo usted desea proceder en este clima. No hay verg¼enza en la decisi"n de ser abiertos sobre su identidad sexual, pero tampoco hay en decidir callarse hasta que sea ms seguro ser vocal al respectoConsidere el matrimonio civil antes de organizar una boda, y considere casarse legalmente cuanto antes si usted est en etapas de la planificaci"n. La anulaci"n matrimonial es un proceso distinto de la emisi"n del matrimonio, y es muy probable que veamos retrocesos en este ºltimo caso.Familiar­cese con los nombres y nºmeros de grupos locales de protecci"n legal, que trabajarn para proporcionar asesoramiento, materiales y apoyo durante los pr"ximos meses:Black and PinkLambda LegalThe Mazzoni CenterGLAAD[o][p]Si usted es una pareja del mismo sexo con hijos, considere una adopci"n co-padre para solidificar sus derechos paternales conjuntos.Temas / sugerencias de inmigraci"nGeneralmente, una solicitud que usted archiva se evalºa bajo la ley en el momento de la presentaci"n, as­ que si necesita una extensi"n de visa, visa de pareja, cualquier cosa menos Consideraci"n de Acci"n Diferida (DACA), hgalo ahora.Sea consciente de los riesgos inherentes a la presentaci"n bajo DACA si usted est presentando por primera vez, porque eso no provee ninguna protecci"n excepto la suspensi"n de la deportaci"n y es muy probable que la acci"n diferida bajo DACA est(C) a punto de terminar.Si usted o alguien que usted conoce es menor de 18 a±os (o 21, en algunos estados) y naci" en otro pa­s, es posible que pueda solicitar el estado juvenil especial de inmigrante, que le permite convertirse en un residente legal. Requiere la determinaci"n de un juez del tribunal de familia que reclame que no es viable reunirte con uno o ms de tus padres y que no es de tu inter(C)s que te devuelvan a tu pa­s de origen.Cualquier persona que tenga un I-360 pendiente debe considerar archivar su I-485 inmediatamente.Familiar­cese con los nombres y nºmeros de grupos locales de protecci"n legal, que trabajarn para proporcionar asesoramiento, materiales y apoyo durante los pr"ximos meses:International Irish Immigration Center (que ayuda a todo tipo de inmigrante)The National Immigration Law CenterThe Political Asylum Immigration Representation (PAIR) ProjectAsian Americans Advancing Justice - AtlantaThe Student Immigrant Movement - BostonTenga cuidado con los "notarios" u otros "servicios de inmigraci"n" que no sean abogados para obtener asesoramiento sobre inmigraci"n.En los sistemas legales latinoamericanos, un "notario" a menudo tiene una gran cantidad de entrenamiento y puede ser licenciado para practicar algunas reas del derecho pero ese no es el caso en EEUU. En los Estados Unidos, un notario pºblico NO tiene capacitaci"n legal y NO se le permite practicar la ley, incluyendo dar cualquier consejo sobre la ley de inmigraci"n o ayudar a las personas a preparar las solicitudes de inmigraci"n. Los notarios aunque tengan buenas intenciones, pueden da±ar gravemente las posibilidades de que alguien tenga (C)xito en el cambio de estatusSin embargo, hay formas de que una persona que no sea abogado este autorizado a representar a las personas en algunos temas de inmigraci"n; Usted puede buscar si las personas estn acreditadas para esto.Si usted es indocumentado o en riesgo de perder su estatus, no se asuste. Haga un plan.Si tiene hijos u otros parientes que dependen de usted, haga arreglos para su cuidado.Ahorre plata para pagar su tarifa (puede ser entre $ 3000-5000 para la gente sin antecedentes, y bien sobre $ 10.000 incluso para la gente con casos criminales).Guarde todos sus documentos en un lugar seguro y entregue copias a un familiar de confianzaGente en barrios con grandes poblaciones de inmigrantes: pregºntele a sus vecinos qu(C) puede hacer para que se sientan bienvenidos y seguros.Por ejemplo, estar presente durante cualquier interacci"n policial que pueda tener. Grabandolo en video si sea necesario.Problemas de discapacidad / sugerenciasFamiliar­cese con los nombres y nºmeros de grupos locales de protecci"n legal, que trabajarn para proporcionar asesoramiento, materiales y apoyo durante los pr"ximos meses:Health Law Advocates Healthcare For AllTenga en cuenta que HCFA es una agencia de navegaci"n sanitaria s"lo para Massachusetts. Para encontrar un navegador cerca de usted, vaya ahttps://localhelp.healthcare.gov/#intro y privide su c"digo postal.The Disability Law CenterTenga en cuenta que DLC es la entidad de protecci"n y defensa de discapacidad (P & A) para Massachusetts solamente. Para encontrar los P & A para su estado, vaya a:http://www.ndrn.org/index.php y busque el mapa en la esquina superior derecha de la pgina etiquetada "Buscar ayuda en su estado".The Mass Law Reform InstituteSu Centro de Vida Independiente local (organizaci"n de derechos de los discapacitados de pares). La mayor­a de los ILC no tienen abogados en el personal, pero pueden ayudar con los beneficios (incluyendo atenci"n m(C)dica, SSI, SNAP, EAEDC, etc.) y conectarlos con otros recursos. Para encontrar su ILC local, vaya ahttp://www.ilru.org/projects/cil-net/cil-center-and-association-directory y busque su estado.Si usted es un empleado federal y est en un plan federal de salud para empleados o en un plan proporcionado por el pºblico, como MassHealth (o un plan creado por ACA), acelere lo que usted pueda y explore las opciones de seguro alternativo.Trate de conseguir apoyos educativos como los IEPs puestos en marcha antes de enero, cuando es probable que la pol­tica oficial del DOE cambie. La Federaci"n para Ni±os con Necesidades Especiales (http://fcsn.org/) puede proveerle, o conectarlo, con la defensa y asistencia del IEP si usted la necesita.Asuntos para gente asignada sexo femenino / sugerenciasConsidere la posibilidad de obtener un DIU - una vez implantado, estos son eficaces durante a±os y reducir la dependencia en el control de la natalidad m(C)dica. Puedes leer sobre los tipos bsicos de DIU y sus pros y contrasaqu­, pero aqu­ est la versi"n corta:El ParaGard (DIU de cobre) est aprobado por 10 a±os y dura hasta 12 a±os, y est libre de hormonas. Esta opci"n tambi(C)n est libre de las consecuencias generales del estado de nimo que el control de la natalidad hormonal puede causar.El DIU Mirena (progestgeno) dura 5 a±os y dura hasta 7 y ayuda con los periodos pesados '‹'‹/ dolorososEl Liletta es una alternativa gen(C)rica a la MirenaEl Skyla dura 3 a±os y est espec­ficamente para los due±os del ºtero que no han tenido ni±os. (Pero usted puede conseguir los ms duraderos si usted no ha tenido ni±os tambi(C)n.)La Kyleena dura cinco a±os y no impide la menstruaci"nFamiliar­cese con los nombres y nºmeros de grupos locales de protecci"n legal, que trabajarn para proporcionar asesoramiento, materiales y apoyo durante los pr"ximosThe Center for Reproductive RightsNARAL pro-choice AmericaNational Organization for WomenThe Rape Abuse and Incest National NetworkSi recibe servicios a trav(C)s de Planned Parenthood o recibe otro tipo de atenci"n a trav(C)s de un plan federal o creado por ACA, acelere la atenci"n m(C)dica que pueda y explore las opciones de seguro alternativo.Considere comprar y guardar el Plan B (disponible sin receta), para posible uso personal en el futuro y / o distribuci"n para los que lo necesite.Si est seguro de que no quiere tener hijos, considere la posibilidad de obtener Essure o una ligadura de trompas ahora si su seguro lo cubre actualmente, antes de que la cobertura desaparezca.Derechos civiles / protecciones(Nota: esto se aplica a una gran cantidad de identidades pero la log­stica de las cuestiones de derechos civiles a menudo parecen similares, por lo que estoy resumiendo junto)Familiar­cese con los nombres y nºmeros de grupos locales de protecci"n legal, que trabajarn para proporcionar asesoramiento, materiales y apoyo durante los pr"ximos meses:The ACLU-national group and local affiliatesThe Anti-Defamation LeagueNational Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleThe Southern Poverty Law CenterThe National Lawyers' Guild[Seguir(C) pensando en sugerencias concretas para este conjunto de cuestiones]Asuntos de justicia penal / sugerenciasAhora es un buen momento para sellar, borrar, o de otra manera limpiar los antecedentes penales en la preparaci"n de ms estrictas leyes de beneficios y programas federales, a trav(C)s de ese proceso difiere por la ubicaci"nArchivar / resolver cualquier caso de asalto en el campus que ocurra en los siguientes sesenta o ms d­as tan pronto como sea posible (lo que significa antes del final del semestre!), Mientras que las escuelas todav­a estn obligados a investigar.Probablemente sea una buena idea revisareste resumen del Proyecto Marshallde las "rdenes ejecutivas de Obama, ya que (C)stas son las que ms probablemente sern derogadas rpidamenteNota: La mayor­a de estas "rdenes ejecutivas, aunque valiosas, sern dif­ciles de preparar inmediatamente si se deshacen por Trump :(Sugerencias para los aliados que quieran ayudar (de todo tipo):Familiar­cese con los nombres y nºmeros de grupos locales de protecci"n legal, que trabajarn para proporcionar asesoramiento, materiales y apoyo durante los pr"ximos meses.Para ejemplos de organizaciones organizadas por causa espec­fica, vea las listas ya mencionadas.Tambi(C)n recomiendo leeresta lista completa elaborada por JezabelConsidere la posibilidad de aportar datos aRefuge Restrooms, una aplicaci"n de web que recopila informaci"n sobre ba±os de sexo neutro en lugares pºblicos.Ayude a los amigos que necesitan navegar por procesos complicados e intimidantes proporcionando apoyo emocional, log­stico y financiero segºn sea apropiado - muchas cosas en la lista anterior son aterradoras, intimidantes y caras.Tenga en cuenta tambi(C)n que un pasaporte activo es una necesidad para trasladarse (temporalmente o de otra manera) a cualquier otro lugar en el mundo, incluyendo Canad, por lo que es una muy buena idea tener una corriente! Puede iniciar el proceso de solicitudaqu­.Los que estan en Nueva York, agregense aqui:''Yes, I'll Accompany My Neighbor'' Edits currently are being adapted where possible, but expect lags in proposed changes made directly in this document. Edits proposed on the mirror doc can and will be adapted more quickly, because they do not encounter as many Google bugs. :)

Some people have included information about problematic recent behavior of the ADL. While I'm not minimizing these issues, the ADL has been doing civil rights work in America for over 100 years, and I am reluctant to avoid mentioning any major resource that people might find at their disposal.

In order to preserve this person's context for their observation, I'm preserving the anecdote--but also wanted it to be clear that it was a student's observation (and I myself am not a student), so I added quotations. Original poster, if you would prefer I preserve your observation in a different way, please let me know!

Edits currently are being adapted where possible, but expect lags in proposed changes made directly in this document. Edits proposed on the mirror doc can and will be adapted more quickly, because they do not encounter as many Google bugs. :)

I am a legal generalist but do some work with special education and know many others who specialize in it, so it is also okay to contact with me specific questions!

I am a legal generalist but do some work on immigration matters and know several people who specialize in it, so it is okay to contact me with specific questions and I'll see if I can connect you with help.

Some people have included information about problematic recent behavior of the ADL. While I'm not minimizing these issues, the ADL has been doing civil rights work in America for over 100 years, and I am reluctant to avoid mentioning any major resource that people might find at their disposal.

I am a legal generalist but do some work with special education and know many others who specialize in it, so it is also okay to contact with me specific questions!

I am a legal generalist but do some work with special education and know many others who specialize in it, so it is also okay to contact with me specific questions!

I am a legal generalist but do some work on immigration matters and know several people who specialize in it, so it is okay to contact me with specific questions and I'll see if I can connect you with help.

I am a legal generalist but do some work on immigration matters and know several people who specialize in it, so it is okay to contact me with specific questions and I'll see if I can connect you with help.

Edits currently are being adapted where possible, but expect lags in proposed changes made directly in this document. Edits proposed on the mirror doc can and will be adapted more quickly, because they do not encounter as many Google bugs. :)

Some people have included information about problematic recent behavior of the ADL. While I'm not minimizing these issues, the ADL has been doing civil rights work in America for over 100 years, and I am reluctant to avoid mentioning any major resource that people might find at their disposal.

Edits currently are being adapted where possible, but expect lags in proposed changes made directly in this document. Edits proposed on the mirror doc can and will be adapted more quickly, because they do not encounter as many Google bugs. :)

Some people have included information about problematic recent behavior of the ADL. While I'm not minimizing these issues, the ADL has been doing civil rights work in America for over 100 years, and I am reluctant to avoid mentioning any major resource that people might find at their disposal.

I am a legal generalist but do some work with special education and know many others who specialize in it, so it is also okay to contact with me specific questions!

I am a legal generalist but do some work on immigration matters and know several people who specialize in it, so it is okay to contact me with specific questions and I'll see if I can connect you with help.

Some people have included information about problematic recent behavior of the ADL. While I'm not minimizing these issues, the ADL has been doing civil rights work in America for over 100 years, and I am reluctant to avoid mentioning any major resource that people might find at their disposal.

In order to preserve this person's context for their observation, I'm preserving the anecdote--but also wanted it to be clear that it was a student's observation (and I myself am not a student), so I added quotations. Original poster, if you would prefer I preserve your observation in a different way, please let me know!

[a]Edits currently are being adapted where possible, but expect lags in proposed changes made directly in this document. Edits proposed on the mirror doc can and will be adapted more quickly, because they do not encounter as many Google bugs. :)

[b]Can you add more explanation to this? Same sex marriage is legal by Supreme court ruling, and that is not going to change any time quickly. Do you think that state officials will be emboldened to refuse to issue licenses in violation of the supreme court ruling?

[c]I was waiting until I reached the office to type out a response to this

comment, but it appears to have been deleted!

That said, I'm happy to talk more about this topic if it would still be

helpful to the poster.

--

This email message may contain legally privileged and/or confidential

information. If you are not the intended recipient(s), or the employee or

agent responsible for delivery of this message to the intended

recipient(s), you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution

or copying of this e-mail message is strictly prohibited. If you have

received this message in error, please immediately notify the sender and

delete this e-mail message from your computer.

[d]I'm trying to reply by email and don't know if it will work. Yes, I would like to have more information, as I am working with a pastor who does gay marriages who says there is no need for people to hurry to marry because the right to marry can only be taken away by the supreme court. I would be interested in why you see the situation otherwise and recommend quick legal marriage.

[e]Maybe add something about how a lot of law schools have Lambda Associations? Plus most law schools now require pro-bono work while a student, so people should be aware they can try out law schools too if they face any kind of discrimination

[f]That's a good point; thank you! And that's true for many different types of legal service assistance, so I'll think about how to incorporate it into the document more generally.

[g]I am a legal generalist but do some work on immigration matters and know several people who specialize in it, so it is okay to contact me with specific questions and I'll see if I can connect you with help.

[h]I am a legal generalist but do some work with special education and know many others who specialize in it, so it is also okay to contact with me specific questions!

[i]Please do not get Essure, it places women's health in real risk. It has a black box warning from the FDA!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/us/long-term-data-on-complications-adds-to-criticism-of-contraceptive-implant.html?_r=0

[j]I'm not sure who left this comment, but I will research what you have noted and make a final decision about whether to include this information. Thank you for the tip!

[k]I can second this statement, as a healthcare consultant who specializes in reproductive health. Essure is known to cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, frequently fails as a birth control measure, and is generally opposed by most RH professionals. A standard tubal ligation is the safest and most effective option)

[l]Some people have included information about problematic recent behavior of the ADL. While I'm not minimizing these issues, the ADL has been doing civil rights work in America for over 100 years, and I am reluctant to avoid mentioning any major resource that people might find at their disposal.

[m]http://www.ijan.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ADL-Fact-Sheet-3-Sept-2014.pdf

http://mondoweiss.net/2016/08/israeli-occupied-settler/

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/rania-khalek/adl-honor-st-louis-police-ahead-ferguson-anniversary-sparks-outrage

http://www.afro.com/anti-defamation-league-honors-former-d-c-police-chief-ramsey/

[n]In order to preserve this person's context for their observation, I'm preserving the anecdote--but also wanted it to be clear that it was a student's observation (and I myself am not a student), so I added quotations. Original poster, if you would prefer I preserve your observation in a different way, please let me know!

[o]Maybe add something about how a lot of law schools have Lambda Associations? Plus most law schools now require pro-bono work while a student, so people should be aware they can try out law schools too if they face any kind of discrimination

[p]That's a good point; thank you! And that's true for many different types of legal service assistance, so I'll think about how to incorporate it into the document more generally.

Link to Article

Archived Version

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:57

Google is among the many major corporations whose surrogates are getting key roles on Donald Trump's transition team.

Joshua Wright has been put in charge of transition efforts at the influential Federal Trade Commission after pulling off the rare revolving-door quadruple-play, moving from Google-supported academic work to government '' as an FTC commissioner '' back to the Google gravy train and now back to the government.

The Intercept has documented how Wright, as a law professor at George Mason University, received Google funding for atleastfour academic papers, all of which supported Google's position that it did not violate antitrust laws when it favored its own sites in search engine requests and restricted advertisers from running ads on competitors. George Mason received $762,000 in funding from Google from 2011 to 2013.

Wright then became an FTC commissioner in January 2013, agreeing to recuse himself from Google cases for two years, because of his Google-funded research. He lasted at the FTC until August 2015, returning to George Mason's law school (now named after Antonin Scalia). But Wright also became an ''of counsel'' at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Google's main outside law firm. Wilson Sonsini has represented Google before the FTC.

Wright's leadership position in the Trump FTC transition flips him back into government work. The FTC has two open seats on its five-member panel, and Chair Edith Ramirez's term ends in April 2017. So Trump will be able to remake the agency, which has responsibilities over consumer protection and policing anti-competitive business practices, like the employing of monopoly power. Outside of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, no government agency is more responsible for competition policy than the FTC.

Whether Wright recommends himself to an FTC commissioner slot or not, it's clear that he would favor those who see only upside from market consolidation. Indeed, in a New York Times op-ed on Monday, Wright explained his view that ''a high level of concentration in an industry simply does not mean the industry lacks competition.'' He argued that mergers are often good for consumers because they lower prices and improve product quality.

This flies in the face of a raft not just of common sense, but also of new research from the Council of Economic Advisers, the Federal Reserve, and academics, showing that excessive mergers lead to price hikes, lower productivity, and weakened economic vitality.

The appointment clarifies to some extent how a Trump administration will operate on antitrust policy, especially as it relates to Silicon Valley. Trump's personal history on the issue is mixed: He sued the NFL over antitrust violations while a team owner in the rival USFL, but also successfully defended himself against charges that he tried to monopolize the casino business in Atlantic City.

During the campaign he presented a populist viewpoint on the issue. Perhaps out of personal animus, Trump has shown a particular willingness to investigate large media companies over antitrust, including threatening to blow up the pending AT&T-Time Warner merger (Time Warner is the parent company of CNN) and vowing to investigate Amazon (whose CEO Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post). Because of Silicon Valley's significant support of the Clinton campaign and Google's deeply intertwined relationship with the Obama presidency, it was thought that Trump would also go after the tech industry. For example, Trump's Federal Communications Commission transition leader, Jeffrey Eisenach, once supported breaking up Microsoft.

But the selection of Wright, one of Big Tech's biggest defenders in Washington, changes that calculus. Now it look as if Trump's high-level attacks on his enemies might not flow down to the appointees inside the bureaucracy, who could be more inclined to wave through big media mergers and decline to enforce high-tech collusion.

Google is currently facing antitrust allegations in Europe. In May, Politico reported that the FTC planned to take a second look at Google's search bias, three years after they closed an investigation, despite reported recommendations to prosecute from agency staff. Having someone on the Google payroll twice doing hiring for the new Administration may halt any new investigation at the FTC.

Top photo: From left, House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Hank Johnson, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler, Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Joshua Wright and FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai speak before a committee hearing about Internet regulation in Washington, DC, on March 25, 2015.

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Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach talks in his Topeka, Kansas, U.S., office May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Dave Kaup/File Photo

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON An architect of anti-immigration efforts who says he is advising President-elect Donald Trump said the new administration could push ahead rapidly on construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall without seeking immediate congressional approval.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who helped write tough immigration laws in Arizona and elsewhere, said in an interview that Trump's policy advisers had also discussed drafting a proposal for his consideration to reinstate a registry for immigrants from Muslim countries.

Kobach, who media reports say is a key member of Trump's transition team, said he had participated in regular conference calls with about a dozen Trump immigration advisers for the past two to three months.

Trump's transition team did not respond to requests for confirmation of Kobach's role. The president-elect has not committed to following any specific recommendations from advisory groups.

Trump, who scored an upset victory last week over Democrat Hillary Clinton, made building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border a central issue of his campaign and has pledged to step up immigration enforcement against the country's 11 million undocumented immigrants. He has also said he supports ''extreme vetting'' of Muslims entering the United States as a national security measure.

Kobach told Reuters last Friday that the immigration group had discussed drafting executive orders for the president-elect's review "so that Trump and the Department of Homeland Security hit the ground running."

To implement Trump's call for "extreme vetting" of some Muslim immigrants, Kobach said the immigration policy group could recommend the reinstatement of a national registry of immigrants and visitors who enter the United States on visas from countries where extremist organizations are active.

Kobach helped design the program, known as the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, while serving in Republican President George W. Bush's Department of Justice after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States by al Qaeda militants.

Under NSEERS, people from countries deemed "higher risk" were required to undergo interrogations and fingerprinting on entering the United States. Some non-citizen male U.S. residents over the age of 16 from countries with active militant threats were required to register in person at government offices and periodically check in.

NSEERS was abandoned in 2011 after it was deemed redundant by the Department of Homeland Security and criticized by civil rights groups for unfairly targeting immigrants from Muslim- majority nations.

Kobach said the immigration advisers were also looking at how the Homeland Security Department could move rapidly on border wall construction without approval from Congress by reappropriating existing funds in the current budget. He acknowledged "that future fiscal years will require additional appropriations."

Congress, which is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, could object to redirecting DHS funds designated for other purposes.

HELPED DRAFT TOUGH ARIZONA LAW

Kobach has worked with allies across the United States on drafting laws and pursuing legal actions to crack down on illegal immigration.

In 2010, he helped draft an Arizona law that required state and local officials to check the immigration status of individuals stopped by police. Parts of the law, which was fiercely opposed by Hispanic and civil rights groups, were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2011.

Kobach was also the architect of a 2013 Kansas law requiring voters to provide proof-of-citizenship documents, such as birth certificates or U.S. passports, when registering for the first time. A U.S. appeals court blocked that law after challenges from civil rights groups.

Kobach said in the interview he believed that illegal immigrants in some cases should be deported before a conviction if they have been charged with a violent crime. Trump said in an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" that aired on Sunday that once he took office, he would remove immigrants with criminal records who are in the country illegally.

Kobach said the immigration group had also discussed ways of overturning President Barack Obama's 2012 executive action that has granted temporary deportation relief and work permits to more than 700,000 undocumented people or "dreamers" who came to the United States as children of illegal immigrants.

(Reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York and Julia Edwards in Washington; Additional reporting by Lawrence Hurley in Washington; Editing by Sue Horton and Peter Cooney)

Next In PoliticsHouse Speaker Paul Ryan renominated to top House postWASHINGTON Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives nominated Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday for re-election to his post next year, as lawmakers giddy with election success smoothed over their differences and pledged to unite behind Republican President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump aims to ease Asian allies' qualms when he meets Japan's AbeTOKYO/WASHINGTON Donald Trump is expected to use his first meeting with a foreign leader as U.S. president-elect this week to try to reassure Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other Asian allies rattled by his campaign rhetoric, advisers to Trump said.

Exclusive: Billionaire green activist Steyer vows to battle Trump, says money not an issueBOSTON Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, who has spent more than $140 million on fighting climate change, said on Tuesday he will spend whatever it takes to fight President-elect Donald Trump's pro-drilling and anti-regulation agenda.

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Wed, 16 Nov 2016 12:13

NOTE: The following materials are for information purposes only and may not be copied, reproduced, or transmitted without the explicit permission of SITE Intelligence Group and specific attribution to SITE Intelligence Group.

DetailsWestern JihadistsCreated: 14 November 2016

Following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that he intends to have all Muslims in the country on a registry, a German-speaking jihadist in Syria called for migration to Muslim lands, stating, ''you should not wait until the worst occurs.''

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Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:19

According to theWall Street Journal, Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy, has joined Donald Trump's transition team to work on national security issues. Trump's campaign has denied that Gaffney is officially part of the transition, and the New York Times is reporting that Trump is merely relying on ''advice'' from Gaffney.

Either way, this is an extremely bad sign. Every society has people like Gaffney, but in healthy, functioning democracies they live quietly in their parents' basements, free to play with action figures and construct intricate fantasy worlds without hurting anyone else.

In 2016 America, however, Gaffney is now sitting at the right hand of the president-elect. Here are some highlights from Gaffney's bizarre, hateful career, in chronological order. You will see a pattern emerging:

' Gaffney, now 63, was a deputy assistant secretary of defense during the Reagan administration until he was forced out. He then immediately founded the Center for Security Policy, funded by right-wing foundations and some defense corporations, to noisily oppose arms control agreements and agitate for more money for the Pentagon. For many years the ''center'' consisted mostly of Gaffney and his fax machine.

Board members and advisors of the Center for Security Policy would eventually include people like Charles Kupperman, vice president of space and strategic missiles sector at Boeing and Terry Elkes, former CEO and president of Viacom. The center gives out an annual award called ''Keeper of the Flame''; its recipients have included Joe Lieberman and Donald Rumsfeld.

' The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were a godsend for Gaffney, allowing him to repurpose Cold War conspiracy theories about the U.S. government being infiltrated by communists into conspiracy theories about the U.S. government being infiltrated by the Muslim Brotherhood. Soon he was warning of ''an Islamist Fifth Column operating inside our own country with the inherent capability to exploit the vulnerabilities, and the civil liberties, of our society.''

' Gaffney was predictably a vociferous supporter of the Iraq War. But for extra credit he adopted various loopy theories about Saddam Hussein being behind the 1993 World Trade Center attack and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

' Defending the Iraq War in February 2007, Gaffney approvingly quoted Abraham Lincoln as declaring that ''Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged.'' Lincoln never said this, although that didn't stop Gaffney fan Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, from repeating the imaginary quote on the floor of the House of Representatives.

' The same month Gaffney excitedly proclaimed that the CIA had found that ''there was a hot production line for chemical and biological agents in Iraq, that there were plans to ramp it up when sanctions were lifted, which was imminent, and to place the products of those lines into aerosol cans and perfume sprayers for shipment to the United States and Europe. That's documented fact!''

' In 2009, Gaffney suggested that Barack Obama was ''still'' a Muslim and by concealing this had ''engaged in the most consequential bait-and-switch since Adolf Hitler duped Neville Chamberlain.'' In this analogy, of course, Obama was playing the role of Hitler.

' In 2010, writing for Breitbart, Gaffney discovered that the logo of the Missile Defense Agency had been redesigned to be ''a morphing of the Islamic crescent and star with the Obama campaign logo.'' Gaffney's article ended: ''Watch this space as we identify and consider various, ominous and far more clear-cut acts of submission to Shariah by President Obama.''

' Gaffney was banned for several years from speaking at the popular right-wing Conservative Political Action Conference because he had begun claiming that it too had been infiltrated by the Muslim Brotherhood.

' In 2011, Gaffney claimed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had committed ''misprision of treason'' by appointing a Muslim lawyer to a state court.

' In 2013, Gaffney said that top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin had ''longstanding ties'' to the Muslim Brotherhood and ''was brilliantly placed to run Islamist influence operations.''

' In September 2015, Gaffney invited infamous white nationalist Jared Taylor to appear on his radio show. Gaffney told Taylor he ''appreciated tremendously'' his ''wonderful'' work.

' Trump may now be considering Clare Lopez, vice president of the Center for Security Policy, as his deputy national security adviser. Lopez believes that ''infiltration [of the U.S. government by the Muslim Brotherhood] is obviously very deep and very broad within the bureaucracy, not just the top level, but throughout the federal system, including the intelligence community.''

If you want more of the evidence Gaffney's uncovered about the ways Islam has tainted our precious bodily fluids, it's just a click away.

Update: November 16, 2016

This article has been updated to note that a Trump transition official has denied that Gaffney is officially part of the transition team.

Top photo: Center for Security Policy President Frank J. Gaffney Jr. makes his way to the witness stand to testify about the threat of Shariah law during a motion hearing in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Sept. 27, 2010.

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Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:11

''G¼len's vast global network has all the right markings to fit the description of a dangerous sleeper terror network,'' Flynn wrote in the op-ed, in which he called Gulen a ''shady Islamic mullah'' and ''radical Islamist.''

Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen is pictured at his residence in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania (REUTERS)

Erdogan has accused G¼len, who has lived in exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, of masterminding a violent coup in Turkey in July. G¼len has denied doing so, but Erdogan has pressured President Obama to review evidence that the 76-year-old imam was behind the uprising, which left nearly 300 soldiers and civilians dead.

''From Turkey's point of view, Washington is harboring Turkey's Osama bin Laden,'' Flynn asserted.

The piece does not include a disclosure that Flynn Intel Group, the consulting firm that Flynn founded in Oct. 2014, just after leaving DIA, was recently hired to lobby Congress by a Dutch company called Inovo BV that was founded by a Turkish businessman who holds a top position on Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board.

A review of Dutch records shows that the company was founded by Ekim Alptekin, an ally of Erdogan's who is director of the Turkey-U.S. Business Council, a non-profit arm of Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board. Members of the Foreign Economic Relations Board are chosen by Turkey's general assembly and its minister of economy. In the role, Alptekin helped coordinate Erdogan's visit to the U.S. earlier this year.

A lobbying disclosure report filed with Congress lists Inovo BV's address but not the name of anyone affiliated with the company. There is also little information about the firm online. But The Daily Caller tracked down Dutch business registration records which show Alptekin founded the company in 2005. The financial consulting firm, which Alptekin does not acknowledge on his bio, also has an affiliate, Inovo Turkije.

The lobbying disclosure does not say how much Inovo BV is paying Flynn's firm. It lists former congressional aide Robert Kelley as the lobbyist who is handling the contract and says that he is working on ''organizational consulting'' for Inovo BV.

Flynn's recent op-ed appears to be at odds with some of his past comments about Turkey and its role in the war against ISIS. In the op-ed he refers to the Islamic nation, which is a member of NATO, is ''vital to U.S. interests'' and is the U.S.'s ''strongest ally'' against ISIS.

But he told journalist Seymour Hersh for an article published earlier this year that Turkey was doing little to stop foreign fighters and weapons from crossing the border into Syria.

''We understood ISIS's long-term strategy and its campaign plans, and we also discussed the fact that Turkey was looking the other way when it came to the growth of the Islamic State inside Syria,'' Flynn told Hersh for the article.

It is unclear whether the Trump administration will side with Erdogan on the G¼len issue. The men were allies until recent years, when some of G¼len's followers, called G¼lenists, opened corruption investigations of some of Erdogan's government allies.

Erdogan has since then assailed G¼len and his network, which he refers to as a ''parallel government'' because G¼len's followers are scattered throughout Turkey's judiciary, police force and military.

The tension peaked in July when a group of mid-level Turkish military officials attempted to overthrow the government in a battle that hit several of Turkey's major cities, including Ankara, the capital, and Istanbul.

Erdogan immediately blamed G¼len. And though the mysterious cleric denied any involvement, Erdogan began to pressure the U.S. to return him back to his homeland to face charges pending against him. While the State Department has said it is reviewing evidence presented against G¼len, the Obama administration has appeared less than eager to extradite him.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during his meeting with mukhtars at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (REUTERS)

In a statement to TheDC, G¼len's lawyers said they hoped that Flynn's op-ed is not indicative of the Trump administration's position towards the cleric.

''We hope that Mr. Flynn's op-ed on Mr. G¼len and Turkish-American relations, published before the results of the election were known, is not a statement of policy for President-Elect Trump,'' G¼len's legal team at the Washington D.C. firm Steptoe & Johnson told TheDC.

They also accused Erdogan's regime of ''propagating false information'' about G¼len.

Turkish diplomatic sources tell TheDC that they ''are pleased'' that one of Trump's top advisers ''is aware of the danger that Fetullah Gulen and his terrorist organisation'' pose to Turkey.

''Our main expectation is still that Fetullah G¼len is extradited to Turkey as soon as possible,'' said a source with the Turkish embassy.

Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a former Pentagon official, criticized Flynn's op-ed in a post at the think tank's website on Thursday.

''Flynn gets Erdogan wrong, whitewashes recent Turkish behavior, fails the logic test, and proposes a policy prescription that would make matters worse,'' argues Rubin.

He asserted that ''regardless of what Erdogan says publicly,'' intelligence exists which shows that Erdogan supports ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates operating inside Syria.

''That makes Turkey a source of instability in the region, not its remedy,'' Rubin writes, also noting that Erdogan has embraced leaders of the terrorist group Hamas.

''Should G¼len he be extradited? If Turkey can provide proof of his involvement in the events of July 15, then yes,'' Rubin says. ''But almost four months after the coup, Turkish authorities have failed to provide the United States with anything other than accusations and demands.''

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Nor did Flynn Intel Group.

As for Alptekin, he appears to be on board the Trump train.

In an interview with CNN's Turkish franchise, he said that he believes Trump will be good for U.S.-Turkish business relations. He also referred to Flynn's op-ed.

And on Twitter, Alptekin is heavily critical of G¼len. In one tweet, he compared the cleric to bin Laden, similar to Flynn's rhetoric in his op-ed. In other tweets, Alptekin has praised Trump. In September, he wrote that a Trump presidency will be a boon to U.S.-Turkey relations. And in a post from the day after Trump's election shows him standing next to a cardboard cutout of the president-elect.

Dutch business registration for Inovo BV by Chuck Ross on Scribd

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''G¼len's vast global network has all the right markings to fit the description of a dangerous sleeper terror network,'' Flynn wrote in the op-ed, in which he called Gulen a ''shady Islamic mullah'' and ''radical Islamist.''

Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen is pictured at his residence in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania (REUTERS)

Erdogan has accused G¼len, who has lived in exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, of masterminding a violent coup in Turkey in July. G¼len has denied doing so, but Erdogan has pressured President Obama to review evidence that the 76-year-old imam was behind the uprising, which left nearly 300 soldiers and civilians dead.

''From Turkey's point of view, Washington is harboring Turkey's Osama bin Laden,'' Flynn asserted.

The piece does not include a disclosure that Flynn Intel Group, the consulting firm that Flynn founded in Oct. 2014, just after leaving DIA, was recently hired to lobby Congress by a Dutch company called Inovo BV that was founded by a Turkish businessman who holds a top position on Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board.

A review of Dutch records shows that the company was founded by Ekim Alptekin, an ally of Erdogan's who is director of the Turkey-U.S. Business Council, a non-profit arm of Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board. Members of the Foreign Economic Relations Board are chosen by Turkey's general assembly and its minister of economy. In the role, Alptekin helped coordinate Erdogan's visit to the U.S. earlier this year.

A lobbying disclosure report filed with Congress lists Inovo BV's address but not the name of anyone affiliated with the company. There is also little information about the firm online. But The Daily Caller tracked down Dutch business registration records which show Alptekin founded the company in 2005. The financial consulting firm, which Alptekin does not acknowledge on his bio, also has an affiliate, Inovo Turkije.

The lobbying disclosure does not say how much Inovo BV is paying Flynn's firm. It lists former congressional aide Robert Kelley as the lobbyist who is handling the contract and says that he is working on ''organizational consulting'' for Inovo BV.

Flynn's recent op-ed appears to be at odds with some of his past comments about Turkey and its role in the war against ISIS. In the op-ed he refers to the Islamic nation, which is a member of NATO, is ''vital to U.S. interests'' and is the U.S.'s ''strongest ally'' against ISIS.

But he told journalist Seymour Hersh for an article published earlier this year that Turkey was doing little to stop foreign fighters and weapons from crossing the border into Syria.

''We understood ISIS's long-term strategy and its campaign plans, and we also discussed the fact that Turkey was looking the other way when it came to the growth of the Islamic State inside Syria,'' Flynn told Hersh for the article.

It is unclear whether the Trump administration will side with Erdogan on the G¼len issue. The men were allies until recent years, when some of G¼len's followers, called G¼lenists, opened corruption investigations of some of Erdogan's government allies.

Erdogan has since then assailed G¼len and his network, which he refers to as a ''parallel government'' because G¼len's followers are scattered throughout Turkey's judiciary, police force and military.

The tension peaked in July when a group of mid-level Turkish military officials attempted to overthrow the government in a battle that hit several of Turkey's major cities, including Ankara, the capital, and Istanbul.

Erdogan immediately blamed G¼len. And though the mysterious cleric denied any involvement, Erdogan began to pressure the U.S. to return him back to his homeland to face charges pending against him. While the State Department has said it is reviewing evidence presented against G¼len, the Obama administration has appeared less than eager to extradite him.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during his meeting with mukhtars at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (REUTERS)

In a statement to TheDC, G¼len's lawyers said they hoped that Flynn's op-ed is not indicative of the Trump administration's position towards the cleric.

''We hope that Mr. Flynn's op-ed on Mr. G¼len and Turkish-American relations, published before the results of the election were known, is not a statement of policy for President-Elect Trump,'' G¼len's legal team at the Washington D.C. firm Steptoe & Johnson told TheDC.

They also accused Erdogan's regime of ''propagating false information'' about G¼len.

Turkish diplomatic sources tell TheDC that they ''are pleased'' that one of Trump's top advisers ''is aware of the danger that Fetullah Gulen and his terrorist organisation'' pose to Turkey.

''Our main expectation is still that Fetullah G¼len is extradited to Turkey as soon as possible,'' said a source with the Turkish embassy.

Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a former Pentagon official, criticized Flynn's op-ed in a post at the think tank's website on Thursday.

''Flynn gets Erdogan wrong, whitewashes recent Turkish behavior, fails the logic test, and proposes a policy prescription that would make matters worse,'' argues Rubin.

He asserted that ''regardless of what Erdogan says publicly,'' intelligence exists which shows that Erdogan supports ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates operating inside Syria.

''That makes Turkey a source of instability in the region, not its remedy,'' Rubin writes, also noting that Erdogan has embraced leaders of the terrorist group Hamas.

''Should G¼len he be extradited? If Turkey can provide proof of his involvement in the events of July 15, then yes,'' Rubin says. ''But almost four months after the coup, Turkish authorities have failed to provide the United States with anything other than accusations and demands.''

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Nor did Flynn Intel Group.

As for Alptekin, he appears to be on board the Trump train.

In an interview with CNN's Turkish franchise, he said that he believes Trump will be good for U.S.-Turkish business relations. He also referred to Flynn's op-ed.

And on Twitter, Alptekin is heavily critical of G¼len. In one tweet, he compared the cleric to bin Laden, similar to Flynn's rhetoric in his op-ed. In other tweets, Alptekin has praised Trump. In September, he wrote that a Trump presidency will be a boon to U.S.-Turkey relations. And in a post from the day after Trump's election shows him standing next to a cardboard cutout of the president-elect.

Dutch business registration for Inovo BV by Chuck Ross on Scribd

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 22:12

Amal Clooney has reportedly said some of the US president Donald Trump's most controversial comments and policy proposals are a violation of international human rights law.

The barrister was speaking at the Texas Women's conference when she gave her thoughts on Mr Trump's shock election win.

''[His comments] that there should be a religious test imposed on entering the U.S. or the fact that there should be state-sponsored torture or families of suspected terrorists should all be killed '' all of those things are violations of international human rights law and the values that underlie that.

''I think there's some concern from abroad as to are these things actually going to happen or is the U.S. going to lose some of the moral standing that it has internationally,'' she said according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Clooney specialises in human rights law and is currently representing a group of Yazidi women including Nobel peace prize nominee Nadia Murad who were held as sex slaves by Isis.

She welcomed Mr Trump's commitment to tackling Isis and said she hopes for the best from his presidency.

''The president-elect has said that fighting Isis is actually a priority so it may be that there can be progress and obviously everyone has to respect the outcome of the democratic process her and we have to hope for the best.''

Clooney and her husband George were vocal Hillary Clinton supporters during the election and both publicly denounced Mr Trump's policy pledges.

Clooney used her keynote speech at the conference to call on women to join the fight for women's rights in countries where they are most under threat. In September, she told the UN she was ''ashamed'' to stand before them over their inaction to persecute Isis for their crimes against the Yazidi community.

''The worst thing that we can do as women is not stand up for each other. And this is something that we can practice every day no matter where we are or what we do. Because if we are united, there is no limit to what we can do,'' she said.

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''Apple asked both Foxconn and Pegatron Corp., the two iPhone assemblers, in June to look into making iPhones in the U.S.,'' a source said. ''Foxconn complied, while Pegatron declined to formulate such a plan due to cost concerns.''

As Breitbart News reported, candidate Donald Trump, while speaking at Liberty University in January, said, ''We're going to get Apple Computer to build their damn computers and things in this country, instead of in other countries.'' He added, ''We gotta bring back the jobs from China, we gotta bring back the jobs from Japan, and all these countries that are ripping us off. And we're gonna do that. And we are gonna do that.''

In March, Trump went after manufacturers who relocate production to China, where Apple's assemblers churn out iPhones, iPads and MacBooks. ''How does it help us when they make it in China?''

Already referred to as the ''Valley of the Democrats'' for the over 83 percent of Silicon Valley tech CEO and employee donations that went to Democrats in the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, Trump's populist comments caused Silicon Valley corporate CEOs to double down on electing a Democrats, with over 99 percent of Silicon Valley's $8.6 million in contributions in the presidential primaries going to Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Although the final numbers are not in yet, of the $497.8 million Hillary Clinton raised, small individual donations of $200 or less were just $91,522,689, or 18.3 percent. One of her top spots to vacuum up cash was Silicon Valley, where contributions averaged $1,276.

The biggest Clinton ''Hillblazer'' political bundler was Apple's chief executive Tim Cook. He personally held a multi-million dollar fundraiser in August that was attended by 375 tech guests paying between $50,000 and $2,700 each.

Donald Trump's surprising victory caused Silicon Valley tech stocks to suffer a 9 percent crash, while the rest of the stock market rallied to new all-time-highs.

Breitbart News warned that if the Trump administration is moving to ''Make America Great Again!,'' Silicon Valley tech firms could be the prime target of 45 percent tariffs on offshore supply chains, tightened immigration affecting H-1B visas, and a ''trust busting'' wave against unscrupulous monopolistic practices by modern tech corporate ''robber barons.''

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou reportedly told Apple, ''Making iPhones in the U.S. means the cost will more than double.'' But that is insignificant, given that the current labor assembly cost is estimated at just $12.50, and that an iPhone 7 with a 32GB memory sells for $649.

The real issue for Foxconn moving iPhone assembly to America is China, where they employ about 690,000 workers, which about equals the entire population of Detroit.

The other $212.50 in the iPhone 7's cost is associated with components made by Asians. Taiwan Semiconductor makes chips, Japan's Japan Display and Sharp supply handset panels, and South Korea's SK Hynix and Japan's Toshiba produce the memory.

Tim Cook had told CBS News' 60 Minutes in December 2015 that Apple could not move its iPhones production back to the U.S., because America lacked enough skilled workers.

''Let me be clear, China put an enormous focus on manufacturing, in what you and I would call vocational kind of skills,'' he said. Cook blamed America for Apple's need to move production offshore: ''The U.S., over time, began to stop having as many vocational kind of skills.''

It seems that since the election of Donald Trump as President, Apple and soon the rest of Silicon Valley may have discovered that America does have enough skilled workers to make high-tech devices.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 15:18

The ACLU has got a few words for America's newest elected ''leader,'' and the letter they just published through the NY Times, is probably the most amazing jab in the history of politics. It doesn't hurt that the jab came from the American Civil Liberties Union, because the power behind the letter is what makes it so ominous to the president-elect.

The letter begins with a request for Trump to ''change course'' on many of the claims he has made in his extremely short political career.

''Dear President-Elect Trump,

For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has stood as this nation's premier defender of freedom and justice for all.

As you assume the nation's highest office, we must ask you now as president-elect to reconsider and change course on certain campaign promises you have made.

Specifically, you promised to:

amass deportation force to remove 11 million undocumented immigrantsban the entry of Muslims and institute aggressive surveillance programs targeting themrestrict a woman's right to abortion servicesreauthorize waterboarding and other forms of torturechange our nation's libel laws and restrict freedom of expression''As if this statement alone wasn't enough of a threat, the ACLU continues:

''These proposals are not simply un-American and wrong-headed. They are unlawful and unconstitutional, and would violate the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution, as well as other statutes and international treaties.''

''Many of our country's most cherished rights are the result of ACLU litigation and advocacy. They include the Scopes trial (the right to teach evolution in public science classrooms) and the following Supreme Court cases: Korematsu (challenging Japanese American internment); Miranda (the right to remain silent); Griswold (the right to contraception); Loving (the right of interracial couples to marry); Gideon (the right to a court-appointed attorney if you can't afford one); Windsor (striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act); and Obergefell (the right of same-sex couples to marry) and others. We have worked with and battled American presidents of both parties to ensure that our country makes good on it's founding premise as the land of the free.''

In the end of the open letter, the ACLU promises to make Trump's life a nightmare if he continues to pave his road to concentration camp hell. They say Trump will have the full firepower of the ACLU to deal with if he doesn't wise up.

They letter concludes:

''If you do not reverse course and endeavor to make these campaign promises a reality, you will have to contend with the full firepower of the ACLU at your every step. Our staff of litigators and activists in every state, thousands of volunteers, and millions of supporters stand ready to fight against any encroachment on our cherished freedoms and rights.''

''One thing is certain: We will be vigilant every day of your tenure as president. And when you ultimately vacate the Oval Office, we will do likewise with your successor.''

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 15:29

In late summer when I went up to see Steve Bannon, then recently named CEO of the Donald Trump presidential campaign, in his office at Trump Tower in New York, he outlined a preposterous-sounding scenario. Trump, he said, would do surprisingly well among women, Hispanics and African-Americans, in addition to working men, and hence take Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan '-- and therefore the election. On Nov. 15, when I went back to Trump Tower, Bannon, promoted by the president-elect to chief strategist for the incoming administration, and by the media as the official symbol of all things hateful and virulent about the coming Trump presidency, said, as matter-of-factly as when he first sketched it out for me, "I told you so."

The liberal firewall against Trump was, most of all, the belief that the Republican contender was too disorganized, outlandish, outr(C) and lacking in nuance to run a proper political campaign. That view was only confirmed when Bannon, editor of the outlandish and outr(C) Breitbart News Network, took over the campaign in August. Now Bannon is arguably the most powerful person on the new White House team, embodying more than anyone the liberals' awful existential pain and fury: How did someone so wrong '-- not just wrong, but inappropriate, unfit and "loathsome," according to The New York Times '-- get it so spot-on right?

In these dark days for Democrats, Bannon has become the blackest hole.

"Darkness is good," says Bannon, who amid the suits surrounding him at Trump Tower, looks like a graduate student in his T-shirt, open button-down and tatty blue blazer '-- albeit a 62-year-old graduate student. "Dick Cheney. Darth Vader. Satan. That's power. It only helps us when they" '-- I believe by "they" he means liberals and the media, already promoting calls for his ouster '-- "get it wrong. When they're blind to who we are and what we're doing."

On that precise point, The New York Times, in a widely circulated article, will describe this day at Trump Tower as a scene of "disarray" for the transition team. In fact, it's all hands on: Mike Pence, the vice president-elect and transition chief, and Reince Priebus, the new chief of staff, shuttling between full conference rooms; Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and by many accounts his closest advisor, conferring in the halls; Sen. Jeff Sessions in and out of meetings on the transition team floor; Rudy Giuliani upstairs with Trump (overheard: "Is the boss meeting-meeting with Rudy or just shooting the shit?"), and Bannon with a long line of men and women outside his corner office. If this is disarray, it's a peculiarly focused and organized kind.

It's the Bannon theme, the myopia of the media '-- that it tells only the story that confirms its own view, that in the end it was incapable of seeing an alternative outcome and of making a true risk assessment of the political variables '-- reaffirming the Hillary Clinton camp's own political myopia. This defines the parallel realities in which liberals, in their view of themselves, represent a morally superior character and Bannon '-- immortalized on Twitter as a white nationalist, racist, anti-Semite thug '-- the ultimate depravity of Trumpism.

The focus on Bannon, if not necessarily the description, is right. He's the man with the idea. If Trumpism is to represent something intellectually and historically coherent, it's Bannon's job to make it so. In this, he could not be a less reassuring or more confusing figure for liberals '-- fiercely intelligent and yet reflexively drawn to the inverse of every liberal assumption and shibboleth. A working class kid, he enlists in the navy after high school, gets a degree from Virginia Tech, then Georgetown, then Harvard Business School. Then it's Goldman Sachs, then he's a dealmaker and entrepreneur in Hollywood '-- where, in an unlikely and very lucky deal match-up, he gets a lucrative piece of Seinfeld royalties, ensuring his own small fortune '-- then into the otherworld of the vast right-wing conspiracy and conservative media. (He partners with David Bossie, a congressional investigator of President Clinton, who later spearheaded the Citizens United lawsuit that effectively removed the cap on campaign spending, and who now, as the deputy campaign manager, is in the office next to Bannon's.) And then to the Breitbart News Network, which with digital acumen and a mind-meld with the anger and the passion of the new alt-right (a liberal designation Bannon derides) he pushes to the inner circle of conservative media from Breitbart's base on the Westside of liberal Los Angeles.

What he seems to have carried from a boyhood in a blue-collar, union and Democratic family in Norfolk, Va., and through his tour of the American establishment, is an unreconstructed sense of class awareness, or bitterness '-- or betrayal. The Democratic Party betrayed its working-man roots, just as Hillary Clinton betrayed the longtime Clinton connection '-- Bill Clinton's connection '-- to the working man. "The Clinton strength," he says, "was to play to people without a college education. High school people. That's how you win elections." And, likewise, the Republican party would come to betray its working-man constituency forged under Reagan. In sum, the working man was betrayed by the establishment, or what he dismisses as the "donor class."

To say that he sees this donor class '-- which in his telling is also "ascendant America," e.g. the elites, as well as "the metrosexual bubble" that encompasses cosmopolitan sensibilities to be found as far and wide as Shanghai, London's Chelsea, Hollywood and the Upper West Side '-- as a world apart, is an understatement. In his view, there's hardly a connection between this world and its opposite '-- fly-over America, left-behind America, downwardly mobile America '-- hardly a common language. This is partly why he regards the liberal characterization of himself as socially vile, as the politically incorrect devil incarnate, as laughable '-- and why he is stoutly unapologetic. They '-- liberals and media '-- don't understand what he is saying, or why, or to whom. Breitbart, with its casual provocations '-- lists of its varied incitements (among them: the conservative writer David Horowitz referred to conservative pundit Brill Kristol as a "renegade Jew," and the site delighting in headlines the likes of "Trannies 49Xs Higher HIV Rate" and "Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy") were in hot exchange after the election among appalled Democrats '-- is as opaque to the liberal-donor-globalist class as Lena Dunham might be to the out-of-work workingman class. And this, in the Bannon view, is all part of the profound misunderstanding that led liberals to believe that Donald Trump's mouth would doom him, instead of elect him.

Bannon, arguably, is one of the people most at the battle line of the great American divide '-- and one of the people to have most clearly seen it.

He absolutely '-- mockingly '-- rejects the idea that this is a racial line. "I'm not a white nationalist, I'm a nationalist. I'm an economic nationalist," he tells me. "The globalists gutted the American working class and created a middle class in Asia. The issue now is about Americans looking to not get f'--ed over. If we deliver" '-- by "we" he means the Trump White House '-- "we'll get 60 percent of the white vote, and 40 percent of the black and Hispanic vote and we'll govern for 50 years. That's what the Democrats missed. They were talking to these people with companies with a $9 billion market cap employing nine people. It's not reality. They lost sight of what the world is about."

In a nascent administration that seems, at best, random in its beliefs, Bannon can seem to be not just a focused voice, but almost a messianic one:

"Like [Andrew] Jackson's populism, we're going to build an entirely new political movement," he says. "It's everything related to jobs. The conservatives are going to go crazy. I'm the guy pushing a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan. With negative interest rates throughout the world, it's the greatest opportunity to rebuild everything. Ship yards, iron works, get them all jacked up. We're just going to throw it up against the wall and see if it sticks. It will be as exciting as the 1930s, greater than the Reagan revolution '-- conservatives, plus populists, in an economic nationalist movement."

Bannon represents, he not unreasonably believes, the fall of the establishment. The self-satisfied, in-bred and homogenous views of the establishment are both what he is against and what has provided the opening for the Trump revolution. "The media bubble is the ultimate symbol of what's wrong with this country," he continues. "It's just a circle of people talking to themselves who have no f'--ing idea what's going on. If The New York Times didn't exist, CNN and MSNBC would be a test pattern. The Huffington Post and everything else is predicated on The New York Times. It's a closed circle of information from which Hillary Clinton got all her information '-- and her confidence. That was our opening."

At that moment, as we talk, there's a knock on the door of Bannon's office, a temporary, impersonal, middle-level executive space with a hodgepodge of chairs for constant impromptu meetings. Sen. Ted Cruz, once the Republican firebrand, now quite a small and unassuming figure, has been waiting patiently for a chat and Bannon excuses himself for a short while. It is clear when we return to our conversation that it is not just the liberal establishment that Bannon feels he has triumphed over, but the conservative one too '-- not least of all Fox News and its owners, the Murdochs. "They got it more wrong than anybody," he says. "Rupert is a globalist and never understood Trump. To him, Trump is a radical. Now they'll go centrist and build the network around Megyn Kelly." Bannon recounts, with no small irony, that when Breitbart attacked Kelly after her challenges to Trump in the initial Republican debate, Fox News chief Roger Ailes '-- whom Bannon describes as an important mentor, and who Kelly's accusations of sexual harassment would help topple in July '-- called to defend her. Bannon says he warned Ailes that Kelly would be out to get him too.

It is less than obvious how Bannon, now the official strategic brains of the Trump operation, syncs with his boss, famously not too strategic. When Bannon took over the campaign from Paul Manafort, there were many in the Trump circle who had resigned themselves to the inevitability of the candidate listening to no one. But here too was a Bannon insight: When the campaign seemed most in free fall or disarray, it was perhaps most on target. While Clinton was largely absent from the campaign trail and concentrating on courting her donors, Trump '-- even after the leak of the grab-them-by-the-pussy audio '-- was speaking to ever-growing crowds of 35,000 or 40,000. "He gets it; he gets it intuitively," says Bannon, perhaps still surprised he has found such an ideal vessel. "You have probably the greatest orator since William Jennings Bryan, coupled with an economic populist message and two political parties that are so owned by the donors that they don't speak to their audience. But he speaks in a non-political vernacular, he communicates with these people in a very visceral way. Nobody in the Democratic party listened to his speeches, so they had no idea he was delivering such a compelling and powerful economic message. He shows up 3.5 hours late in Michigan at 1 in the morning and has 35,000 people waiting in the cold. When they got [Clinton] off the donor circuit she went to Temple University and they drew 300 or 400 kids."

Indeed, during the worst days of the campaign, even down to the last day when most in Trumpland thought only a miracle would save them, "I knew that she couldn't close. They out-spent us 10 to one, had 10 times more people and had all the media with them, but I kept saying it doesn't matter, they got it all wrong, we've got this locked."

Bannon now becomes part of a two-headed White House political structure, with Reince Priebus '-- in and out of Bannon's office as we talk '-- as chief of staff, in charge of making the trains run on time, reporting to the president, and Bannon as chief strategist, in charge of vision, goals, narrative and plan of attack, reporting to the president too. Add to this the ambitions and whims of the president himself, and the novel circumstance of one who has never held elective office, the agenda of his highly influential family and the end-runs of a party significant parts of which were opposed to him, and you have quite a complex court that Bannon will have to finesse to realize his reign of the working man and a trillion dollars in new spending.

"I am," he says, with relish, "Thomas Cromwell in the court of the Tudors."

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 15:42

President-elect Donald Trump has offered the top spot in the Justice Department to U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, an ardent opponent of marijuana law reform, several news organizations are reporting.

As attorney general, Sessions would oversee federal prosecutors, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other law enforcement agencies that would be responsible for any crackdown on marijuana businesses and consumers operating in compliance with state laws.

During the presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to respect state cannabis policies if elected president, though has shown himself willing to change his position on various issues over the years.

If Sessions becomes attorney general, which would require a confirmation vote by his fellow senators early next year, it will likely become much more challenging for marijuana law reform supporters to encourage the new president to keep his cannabis campaign pledges.

In a Senate hearing on the federal response to state marijuana laws in April, Sessions said, ''good people don't smoke marijuana,'' and implied that even discussion of legalization could create a gateway effect to increased use of other drugs.

''We need grown ups in Washington to say marijuana is not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized, it ought not to be minimized, that it is in fact a very real danger,'' he said. ''You'll see cocaine and heroin increase more than it would have, I think, had we not talked about it.''

Sessions, a former U.S. attorney, also criticized President Obama for his administration's approach to the issue. ''His lax treatment and comments on marijuana, it's been obvious, it reverses 20 years almost of hostility to drugs, begun really, when Nancy Reagan started the 'Just Say No' program,'' the senator said.

While Sessions was under consideration for a federal judgeship in 1986, a former deputy accused him of saying that the Ku Klux Klan ''were OK until I found out they smoked pot.'' Sessions later said the remark was an out-of-context joke, but it and other racially charged comments soon led to his nomination's rejection by the Senate Judiciary Committee, a body on which he now sits as a member and which will consider his confirmation as the nation's top law enforcement officer.

During last year's confirmation hearing for Loretta Lynch, the current attorney general, Sessions questioned her about marijuana policy, forcefully pressing for more federal action on the issue in light of the relative leeway the Obama administration has given to states to implement their own laws.

''I hope that you will cease to be silent, because if the law enforcement officers don't do this, I don't know who will. And in the past, attorneys general and other government officials have spoken out and I think kept bad decisions from being made,'' he said.

In a Senate floor speech earlier this year, Sessions slammed President Obama for admitting to previous drug use and downplaying its effects.

''You have to have leadership from Washington. You can't have the President of the United States of America talking about marijuana like it is no different than taking a drink, saying I used marijuana when I was in high school and it is no different than smoking,'' he said. ''It is different. And you are sending a message to young people that there is no danger in this process. It is false that marijuana use doesn't lead people to more drug use. It is already causing a disturbance in the States that have made it legal. I think we need to be careful about this.''

In a 2014 hearing, Sessions laid into FBI Director James Comey for implying he was thinking of loosening the bureau's hiring restrictions on people who have used marijuana. ''Do you understand that that could be interpreted as one more example of leadership in America dismissing the seriousness of marijuana use and that could undermine our ability to convince young people not to go down that dangerous path?'' he asked.

In a separate hearing with then-Attorney General Eric Holder, Sessions used an anecdote about singer Lady Gaga to argue that President Obama has understated cannabis's harms. ''Lady Gaga said she is addicted to it and it is not harmless,'' he said. ''I hope that you will talk with the president, you're close with him, and begin to push back, or pull back, on this position that I think is going to be adverse to the health of America.''

In another Senate floor speech, Sessions decried the rise of state marijuana legalization and harkened back to Reagan administration. ''Now we have states legalizing it, and they are already talking about recriminalizing it. It is a mistake. We have seen that experiment before. Lives are at stake,'' he said. ''The federal government led the way with tough sentencing, eliminating parole, targeting dangerous drugs in effective ways, and states and local governments followed.''

Sessions's past remarks clearly indicate he doesn't support letting states set their own marijuana laws without federal interference, setting up an early potential conflict inside the new administration. Trump will have to decide how much rein to give the attorney general to go against his repeated campaign pledges.

''I really believe you should leave it up to the states. It should be a state situation,'' Trump said during a campaign rally. ''In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state by state.''

Similarly, in an interview with a Denver TV station, he said, ''I think it's up to the states. I'm a states person. I think it should be up to the states, absolutely.''

And at the Conservative Political Action Conference Trump said that when it comes to state marijuana laws, ''If they vote for it, they vote for it.''

Marijuana law reform advocates' best hope may be that the administration views the issue through a political lens and decides that reversing clear pledges and mounting a federal effort to overturn broadly popular laws in a growing number of states would create fights it does not need, likely distracting harmfully from other issues the new president cares much more about.

Photo Courtesy of Allie Beckett.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 16:56

BACKSTAGE RIDER: PoliticiansView DocumentRudolph Giuliani Backstage RiderRudolph Giuliani Backstage Rider

Rudolph Giuliani Backstage Rider

Rudolph Giuliani Backstage Rider

Rudolph Giuliani Backstage Rider

Rudolph Giuliani Backstage Rider

We've previously posted the tour riders of Dick Cheney and John Kerry, but those two pols look like pikers compared to the high-rolling, diva-like Rudolph Giuliani, wannabe Republican presidential candidate.

The former New York mayor has been banking a whopping $100,000 per speech to corporations, trade groups, and university audiences, according to his standard appearance contract. The document notes that Giuliani, 62, requires private air transportation to his gigs. But, the contract states, any old plane won't do: "Please note that the private aircraft MUST BE a Gulfstream IV or bigger." Such a jet sells for about $30 million, in case you're wondering.

Giuliani's speech contract also requires him to be lodged in a two-bedroom hotel suite, which is to be flanked by rooms occupied by his security team. Rudy's suite must be registered in the name of a representative of the Washington Speakers Bureau, which arranges Giuliani appearances. And Giuliani is very picky about how he is to be photographed at gigs, apparently concerned that "direct, on-camera flash bulbs" result in none-too-flattering images. He also imposes restrictions on press coverage of his appearances, during which he speaks for 45 minutes and answers audience questions for 15 minutes.

A copy of Giuliani's contract was released by Oklahoma State University, where he spoke last March for $100,000 (and cost the school an additional $47,000 in jet expenses). Oh, one other thing: someone needs to let the politician's agents know that their client's name is spelled "Giuliani," not "Giulinni." (5 pages)

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 20:06

WASHINGTON '-- After incurring their wrath for his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email use, some Democrats now see James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director, as a potential ally in trying to block President-elect Donald J. Trump's promises to revive the practice of sending terrorism suspects to the military prison at Guantnamo Bay, Cuba, and interrogate them using banned techniques such as waterboarding.

For three years, Mr. Comey has helped carry out President Obama's counterterrorism vision, in which F.B.I. agents have interrogated suspected terrorists and turned them over to the Justice Department for prosecution in criminal courts. During his confirmation hearing in 2013, Mr. Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he believed waterboarding was torture.

Mr. Trump's nominee to serve as attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, has been a fierce critic of the Obama administration's approach. He has argued that terrorism suspects should be sent to Guantnamo Bay and interrogated without access to lawyers and the right to remain silent. If confirmed, Mr. Sessions would be Mr. Comey's boss.

The Run-UpThe podcast that makes sense of the most delirious stretch of the 2016 campaign.Mr. Sessions has also said the United States weakened itself by banning techniques such as waterboarding, which he said were legal and effective. He voted against the Detainee Treatment Act in 2005 that prohibited cruel or degrading treatment of detainees. Last year, he voted against legislation requiring all government agencies to use only interrogation methods in the Army Field Manual. Those techniques do not include waterboarding.

Mr. Sessions has said he would not rule out waterboarding again. ''This would be unwise advice to the enemy we face,'' the senator said in 2008. He has opposed the closing of the Guantnamo Bay prison and the transporting of terrorists to the United States to face trial in federal court.

The positions taken by Mr. Comey in recent years could put him at odds with not just Mr. Sessions but other members of Mr. Trump's national security team.

''Given the recent slate of appointments from the president-elect, F.B.I. Director Comey may well turn out to be a bulwark against the worst abuses and provide some defense of the rule of law,'' said Faiza Patel of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, who is a frequent critic of the F.B.I.

Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, who was offered the key position of national security adviser in the Trump White House, has said he might be open to using enhanced interrogation techniques, with certain limits, if the country faced a terrorism attack using weapons of mass destruction or another grave threat.

Representative Mike Pompeo, Republican of Kansas, Mr. Trump's choice to run the Central Intelligence Agency, is an advocate of restarting the agency's detention and interrogation program, which Mr. Obama ended.

Mr. Pompeo has criticized Mr. Obama's decision in January 2009 to shut down the agency's black-site prisons and require all interrogators to strictly adhere to anti-torture laws and use only Army Field Manual interrogation techniques. In 2014, he accused Mr. Obama of refusing ''to take the war on radical Islamic terrorism seriously,'' citing among other policies the ''ending our interrogation program in 2009.''

Mr. Pompeo also took aim at a Senate report on the C.I.A. detention and interrogation program, saying its release had put American lives at risk.

Under Mr. Comey, the F.B.I. has worked with the military to capture and prosecute high-profile terrorism suspects in federal court. In 2014, F.B.I. agents and Army Delta Force commandoes captured Ahmed Abu Khattala, a suspected ringleader of the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, and took him to a Navy ship in the Mediterranean Sea. Republicans, including Mr. Pompeo, criticized the administration, saying Mr. Khattala should have been taken to Guantnamo Bay.

Daniel Jones, a former F.B.I. analyst who led the Senate investigation into the C.I.A. detention and interrogation program, said there was no guarantee that Mr. Comey would ally himself with Democrats to oppose a change in policy under Mr. Trump. Mr. Comey's refusal while deputy attorney general in the George W. Bush administration to sign on to a National Security Agency surveillance program '-- an action that burnished a reputation for political independence '-- ''doesn't mean he's not a conservative Republican in opposition to the Democratic agenda,'' Mr. Jones said.

Mr. Comey drew criticism from Democrats after notifying Congress on Oct. 28 that the F.B.I. had discovered emails potentially relevant to the case involving Mrs. Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state, only to say days before the election that they did not change his determination that she should not face charges. Mrs. Clinton, among others, has said his actions contributed to her losing the election.

Ali Soufan, a security consultant and former F.B.I. agent who has supported criminal trials for terrorists, said Mr. Comey deserved credit for making hard decisions in the email case. He predicted Mr. Comey would do the same in a new administration. ''Will he win all the arguments? I don't believe so,'' he said. ''Will he stand up and fight? I believe so.''

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 20:22

The Pence Agenda for the 107th Congress:

A Guide to Renewing the American Dream

"Join us in our cause which is simply this; to renew the American Dream.

We can renew the American dream by showing again that we can run campaigns built on a new politics of civility and mutual respect.

We can renew the American dream by lifting the burden of taxes off families, small businesses and family farms so they can once again dream and build a better life for their children and grandchildren.

We can renew the American dream by rekindling the fires of men, material and morale that warm the warriors who stand on liberty's ramparts protecting our families.

We can renew the American dream by asserting again the constitutional rule of law and the unalienable right to life."

Mike Pence

The Pence Agenda:

A Guide To Renewing The America Dream

Tax Relief

' With a projected 4 Trillion Dollar Surplus projected over the next 10 years, after setting aside 2 Trillion to strengthen Social Security, the 107th Congress should cut taxes by at least the 791.9 Billion dollars outlined in The Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999 (H.R. 2488).

' Congress should cut income tax rates for all Americans at all income levels. ' Congress should repeal the Marriage Penalty by doubling the standard deduction, increasing income tax brackets and adjusting the Earned Income Tax Credit for joint returns. This would return $117 billion to families over the next ten years.

' Congress should phase out the alternative minimum tax. ' Congress should cut capital gains taxes sooner by accelerating the tax rate reduction on long term capital gains from current deadline of 2005 to January 1, 2000.

' Congress should expand the availability and size of Individual Retirement Account contributions.

' Congress should repeal the death tax.

Tax Reform

' Tax reform should be built upon four basic principles:

' (1) Single Low Rate of Taxation for All Americans

' (2) Elimination of Bias Against Savings and Investment

' (3) All Taxpayers Should be Treated Equally

' (4) The Tax Code and Tax Filing Must Be Simplified

' Congress should adopt the Armey-Shelby Flat Tax Proposal (H.R. 1040/S.1040) sponsored by House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-TX) and Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL). Under the Armey-Shelby proposal, two simple postcard size forms would replace the current tax code's 703 forms. Also,

' Individual taxpayers would receive an non-taxed income allowance based on family size, for a family of four, more than $35,000 in income would be tax free. Beyond the allowance income, the taxpayer would be responsible for paying 17% on any wage, salary and pension income. Tax on all other income, including interest, dividends, rents, royalties and business profits, would be withheld and paid at the business level. Capital gains taxes and death taxes would be eliminated.

' For American businesses, the flat tax proposal would permit:

' (1) the full expensing of investments, instead of complicated depreciation schedules

' (2) elimination of death tax on transfer of small businesses and family farms

' (3) elimination of the alternative minimum tax

' (4) elimination of double tax on dividends

Rebuilding the Military

' Recognizing that the Clinton Administration has embarked on a policy of massive disarmament, the 107th Congress must rebuild the strength and effectiveness of our national defense. Here are some of the facts:

' (1) During the 1990's, without accounting for inflation, defense spending fell by $24 billion dollars, from $300 billion in FY 1990 to $276 billion in FY 1999.

' (2)U.S. Strategic nuclear forces have declined by 25%.

' (3) The military is suffering it's worst personnel crisis since the draft ended in 1973.

' (4) Procurement has declined by $30 billion dollars since 1990.

' Against this record, the 107th Congress should:

' (1) increase defense spending to $341 billion per year from FY 2002 to FY 2005.

' (2) spending for operations, maintenance and training should be restored to 1995 levels, adjusted for inflation

' (3) research and development should be increased from $36.6 billion in FY 1999 to $47 billion by the year FY 2005.

' (4) U.S. active duty forces should be adequate to fight and win one major regional conflict and one minor regional conflict at the same time.

' (5) Immediately fund the development and deployment of a space-based missile defense system.

' In addition to defense spending, Congress should lead a national debate on reforming the military by:

' (1) bringing an end to the era of using American military power in humanitarian causes and return to a disciplined traditional view of the use of American military power only where a "vital national interest" is at stake. Vital national interests would be include protecting the territorial integrity of the United States, it's treaty allies or a region of strategic significance to the national security.

' (2) bringing an end to gender mixed basic training and gender mixed housing on military bases.

' (3) bringing an end to assigning women to combat support units, combatant ships and pilot billets that ultimately result in women becoming involved in combat. While women have always made an important contribution to national security, we must resist liberal impulse to use the military to advance the interest of women in civilian culture at the expense of military readiness and effectiveness. America must not become the only nation in the world to use women in combat positions.

' (4) bringing an end to the "don't ask/don't tell" policy of permitting homosexuals to serve in the armed forces. Homosexuality is incompatible with military service because the presence of homosexuals in the ranks weakens unit cohesion.

' (5) initiate an immediate review of salary practices within every branch of the service to address the serious crisis in personnel at all levels.

' (6) Open the federal Employee Health Benefits Program, which now covers federal employees and Congress, to military families as well.

Restoring Moral Integrity

' A fundamental axiom of Western Civilization is the belief in the sanctity of human life. The 107th Congress must be about the business of reasserting this crucial principle of our society.

' The unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed. Roe vs.. Wade was legally poorly conceived and morally wrong and should be overturned. In support of this cause, the 107th Congress should:

' enact a human life amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

' endorse legislation that makes clear that the 14th Amendment's protections apply to unborn children.

' oppose using public revenues to fund abortions and continue to implement the strictures of the Hyde Amendment and it's legislative progeny.

' oppose the granting of federal funds to domestic or international organizations which promote abortion as a method of birth control.

' support the appointment of judges by the Executive branch who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of human life.

' support and promote the interests of organizations which provide support and resources to women with crisis pregnancies.

' support and promote adoption reform, including enactment of an adoption tax credit and legislative efforts to remove racial barriers to adoption.

' Support legislation to ban partial birth abortion for the United States.

' Support efforts to require parental notification and parental consent prior to performance of an abortion on a minor.

' oppose physician assisted suicide by supporting passage of the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act, specifying that killing is not a legitimate medical purpose under the Controlled Substances Act.

Campaign Reform

' Campaigns should demonstrate the basic human decency of the candidate, recognizing that your first amendment rights end at the tip of your opponents nose.

' Negative Personal Attacks have no place in public life and serve to erode public confidence in our basic institutions of government.

' Campaigns should be about the advancement of issues more important than the election of one individual over another.

' Campaign finance reform should include greater access, via the Internet, for the general public to all information relative to income and expenses of campaigns.

' Campaign finance reform should be designed increase the participation of individuals within the state and district of candidates for federal office and this could be accomplished by adjusting the individual contribution limit for inflation since 1974.

' Campaign finance reform must be built on the understanding that political contributions represent the use of private property by citizens in the excursive of their First Amendment right to free speech and must not be infringed.

Education Reform

' Education is a function of state and local government, church and private institutions. Education is not within the scope of the limited government contemplated by the founders of our federal system. As such,

' Congress should support efforts to return funding and control of public education to the state and local level.

' Congress should resist any effort to expand the role of the federal government in state and local education.

' For those educational systems which do fall within the jurisdiction of the federal government, namely the District of Columbia and military bases, Congress should support education choice vouchers, Charter Schools and any other means of injecting competition into the public school system.

' Congress should support the primacy of the parent in matters pertaining to the education of youth and support the home education movement.

' Congress should support the return of voluntary school prayer to the classrooms of our public schools.

' Congress should pass the Religious Liberty Protection Act and the Ten Commandments Defense Act to ensure that freedom of religion returns to our public institutions, including our public schools.

' Congress should continue to support the Equal Access Act and other legislation designed to reinforce the freedom of student initiated prayer and devotions on public school grounds.

The Right to Keep and Bear Arms

' Congress should support the constitutional right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.

' Congress should recognize that firearms in the hands of law abiding citizens results in less, not more, crime.

' Congress should resist efforts to further expand the federal government's role in the area of firearms controls, recognizing the primacy of state law in matters related to firearm purchase and registration.

' Congress should allow states to use more federal income tax dollars to support local crime control initiatives aimed at disarming dangerous criminals.

' Congress should oppose any effort to achieve national firearms registration as antithetical to constitutional rights of law abiding Americans.

Welfare Reform

' Since Congress enacted the Great Society welfare programs of President Johnson, the federal government has spent 7.9 Trillion in the "war on poverty" and poverty is winning. Accordingly,

' Congress should support further implementation of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996.

' Congress should provide greater flexibility to states in the use of federal AFDC/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) resources.

' Congress should continue to support the 5 year limit on receipt of federal AFDC/TANF funds.

' Congress should develop new programs to strengthen marriage and reduce out of wedlock births.

' Congress should support further efforts to require work and responsible behavior.

Strengthening the American Family

' The traditional two parent family is the nucleus of our civilization. Accordingly,

' Congress should support legislation designed to strengthen the economic vitality and cultural primacy of the two parent family.

' Congress should pursue tax relief and tax reform that makes it more possible for more families to live on one income so that one parent may choose to be a full-time at home parent if they so desire.

' Congress should pass legislation that would require agencies to prepare a "Family Impact Statement" to assess the effect of all federal legislation and regulation on the two parent family. This would enact into law President Reagan's 1986 Executive Order 12606 which President Clinton revoked.

' Congress should pass the Child Custody Protection Act to require parental notification prior to the delivery of any contraceptive drugs or devices to minor children by any Title X funded clinics.

' Congress should oppose any effort to put gay and lesbian relationships on an equal legal status with heterosexual marriage.

' Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexual's as a "discreet and insular minority" entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.

' Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.

Health Care Reform

' Since 1994 when Congress rejected President Clinton's 1342 page Health Security Act, the Administration has endeavored to achieve it's goals through an incremental approach to health care reform. Any health care reform must be guided by a commitment to preserve our free market health care system and to strengthen patient choice. Accordingly,

' Congress should expand the pilot program which authorized the creation of Medical Savings Accounts to a nationwide roll out. Medical Savings Accounts permit employers to establish "healthcare IRA's" for employees in which they deposit most or all of a large deductible payment. The employer then purchases a high deductible policy for the employee at a lower cost over all to the company. The employee pays for medical services out of the Medical Savings Account on a first dollar basis. Whatever is left over at the end of the year, rolls over into a tax deferred account.

' Congress should address the 44 million uninsured working Americans by enacting the Faircare for the Uninsured Act of 1999 (H.R. 2362). Under the Faircare credit, each working adult (excepting those already covered by an employer plan, those on Medicaid or Medicare) would receive $1000 each year, tax free, to buy health insurance and an additional $500 for each child up to a $1000 for two or more children. The average family would receive $3000 per year from the government to purchase health insurance coverage.

' Congress should build on the recommendations of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare and create a flexible new system of private health insurance for the next generation of American seniors.

' Congress should block grant Medicaid to the states to permit the type of innovation which was generated following the recent welfare reform legislation.

Regulatory Reform

' As the 2nd District of Indiana has been served by one of the nation's leading voices for regulatory reform, the next Congressman should seek to continue the David McIntosh regulatory legacy by:

' enacting the Regulatory Right to Know Act (H.R. 1074) introduced by Rep. McIntosh and passed by the House in July 1999. The bill requires the President to submit to Congress and annual accounting of the costs and benefits of regulatory programs and to make recommendations for reform.

' establishing an office to advise Congress on the scope and impact of regulations.

' Congress should establish a federal regulatory budget that puts a ceiling on the total estimated cost imposed on the economy by all federal regulations during a given fiscal year.

' Congress should require agencies to conduct periodic reviews of regulations

' Congress should take back responsibility for regulating by enacting the Congressional Responsibility Act (H.R. 2301) which would require that Congress approve agency rules before they take effect.

Social Security Reform

' Americans must come to realize that Social Security faces serious financial problems in the not to distant future. At present, there are 4 workers supporting every 1 beneficiary on Social Security. By the year 2020, that ratio will dwindle to 2 workers for every 1 beneficiary. Americans will either have to endure enormous payroll tax increases or support systemic reform.

' Congress should move immediately to reform and save Social Security.

' Congress should support interim legislation that ensures that the projected 10 year, 1.8 trillion dollar Social Security surplus is dedicated exclusively to meeting our present obligations to seniors and is not used to finance new programs, debt retirement or even tax relief.

' Congress expressly reject any effort to raid that Social Security surplus or trust fund to finance new government programs.

' Congress should inform the American people that the average return on dollars invested in Social Security through payroll taxes amounts to 2.13% over the lifetime of the worker. By permitting workers to invest even a small part of payroll taxes into the stock market, workers could anticipate a return of 12% based upon the performance of the stock market according to Standard & Poors 500 Stock Index of the past 40 years.

' Congress should enact legislation which would permit workers to divert 2% of wages from the worker's Social Security retirement taxes to a new individual retirement savings account.

' Congress should support educational programs designed to prepare workers to manage their own personal retirement accounts.

Reforming Big Government

' While it may not be fashionable to say it these days, government is still too big and still spends too much. The 107th Congress should rededicate itself to reign in the bloated bureaucracy and wasteful government spending. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 has been a failure since discretionary spending and new federal spending rose after passage of the law. The Clinton Administration has balanced the budget on the backs of taxpayers and the military, not through fiscal restraint.

' Congress should reestablish the principle of federalism by getting the federal government out of those governmental functions which can and should be served at the state and local level.

' Congress should re-enact a line-item veto which will pass a constitutional challenge before the Supreme Court.

' Congress should use privatization of federal services as a means of reducing costs and improving quality of services to the public.

' Congress should continue to promote civic efforts to take up where many bloated federal programs have failed over the past 30 years.

' Congress should sell federal assets to reduce the national debt.

' Congress should repeal the Davis-Bacon Act that requires government to pay artificially high labor rates for construction projects.

Promoting Trade

' Indiana remains the 2nd leading exporting state per capita in America and Hoosiers know that trade means jobs and opportunities for our families.

' Congress should continue to support NAFTA and GATT.

' Congress should renew fast track trading authority with the new Administration.

' Congress should press the Administration to negotiate lower trade barriers across a broad range of sectors of the economy.

' Congress should support efforts to continue to pursue opening of markets to China but should grant Normal Trade Relations status on a year to year basis.

' Keep WTO focused on it's chartered mission of lowering trade barriers on a multilateral basis rather than becoming a world forum for labor and environmental issues.

' Congress should pursue free trade agreements with England and the European Union.

' Congress should pursue a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas.

Environmental Reform

' Congress should reform the Clean Air Act by simplifying the compliance requirements and by giving states and local communities greater flexibility to develop market based approaches to handling pollution problems.

' Congress should reject the global warming treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol by reaffirming Senate Resolution 98 which passed 95-0 and expressed disapproval of the terms of the treaty.

' Congress should prohibit the Administration from implementing the Kyoto treaty through bureaucratic methods.

' Congress should create incentives for private landowners to protect endangered species.

' Congress should reform the wetlands program to encourage private and voluntary conservation efforts.

The Future

' Congress should resist any effort to tax the Internet.

' Congress should support efforts to provide families, businesses and sole proprietors with a tax incentives for expenses related to the purchase and implementation of information technology.

' Congress should support completion of the international space station.

' Congress should support efforts within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration end the era of low earth orbit exploration and commence efforts for America to, again, lead the world in outer space exploration.

Israel

' I often describe myself as a "Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order". Accordingly, my Christian faith is the principle characteristic of my life and, like millions of other Americans, I am preoccupied with the defense and the promotion of the interests of the state and the people of Israel.

' I see the relationship between the United States and Israel to be a unique and precious one, forged in the best values and hopes of the people of both nations. At no other time in human history has one people committed themselves so completely to the reestablishment of another people in their historic homeland as did the United States in 1948. I see our relationship with Israel as one of stewardship. Until such a time as Israel has developed both the economic and the military capability to stand on it's own, the United States must stand with Israel as a protector, friend and partner.

' This commitment begins with foreign aid by the United States to Israel. We must continue and be willing to expand our financial commitment to the economic and military strength of Israel even if foreign aid to other nations contracts. Three billion dollars per year is a bargain for the promotion of the interest of a people so cherished by millions of Americans, leaving aside entirely that Israel remains the only democratic nation in this strategically significant region of the world.

' This commitment also extends to the protection of the physical integrity of the historic boundaries of Israel. I believe that Jerusalem is, and must always remain the eternal undivided capital of Israel. I support the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act which clearly states that sentiment as a tenet of U.S. foreign policy and further posits that the U.S. should move it's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. As a member of the House of Representatives, I would be a vocal critic of any effort to compromise the physical integrity of Israel or of Jerusalem in particular.

' The United States must be a supportive partner with Israel in promoting the Middle East Peace Process but must be ever guided by it's fealty first to the interests of Israel. I am committed to the goal of fully implementing the Wye River Memorandum between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. I would not support the creation of a separate Palestinian State unless and until the democratically elected leadership of Israel became persuaded that such was truly in the best interest of Israel and her security.

' In the end, The United States must refrain from excersizing too great of an influence in the domestic or international decisions of the nation of Israel. As a parent learns to give a child room to make decisions, even mistakes, the United States must practice self control in allowing the people of Israel to find their own way and prosper according to America's beneficence and God's good grace.

Agriculture

' Mike Pence supports recent efforts, led by Indiana's own Senator Richard G. Lugar, to reverse decades of supply control management and unleash U.S. farmers to plant in response to market demand, not government programs. But as the farm sector transitions toward market-driven production, Mike Pence believes the government should help farmers adapt to the challenges of the global marketplace as well as work to maintain competitive markets here in the United States. This means providing farmers with a strong safety net and the means to manage economic downturns, such as crop insurance reform, tax-deferred accounts, and elimination of the death tax. It also means opening markets overseas for U.S. farm products, eliminating agricultural export subsidies and tariffs worldwide.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 22:04

Jared Kushner with wife Ivanka Trump: he is tipped to be one of the powers behind Donald Trump's presidency. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

I would like to express my gratitude to Jared Kushner for reviving interest in my 2006 book, The Price of Admission. I have never met or spoken with him, and it's rare in this life to find such a selfless benefactor. Of course, I doubt he became Donald Trump's son-in-law and consigliere merely to boost my lagging sales, but still, I'm thankful.

My book exposed a grubby secret of American higher education: that the rich buy their underachieving children's way into elite universities with massive, tax-deductible donations. It reported that New Jersey real estate developer Charles Kushner had pledged $2.5m to Harvard University not long before his son Jared was admitted to the prestigious Ivy League school, which at the time accepted about one of every nine applicants. (Nowadays, it only takes one out of 20.)

I also quoted administrators at Jared's high school, who described him as a less-than-stellar student and expressed dismay at Harvard's decision.

''There was no way anybody in the administrative office of the school thought he would on the merits get into Harvard,'' a former official at the Frisch school in Paramus, New Jersey, told me. ''His GPA [grade point average] did not warrant it, his SAT scores did not warrant it. We thought, for sure, there was no way this was going to happen. Then, lo and behold, Jared was accepted. It was a little bit disappointing because there were at the time other kids we thought should really get in on the merits, and they did not.''

The son-in-law behind the throne: Jared Kushner's rise and riseRisa Heller, a spokeswoman for Kushner Companies, said in an email on Thursday that ''the allegation'' that Charles Kushner's gift to Harvard was related to Jared's admission ''is and always has been false''. His parents, Charles and Seryl Kushner, ''are enormously generous and have donated over $100m to universities, hospitals and other charitable causes. Jared Kushner was an excellent student in high school and graduated from Harvard with honours.'' (About 90% of Jared's 2003 class at Harvard also graduated with honours.)

My Kushner discoveries were an offshoot of my research for a chapter on Harvard donors. Somebody had slipped me a document I had long coveted: the membership list of Harvard's Committee on University Resources. The university wooed more than 400 of its biggest givers and most promising prospects by putting them on this committee and inviting them to campus periodically to be wined, dined and subjected to lectures by eminent professors.

My idea was to figure out how many children of these corporate titans, oil barons, money managers, lawyers, high-tech consultants and old-money heirs had gone to Harvard. A disproportionate tally might suggest that the university eased its standards for the offspring of wealthy backers.

I began working through the list, poring over Who's Who in America and Harvard class reunion reports for family information. Charles and Seryl Kushner were both on the committee. I had never heard of them, but their joint presence struck me as a sign that Harvard's fundraising machine held the couple in especially fond regard.

The clips showed that Charles Kushner's empire encompassed 25,000 New Jersey apartments, along with extensive office, industrial and retail space and undeveloped land. Unlike most of his fellow committee members, though, Kushner was not a Harvard man. He had graduated from New York University. This eliminated the sentimental tug of the alma mater as a reason for him to give to Harvard, leaving another likely explanation: his children.

Sure enough, his sons Jared and Joshua had both enrolled there.

Charles Kushner differed from his peers on the committee in another way: he had a criminal record. Five years after Jared entered Harvard, the elder Kushner pleaded guilty in 2004 to tax violations, illegal campaign donations and retaliating against a witness. (As it happens, the prosecutor in the case was Chris Christie, recently ousted as the head of Trump's transition team.) Charles Kushner had hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, who was cooperating with federal authorities. Kushner then had a videotape of the tryst sent to his sister. He was sentenced to two years in federal prison.

I completed my analysis, which justified my hunch. Of the 400-plus tycoons on Harvard's list '' which included people who were childless or too young to have college-age offspring '' more than half had sent at least one child to the university.

I also decided that the Kushner-Harvard relationship deserved special attention. Although the university often heralded big gifts in press releases or a bulletin called, in a classic example of fundraising wit, Re:sources, a search of these outlets came up empty. Harvard didn't seem eager to be publicly associated with Charles Kushner.

While looking into Kushner's taxes, though, federal authorities had subpoenaed records of his charitable giving. I learned that in 1998, when Jared was attending the Frisch school and starting to look at colleges, his father had pledged $2.5m to Harvard, to be paid in annual instalments of $250,000. Charles Kushner also visited Neil Rudenstine, then Harvard president, and discussed funding a scholarship programme for low- and middle-income students.

I phoned a Harvard official, with whom I was on friendly terms. First I asked whether the gift played any role in Jared's admission. ''You know we don't comment on individual applicants,'' he said. When I pressed further, he hung up. We haven't spoken since.

At Harvard, Jared Kushner majored in government. Now the 35-year-old is poised to become the power behind the presidency. What he plans to do, and in what direction he and his father-in-law will lead the country, are far more important than his high school grades.

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Source: OZY - The Daily Dose

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:19

Amid the tweet warfare and Broadway boycotts, President-elect Donald J. Trump has begun to give concrete shape to his administration. He's named Sen. Jeff Sessions as Attorney General-designate; Lt. Gen (ret.) Michael Flynn as his National Security Advisor-designate; and Rep. Mike Pompeo.as his CIA Director-designate.

What can we glean from all this? We turned to senior contributor John McLaughlin to parse Trump's moves. Having served as the CIA's former Acting Director and Deputy Director, McLaughlin knows what to look for when it comes to national-security appointments.

Did these appointments surprise you?John McLaughlin: I was not surprised by Flynn's appointment'-- he has long been rumored for the job. I had not thought of Pompeo for the CIA post. But the designee there is often a surprise, as was Leon Panetta when Obama tapped him in 2009.

What do you think of Flynn, and what does it take to succeed in that job?J.M.: Well, Flynn has expressed hard line views on a range of issues '-- for example, his talk on Islam is toughter than we hear from mainline conservatives. And like Trump, he seems to favor a closer relationship with Russia, again at odds with many traditional conservatives. His critics also allege he has conflicts of interest because of work he or his consulting firm has done with countries such as Turkey and Russia.

Leaving aside whether his critics are correct, one thing is clear: The National Security Advisor's job is absolutely critical to the conduct of a successful national security policy. The role requires great interpersonal skill and tolerance of others' views, along with decisiveness, attention to detail, and commitment to follow up. The core of the job is to convene the senior national security team '' such as the Secretaries of Defense, State and Treasury, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the CIA Director '' and to ensure he fairly represents their views to the President. Based on that synthesis, the advisor, formulates a set of recommendations, spelling out the pros and cons, to help the president make decisions.

General Flynn is entitled to his own views of course, but National Security Advisors who can't represent the views of others are not effective and seldom last. The most accomplished team I saw in this job was the combination of Gen. Brent Scowcroft as National Security Advisor and Robert Gates as his Deputy in the George H.W. Bush administration from 1988-92. The team was organized, decisive, and focused on implementation. And trust me, in foreign policy, 25 percent is planning and 75 percent is implementation '' which is the hard part.

What about Pompeo at CIA? Is he qualified?J.M.: I would have to say yes, based on his background and experience. He was first in his class at West Point, served as a US Army officer, graduated from Harvard Law School and has served on the House Intelligence Committee, which is exposed to all aspects of the intelligence world. He has a reputation among colleagues for working hard to really understand the issues '' all good signs.

Do these appointments suggest he Trump administration will bring back the so-called ''enhanced interrogation techniques'' that Obama ended?J.M.: I strongly doubt that Pompeo will try to re-institute these practices or that the administration will ask him to do so. I know Trump said as much during the campaign but the mood in Congress is strongly against this. For its part, the CIA was so burned by the experience, as so many political leaders walked away from what it had been directed to do, that no one there would favor a replay. Before even considering it, CIA officers, even those who judged the program effective, would demand unqualified approval '' on the record '' from all three branches of government. Ain't gonna happen.

What makes for success and failure in a CIA Director?J.M.: Well, a member of Congress has to cross a kind of Rubicon, and leave the politics behind. Pompeo is a conservative Republican who has strongly criticized the Obama administration on issues such as Benghazi and the Iran nuclear deal. Whether or not his views are correct, at CIA he will have to weigh all sides of the arguments and get as close to a factually based and objective assessment as is humanly possible. Most people coming to the job discover that's harder than it looks from the outside.

The key is to realize that, unlike Congress or the President, the CIA is not there to make policy; it is there to inform policy and provide the factual basis for policy decisions by others. This is often a tough transition for newcomers used to policy positions.

Some people say the CIA rejects outsiders and tries to undermine them. True?J.M.: This is false. CIA officers are smart enough to know that if their Director succeeds, it's good for them and for the institution. The vast majority starts off committed to respecting and supporting the new boss. One thing that can queer the deal is if the new person shows up already determined to turn the place upside down overnight ,and with a retinue committed to the same. As a colleague of mine says, the best way for the new Director to arrive is to get out of a car alone, walk in, and take some time to get to know people and take stock. This is especially true right now as the CIA has for the last 18 months been in the midst of the most sweeping restructuring in its history.

So how will all of this work out?J.M.: It's hard to form an opinion until President-elect Trump fills in his whole team. The success or failure of an administration in foreign policy, perhaps in all things, is determined by something greater than the sum of its parts. Yet unknown are factors such as whether there will be positive personal chemistry within the team and whether power will be dispersed among cabinet secretaries or concentrated in a White House inner circle '' and how quickly key appointees can win Senate confirmation. So stay tuned '... and watch for these things.

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Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:21

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is continuing his war of words with US President-elect Donald Trump by urging city leaders across the world to ''build bridges instead of walls.''

Khan told a conference on social integration in London that uniting communities could boost economic growth, warning that a lack of social cohesion was costing the UK economy £6 billion ($7.47 billion).

His comments are an apparent rebuff to US President-elect Trump, who has reiterated his pledge to build a barrier between the US and Mexico, while vowing to deport up to three million illegal immigrants.

The London Mayor has had an ongoing transatlantic spat with Trump since the president-elect promised to bar Muslims from entering the US following last November's terrorist attacks in Paris.

Since winning the US presidential election last week, Trump has said he plans to ''secure'' the border first, before deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records.

Khan appeared to attack Trump's plans, telling the conference: ''We have seen major political upheaval around the world in recent months, with the EU referendum here in the UK and the presidential election in the US.

''This has shown how politics is becoming more and more polarized with whole communities in cities across the world feeling increasingly disconnected and estranged from national politics. That's why now, more than ever, we need to build a strong sense of social solidarity within our cities '' a renewed sense that we are united as neighbors and citizens.''

Khan told the conference that migrant communities had come to live in peace, but had become increasingly concentrated and segregated, through no fault of their own.

''Promoting social integration means ensuring that people of different faiths, ethnicities, social backgrounds and generations don't just tolerate one another or live side-by-side, but actually meet and mix with one another and forge relationships as friends and neighbours, as well as citizens,'' he added.

The London Mayor criticized Trump during a five-day tour of North America in September, when he accused him of ''playing into the hands of [Islamic State]'' by seeking to ban Muslims from the US.

Earlier this year, Trump lashed out at Khan's suggestion he was ignorant of Islam.

''He doesn't know me, never met me, doesn't know what I am all about. I think they are very rude statements,'' Trump told ITV News.

''Frankly tell him I will remember those statements. They are very nasty statements. It is ignorant for him to say that.

''When he won I wished him well. Now, I don't care about him. I mean it doesn't make any difference to me. Let's see how he does, let's see if he is a good mayor.''

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Source: American Renaissance

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:23

Even as immigration-enforcement officers across the country are breathing what one deportation officer described as ''a collective sigh of relief'' following Donald Trump's election, the president-elect's announcement on 60 Minutes that he plans to start with the estimated 2 million criminal aliens has been met with a combination of scorn and skepticism, at least in the mainstream news media and illegal-alien advocacy circles. But Trump's enforcement approach is not only reasonable, it is very feasible, and will address the most disastrous failings of the Obama administration's faux-enforcement regime, which brought interior deportations to a ten-year low and caused the release of tens of thousands of criminal aliens back to our communities to reoffend, instead of back to their homelands.

Said Trump: ''What we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, where a lot of these people, probably 2 million, it could be even 3 million, we are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate.''

{snip}

While some illegal-alien advocates have accused Trump of exaggerating the size of the criminal alien population, he's quite right on this. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency that is responsible for carrying out deportations in the interior, there are approximately 1.9 million deportable criminal aliens in the country. It is able to estimate this because, since 2012, ICE has been receiving the fingerprints of everyone who is arrested or booked into a jail, and because ICE has officers screening inmates in most major correctional systems (except some of the sanctuary cities, where they are denied access to inmates).

{snip}

In 2016, interior deportations are about one-fourth of what they were at the peak under Obama, and criminal deportations have declined by more than 50 percent. By every measure, ICE is now doing less enforcement with more resources than ever before. This means that it will be neither hard nor expensive to achieve a significant boost in enforcement and to make a big dent in the target of 2 to 3 million priority deportations, including those of the criminals.

The first step will be to let the career officers and agents of the immigration-enforcement agencies do their job and apply the law. One deportation officer has told me that currently one of the easiest ways to attract negative attention from a supervisor is to be caught putting someone into deportation proceedings who is not a violent felon but ''just'' a drunk driver or wife-beater.

That will change as soon as President Trump makes good on his promise to cancel improper executive actions, including the directives for ICE officers to refrain from initiating deportation until someone is convicted of a serious felony or several misdemeanors. This means scrapping the disastrous Priority Enforcement Program (PEP), which has drawn the ire of the National Sheriffs Association, among others, and forced local ICE offices to release of thousands of deportable criminals, including Eswin Mejia, an illegal alien with prior arrests who killed 21-year old Sarah Root in Omaha, Neb., while drag-racing drunk in January of this year. Like many of the 86,000 convicted criminals released by ICE since 2013, Mejia is now a fugitive but considered a ''non-criminal,'' because he has yet to be tried and convicted for Root's death.

{snip}

In addition, we can expect that the Trump administration will move to rebuild with local law-enforcement agencies the productive partnerships that emerged toward the end of the Bush administration but that Obama stifled. These would include the 287(g) program, which trained and delegated immigration-enforcement authority to state and local officers and was a tremendous force multiplier for ICE '-- at very little cost to the feds, because the local jurisdictions pay the salaries of local officers who are able to start the deportation process for the criminal aliens they encounter on the job. At its peak, the 287(g) program, used in only a few dozen places, generated between 10 and 20 percent of ICE's criminal deportations.

It will also help ICE when President-elect Trump gets tough on the sanctuaries that obstruct their work. The stage has already been set for this. Under pressure from Representative John Culberson (R., Texas), who controls the Justice Department's budget, DOJ has so far identified ten large states and cities that have sanctuary policies that are inconsistent with federal law and that as a result should be ineligible for certain DOJ funding. The new administration could apply this standard to many more sanctuaries and to many more pots of federal funding, thereby making it very expensive to remain a sanctuary. Since some of the die-hard sanctuaries will remain defiant, I hope that the new administration will also consider litigation or even prosecuting them for harboring criminal aliens.

{snip}

Original Article

Topics: Donald Trump, Immigration, Immigration Law, Immigration Law Enforcement

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 23:26

The PSL was formed when the San Francisco branch and several other members left WWP in June 2004, announcing that "the Workers World Party leadership is no longer capable" of fulfilling the "mission" of building socialism.[3]

Domestic social policyEditThe PSL's primary objective is to form a revolutionary workers' party based in Marxism''Leninism. The party's goal is to lead a revolution paving the way towards socialism, under which a "new government of working people" would be formed. The PSL proposes many radical changes to be implemented by this government. In the political sphere, all elected representatives should be recallable, securing freedom of speech for the working class (except in the case of xenophobia or bigotry and to prevent re-establishment of the capitalist system) and the elimination of corporate influence from politics.

Concerning economics, the PSL would, among other measures, prohibit the exploitation of labor for private profit, implement a working week of 30 hours, and eradicate poverty through the introduction of a basic income guarantee. The PSL would grant the right of self-determination to what it considers oppressed nations of the US, including "African Americans, Native, Puerto Rican and other Latino national minorities, the Hawaiian nation, Asian, Pacific Islander, Arab and other oppressed peoples who have experienced oppression as a whole people under capitalism". It would grant independence to Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Mariana Islands, which it considers colonies. The PSL would end U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and close all US foreign military bases.[4]

International affairsEditHistorically, the PSL is generally positive on the former Soviet Union, describing the October Revolution as "the single biggest event that shaped global politics in the 20th century". The PSL acknowledges that the New Economic Policy of Vladimir Lenin led "to a re-polarization of social classes, especially in the countryside". The PSL blames the reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev for the fall of the Soviet Union.[5]

The PSL supports the government of Cuba, and while critical of the current Chinese government, it views the Chinese Revolution favorably.[6] The PSL also supports the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela. It has endorsed activities that call for the release of the Cuban Five'--deemed political prisoners by supporters'--and called for the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles from the US.[7]

The PSL voiced solidarity with Nepal after the election of Prachanda.[8]

The PSL, in the Leninist tradition, supports the right of nations to self-determination. It has been outspoken in condemning the state of Israel and its role in the Middle East. The PSL led demonstrations against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in July 2006, and supports the right of return for Palestinian people.

Anti-war movementEditThe PSL co-operates with other organizations across the US in the anti-war movement,[9] and is a member of the steering committee of the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition (A.N.S.W.E.R.). As one of the most active members of the coalition, PSL has gained notice for successfully forging ties with Arab and Muslim American groups such as the Muslim American Society, Al-Awda and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.[citation needed]

The national offices of the Party for Socialism and Liberation are based in San Francisco, California and Washington, D.C.

The PSL also maintains branches and centers in Austin, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles and the Inland Empire in California; Miami, Florida; New Haven, ConnecticutNew Paltz and New York City (Harlem), New York; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; Seattle, Washington; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and St. Louis, Missouri.[10]

The PSL often fields candidates for public office. However, because of challenging ballot access rules in many states, the party sometimes uses the ballot line of a different party or is on the ballot as an independent. The PSL has used the ballot line of the Green Party or the Peace and Freedom Party in the past. The party did manage to get on the ballot in 12 states for the 2008 presidential elections, with Gloria La Riva and Eugene Puryear as respectively president and vice president. The PSL managed to gain 6,821 votes, finishing 10th, out of a field of 23 candidates.[11] Below is a selection of other races that the PSL have contested.

YearOfficeCandidateOn the ballot asVotesPosition2008Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 4Marylou CabralNon-partisan23,703 (17.5%)2/3California State Assembly, District 48Lucilla EsguerraPeace and Freedom Party11,173 (12.90%)2/2Illinois House of Representatives, District 40Heather BennoIllinois Green Party2,276 (10.07%)3/3Illinois House of Representatives, District 14John BeachamIllinois Green Party4,745 (14.5%)2/22008President of the United StatesGloria La Riva & Eugene PuryearParty for Socialism and Liberation6,821 (0.00%)10/232009Mayor of Los AngelesCarlos AlvarezNon-partisan3,047 (1.11%)8/10Mayor of New York CityFrancisca VillarParty for Socialism and Liberation3,517 (0.3%)5/82010Governor of CaliforniaCarlos AlvarezPeace and Freedom Party92,856 (0.9%)6/6Mayor of Long BeachStevie MerinoIndependent5,057 (16%)2/2Ohio House of RepresentativesCorey AnselGreen Party of Ohio716 (1.4%)4/42012President of the United StatesPeta Lindsay & Yari OsorioParty for Socialism and Liberation9,388 (0.01%) [12]11/272014California's 12th congressional district (primary)Frank LaraPeace and Freedom Party2,107 (1.9%)5/8California Insurance Commissioner (primary)Nathalie HriziPeace and Freedom Party212,991 (5.4%)3/3Council of the District of Columbia (At-Large)Eugene PuryearD.C. Statehood Green Party12,525 (3.5%)8/152016President of the United StatesGloria La Riva & Eugene PuryearParty for Socialism and Liberation47,717 (0.04%)n.a.Lindsay-Osorio campaignEditThe party's 2012 ticket for President listed Peta Lindsay, a 28-year-old activist and educator who is constitutionally barred from serving as President if elected due to her age, and Yari Osorio, who was born in Colombia and is unable to serve if elected because he was not born a United States citizen. Lindsay/Osorio were denied access to the Peace and Freedom Party's primary in California for this reason.[13] The PSL was on the ballot in 13 states (Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin), the most of any of the socialist presidential campaigns in 2012.[14]

The party's main publication is the biweekly newspaper, Liberation,[15] which replaced a quarterly magazine, Socialism and Liberation[16] PSL outlines its political perspective, including its assessment of the current international and domestic situation in the pamphlet "Who We Are, What We Stand For".[17] The party also owns its own printing company, PSL Publications, through which it has published multiple printed books such as Socialists and War: Two opposing trends by members Mazada Majidi and Brian Becker,[18] and an e-book which was released through Amazon titled A Woman's Place Is in the Struggle by members Ana Maria Ramirez, Anne Gamboni, Gloria La Riva and Liz Lowengard.[19] The PSL's publication company is headquartered at their West Coast office in San Francisco, California.

^Socialism and Liberation magazine is changing at pslweb.org, accessed 7 June 2008.^About the Party for Socialism and Liberation at pslweb.org, accessed 4 June 2007.^ abParty for Socialism and Liberation: People's Struggle and the Socialist Revolution, August 1, 2004.^"Part 2: The U.S. drive for global domination". Who we are, what we stand for. Party for Socialism and Liberation. Retrieved 14 July 2011. ^Becker, Brian. "Socialism and the legacy of the Soviet Uni". Why Socialism?. Party for Socialism and Liberation. Retrieved 14 July 2011. ^"Twenty years after Tiananmen Square". Socialist Worker. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2014. ^Cuba Solidarity Campaign at pslweb.org, accessed 4 June 2007.^"Ferment in Nepal: A dynamic vortex of revolutionary change". 3 January 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2014. ^"Paul Le Blanc: Revolutionary organisation and the 'Occupy moment'". 16 February 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2014. ^http://www.pslweb.org/party/join/^CNN.com Full 2008 Election Results, accessed 29 July 2011.^US Election Atlas at http://uselectionatlas.org, accessed 10 November 2012.^Winger, Richard. "Ballot Access News >> Blog Archive >> May 2012 Ballot Access News Print Edition". Retrieved 22 June 2012. ^"PSL on the ballot in 13 states nationwide". Retrieved 10 October 2012. ^Liberation^Socialism and Liberation^Who We Are, What We Stand For^http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/psl-publications-announces.html^http://www.amazon.com/Womans-Place-Is-Struggle-ebook/dp/B00BQKMNJ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372983488&sr=8-1&keywords=a+woman%27s+place+is+in+the+struggle

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 14:20

After a viral video showing a Trump supporter yelling at a barista gained traction on Wednesday, other supporters have banded together to protest what they view as political and anti-white discrimination.

The man in the video told the Miami Herald that he was racially discriminated against and that the barista wouldn't serve him because she knew he was a Trump supporter.The hashtag #TrumpCup isn't new, but blew up after a Twitter user posted instructions to followers Friday morning. The hashtag had more than 27,000 tweets as of Friday afternoon.

The protest is an attempt to make Starbucks baristas yell Trump's name and write it on their coffee cups, as is the company's regular practice.

Some supporters claim to have been refused a #TrumpCup and see it as a breach of their rights.

But others find the protest counterintuitive, as the plan relies on giving Starbucks money in the first place.

This all comes after the controversy that plagued Starbucks last year as it introduced a plain red holiday cup that was markedly different from Christmas cups in the past. Joshua Feuerstein, a former pastor, called the new cups a "war on Christmas" in a video posted to Facebook.But many social media users find the Starbucks protests old and tiresome.

Some even call out the logic of the movement with a good-natured slight at Starbucks.

Starbucks has responded to the protest by clarifying that it doesn't require its partners to write or call out names.

"Over the years, writing customer names on cups and calling out their names has been a fun ritual in our stores," a Starbucks spokesperson said. "Rarely has it been abused or taken advantage of. We hope and trust that our customers will continue to honor that tradition."

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:13

The latest visual manifestation of Trump's America comes from Adam Yauch Park, a playground named for the late Beastie Boy in the neighborhood he grew up in, Brooklyn Heights. On Friday afternoon a few photos surfaced on Twitter showing two swastikas painted on the children's playground equipment, along with the words: "Go Trump."

City Councilman Brad Lander tweeted a photo, adding, ''Yet more hatred & anti-Semitism from Trump supporters." Lander says the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force and the Parks Department were on-site immediately, and the equipment will be repainted tonight.

We have reached out to the Beastie Boys and the Parks Department for further comment and will update if we hear back.

There have been a number of swastikas seen around the nation since Donald Trump was elected president, including at the New School earlier this week.

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Thu, 17 Nov 2016 08:40

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The city switched to a ''feminist'' system of clearing snow last winter but last week's burst of snow, which threw the city into chaos, has cast doubt on its effectiveness.

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Hundreds of thousands of people were affected, with the majority of bus routes put out of service and commuters having to wait in queues for several hours.

Previously, fresh snowfalls were cleared first from main roads and by areas like construction sites before being removed from pavements and cycle lanes. As men are more likely to drive and women more likely to travel on foot, more women slipped on the ice which led to complaints that the system was sexist.

Vice-mayor of Stockholm, the Green Party's Daniel Helld(C)n, admitted that ''equality snow removal'' had failed the city, and apologised to residents who had injured themselves as a result.

When the Red-Green coalition, comprising politicians from the Social Democratic Party, Green Party, Left Party, and Feminist Initiative, were elected to City Hall in 2014 the introduction of a ''feminist'' snow clearance was high on the agenda.

But police last week said the system is so bad, with ambulances unable to make their way along Stockholm's roads, it posed a danger to society. Officer Fredrik St¥hle branded the conditions for drivers in the city ''deplorable''.

Opposition vice-mayor Cecilia Brinck called the concept of ''gender-equal'' snow removal ''a little silly''. The Moderate party politician said despite the promise that feminist snow-clearing would make life better for women, its implementation made the weather ''bad for everyone''.

Per Ossmer and Martin Westmont from the Sweden Democrats said that the city's snow clearance plan should not be ''characterised by a feminist perspective''.

Speaking for the populist party in a piece for Stockholm Direkt, the pair advised that politicians prioritise delivering an effective transport system over investing ''considerable resources'' in ''gender certifying'' various services.

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:13

A Twitter user conducted an interesting experiment to sniff out double standards in the site's censorship policy concerning race. The person wrote the same comment on two different accounts with only two words changed, then reported each for abusive behavior.

The first comment read: "I fucking hate white people and their inconsiderate asses for voting for Trump. Fuck you."

The second: "I fucking hate black people and their inconsiderate asses for voting for Clinton. Fuck you."

The first was found not to be in "violation of Twitter's Rules regarding abusive behavior," while the second resulted in the user's account being banned.

Really makes you think.

HT: Chateau Heartiste, r/The_Donald.

Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter and Facebook.

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 21:49

Remember how it was the height of bigotry for religious objectors to decline to participate in a gay wedding? But now it's brave to decline to sell Melania Trump a dress.

To the many things the Trump administration in waiting has made cool again, add private businesses refusing service to customers based on moral objections.

Friday, fashion designer Sophie Theallet, who has dressed the current first lady Michelle Obama, offered a preemptive refusal to hypothetically dress the next first lady, Melania Trump, should she ask for some of her clothes'-- presumably not the ones available at The Gap. In her unsolicited letter, Theallet informed the world that a person who did not ask for any of her clothes would not be getting them.

''As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady,'' the letter reads. ''The rhetoric of racism, sexism, and xenophobia unleashed by her husband's presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by.''

''I encourage my fellow designers to do the same,'' it goes on.

In refusing service to Trump, Theallet appealed to ''individual freedom'' and the idea of her art as an expression of the company's ''artistic and philosophical ideals.'' Her announcement was called ''noble,'' ''patriotic,'' and ''admirable integrity.''

But these are the same arguments the left and media have dismissed from Baronelle Stutzman, a Washington florist who thinks making custom bouquets for a same-sex marriage doesn't comport with her personal beliefs. In appealing to the state Supreme Court after a three-year legal battle, Stutzman's lawyer argued this week ''that arranging flowers is artistic expression protected under the First Amendment. Stutzman '-- a Southern Baptist '-- would have been more than happy to sell prearranged flowers out of the cooler because that was 'not custom expression.'''

A judge ''questioned just what message is being expressed when Stutzman creates her floral designs.'' No doubt no one will wonder whether Theallet's expression is art and entitled to the protection of individual liberty and conscience against government compulsion.

A pair of New Mexico wedding photographers learned their photography was not deemed artistic expression enough when they lost a state Supreme Court appeal to a ruling compelling them to photograph same-sex wedding ceremonies.

Theallet's triumphant and unnecessary announcement is also the mirror image of the Memories Pizza saga of 2015. In the spring of 2015, the proprietor of a tiny business seeking no publicity whatsoever, and located in the middle of Indiana, was approached by a member of the press about hypothetically catering the hypothetical wedding of a hypothetical gay couple.

Crystal O'Connor politely declined this nonexistent request while making clear the business has no trouble serving gay customers outside a wedding ceremony: ''If a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no,'' she told WBND-TV after Indiana passed a religious freedom bill protecting such objections.

O'Connor's expression of her own philosophical ideals was met with such negative national attention and aggressive backlash that the family-owned pizzeria closed for more than a week.

Theallet's announcement, on the other hand, delivered unbidden unto the national press from Brooklyn Heights, will garnish plaudits and publicity such that the only reason she'll be shutting her doors is to focus on feeding the demand for virtue-signaling $400 dresses.

''Integrity is our only true currency,'' Theallet closed by saying. Intellectual consistency certainly isn't.

Mary Katharine Ham is a senior writer at The Federalist.

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:15

Wikileaks, the Internet's beloved source of free, open, honest and integrity-signed information, well at least that's what is used to be. Just last month Wikileaks celebrated its 10 year anniversary, celebrating being online for over 10 years and publishing over 10 million documents with 100% accuracy. However, the once powerful truth machine is having quite a hard time authenticating its recent dumps, press releases, and no one has actually seen Assange alive for well over a month now.

There is more than reasonable belief that Wikileaks has been compromised. By who? No one is quite sure, but it is believed a third-party actor could be involved. And when we say Wikileaks has been compromised, we are talking about the foundation, including their website and Twitter.

How has Wikileaks potentially been compromised?As I am sure we are all aware, both Wikileaks and it's founder, Julian Assange, have been quite hot topics in the media lately. Rightfully so as they have been leaking vital information related to the recent US election. Now if you've been living under a rock and haven't heard, the Wikileaks foundation received a copy of Hillary Clinton's deleted emails. The emails that the FBI have dismissed in part with extra emails they originally ''missed.''

Starting just last month, things over at Wikileaks started to get a little out of the ordinary. The foundation began showing a new face it hadn't shown once in its last 10 years and the community has quickly taken notice. Not only this, but Assange has not been seen alive in well over a month. Not within the embassy, not near the Windows, nowhere and there has been zero verifiable evidence of his location.

Wikileaks has not been the same since Assange's Internet was Mysteriously Cut in OctoberFor those who have not been following the Wikileaks saga closely, there has been quite a large amount of facts and misinformation following the case. So lets backtrack to where this all began, right in the middle of October.

Back on October 15th of this year, the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, unexpectedly lost all form of digital communication. Shortly after, outrage and fear sparked as Assange's wellbeing instantly became unknown, and the Wikileaks foundation immediately began investigating.

According to Wikileaks, Assange's Internet was abruptly cut on October 15, 2016 at 5PM GMT. The organization said it occurred shortly after the publication of Clinton's Goldman Sachs speeches. A leak that proved Hillary had done paid speeches for the mega-bank, with an official transcript being leaked.

After Assange's Internet dropped for ''unknown reasons,'' Wikileaks went on to explain that ''Julian Assange's internet link has been intentionally severed by a state party.'' Further acknowledging ''we have activated the appropriate contingency plans.''

Following the date Assange's Internet dropped, both the Wikileaks foundation and their Twitter have been acting quite irregular.

Deadmans Switch?Shortly after Assange's Internet had been severed, the Wikileaks foundation sent out a series of cryptic tweets (October 16th):

pre-commitment 1: John Kerry 4bb96075acadc3d80b5ac872874c3037a386f4f595fe99e687439aabd0219809

pre-commitment 2: Ecuador eae5c9b064ed649ba468f0800abf8b56ae5cfe355b93b1ce90a1b92a48a9ab72

pre-commitment 3: UK FCO f33a6de5c627e3270ed3e02f62cd0c857467a780cf6123d2172d80d02a072f74

*These are a bundle of SHA256 hashes

An unexpected drop in hashes is not something Wikileaks has a history of doing, especially in the fashion they dropped. Without any context from the foundation, the community has had to interpret these hashes for themselves, leading a majority to concluded this is an encryption commitment scheme. To date, these have still not been confirmed.

Following the drops, the community has gone into investigation mode to try and identify what these could be related to. After scanning the Wikileaks site and even the Wikileaks insurance torrent, none of the hashes match up. People even speculated that the drops could have been the official keys or passwords to the encrypted files within the Wikileaks insurance torrent, however, this turned out untrue as well. Meaning these hashes have nothing to do with the information that is currently published.

It is clear that precommitment is being used, presumably as a deterrent to retaliation from an opponent. From Wikipedia: ''Precommitment is a strategy in which a party to a conflict uses a commitment device to strengthen its position by cutting off some of its options to make its threats more credible. Any party employing a Strategy of Deterrence faces the problem that retaliating against an attack may ultimately result in significant damage to their own side.''

Was Assange captured/extradited?Internet capabilities were to be restored to Assange following the election, however, he has still not been granted access to any network capabilities.

People believe cryptic the tweets could have been Assange's cry for help. Following these drops there has still been no official statement from the new Wikileaks Twitter controller. After the foundation said a state party had intentionally severed his connection and in-turn they activated the appropriate contingency plans. Is this not indirectly acknowledged a dead mans switch?

What's significant about these cryptic tweets is the mention of John Kerry, the current secretary of state. Kerry just happened to be near London during the time Assange's connection dropped. According to news outlets, Kerry was there to allegedly renew Syrian peace efforts. However, Wikileaks reported: ''BREAKING: Multiple US sources tell us John Kerry asked Ecuador to stop Assange from publishing Clinton docs during FARC peace negotiations.''

After that hit, Wikileaks dropped yet another bombshell: ''The John Kerry private meeting with Ecuador was made on the sidelines of the negotiations which took place pricipally on Sep 26 in Colombia.''

During this time supporters of Wikileaks actually responded to Assange's presumed dead mans switch by meeting outside the Ecuadorian embassy Assange has been stuck in since 2012. One supporter setup a live stream using periscope which had accumulated several thousands of viewers and abruptly lost connection for unknown reasons. Several attendees outside said the stream dropped once an ''unnamed crew'' showed up and entered the embassy. That same person hasn't used their Twitter account since that night, October 19-20th.

Again, Assange was never seen during this time.

A couple of days following this Wikileaks randomly tweeted: ''PHOTO: Heavily armed 'police' appear outside Ecuadorian Embassy in London where Julian Assange has political asylum (photo, Tuesday morning)''

The foundation unexpectedly tweeted out this information. As well, during this time there have been reports that people in neighboring areas of the embassy have had SWAT confiscate their phone and bar entry into streets neighboring the embassy. People have been discussing this online and on Twitter as well.

Was Assange Privately Flown out of London

Now this is one we won't entirely dissect here as it is just massive. But according to publicly crowd-sourced information from Reddit, private jets from military bases tied to the CIA in London were being flown out at the exact times Assange was believed to have been detained. There are even images on public flight maps and radars showing the private jet taking off from its base and landing in a military base in the USA. The radar showing the plane eventually went down, now only images detailing the flight are available.

The Reddit comments give an even deeper dive into multiple airports, the actual plane Assange could have been extradited on, and where he could actually be.

Wikileaks Twitter Takes a New & Biased Look on PoliticsOne core principle behind the Wikileaks foundation is their usual unbiased outlook. Regardless of where the leaks came from, which country it may affect or who they may hurt, Wikileaks will always publish documents they receive.

As the leaks were targeting the presidential election, it's extremely important that Wikileaks keeps an unbiased outlook. This was one of the great things Assange promised before the Hillary leaks even began dropping. The foundation has stuck beside this core message for the past 10 years, but not so much in the past month.

Following Assange losing Internet, the Wikileaks Twitter quickly began to take a quite bias outlook. Mind you, Wikileaks Twitter used to be just a long list of leaks and links, acting almost robotic with no opinion. Somewhere the foundation took a complete 180 and went from never liking a post and rarely sharing articles, to resharing bias Politico articles as well as liking and unliking bias tweets over time. Not only this but the Twitter account even began making veiled threats.

This is not common Wikileaks activity and has never been expressed in the past 10 years.

Podesta Emails Losing Heat While Email Numbers Not Matching UpIt's no secret that the earlier Podesta leaks contained things we had never once imagined in politics, but it's as if the recent leaks have lost their sensation. Undoubtedly less people will be following the leaks now that the election has wrapped up, but it's almost as if the new leaks contain less and less information.

Not only have they been losing steam, but Reddit users discovered a discrepancy in the daily email leak count. They discovered the most recent leak is missing some 598 emails.

After hours of scouring Wikileaks, users were able to make up a small portion of the emails that had been hidden and not indexed.

Where are the emails? Has the foundation been compromised and third-party actors are scrubbing recent leaks? The possibility seems quite unreal, but there is even more cryptographic evidence against WikiLeaks.

The Reddit AMA DisasterWikileaks decided to host an ''Ask Me Anything'' on Reddit just last week, this type of thread was intended for the public to be able to ask the Wikileaks staff anything they pleased, and staffers could openly respond. For an AMA to be hosted on Reddit, the account owners have to go through approval to verify they are the person or organization who they claim, whether it be an actor, politician, band or even whistleblower.

Well, this is where it gets a little weird and tin-foiley but with some proof backing it. First, the staff only verified that it was them through their Wikileaks twitter account with a simple tweet. The Wikileaks staff had attempted to post a selfie to Imgur, however the upload failed and staffers never updated it. Mind you, one of the moderators of the widely popular AMA subreddit, the one who verified the Wikileaks AMA, just up and deleted their account. Now the moderators of the AMA subreddit are not just your run of the mill Reddit users, they are often paid Reddit employees.

Many questions went unanswered and overall the AMA was handled very poorly. Unlike the foundations past AMA's which were extremely well documented and informed.

On top of this, when the Wikileaks staffers talked with other AMA staffers about verification, they never once offered a PGP signature. Mods are stating these claims aloud on Reddit. Why would they bother making a big deal out of their signed PGP keys if they aren't willing to use them?

Cryptographic Errors, Hashes are Not Matching the Insurance FilesNow this is really where this story takes a turn for the worse. Say what you will about the above, but this is possibly proof that something has gone fatally wrong.

To start, Wikileaks is not even signing their own press releases with their PGP keys they advertise widely on the site. This seems quite uncommon as all the earlier Podesta leaks were signed with DKIM keys, authenticating each email. So why wouldn't Wikileaks authenticate their own statements? Should we assume the author doesn't have the ability to authenticate their posts?

If you want to learn more about PGP you can read EFF's introduction, but in short basically whoever holds the private key is the only one who can sign their PGP signature. Unless of course the private key has been stolen or cracked.

Even when the foundation has been pressed for any kind of PGP statement, we are met with complete silence.

What's even more damning is that the latest insurance files published by Wikileaks do not match the pre-commitment hashes they tweeted out in October. Again, Reddit users have done a breakdown on the hashes with links, and the comments give even more insight. Now we are aware that Reddit is not a ''reliable'' source of information, however, everything listed is public information. Proving that the Wikileaks hashes don't match.

Other forums have pointed out that the actual torrent hosted on Wikileaks has changed as well as other minor site alterations.

Now there are definitely plausible reasons the hashses could change. The file could have become corrupted at some point during transit, the files could have needed to be rehashed since Assange lost Internet, or the original hash could have even been incorrect. Though, Wikileaks has had a pretty stellar 10 years and has rarely if ever made a quite complex mistake like this.

Or this could be the dead mans switch we were waiting for. Wikileaks could be compromised and we could be waiting for the keys to drop. If the Wikileaks Twitter was compromised and the foundation has been taken over them the switches could be suppressed. Especially amid the massive DDoS attacks striking the general Internet and Wikileaks in particular.

Recent InterviewsAssange did two recent interviews, one with John Pilger, and a second ''live'' phone interview with UMET. The first interview with Assange is a bit odd in a couple of places. First, nowhere in the interview does Assange mention his Internet being cut off nor him not being able to access the Internet. On top of that, he claims that Hillary's most damaging leaks are leaks that were dropped quite a while back. Nothing regarding the most recent sets of leaks. There also appears to be weird pauses and cuts in Assange's interview.

On top of that, Julian's interview to Confercia Internacional De Software appeared to be genuine, but people pointed out that his speech didn't flow well and they weren't entirely sure if it was Assange actually speaking. Again, quite a stretch, but where do we draw the line when the leaks are affected mega power structures and billionaires.

Extra Strange Things and DeniabilityThere are quite a few odd things regarding Assange's whereabouts. Some have pointed out:

It's odd Assange has not been able to come to the Embassy Window but the cat canNo one can get ahold of Assange via cell phone in LondonRecent interviews with Assange have been questionably choppy and possibly pre recordedAssange's Internet has still not been restoredSources claimed to have called the Ecuadorian embassy and staff cannot confirm if Assange is thereWikileaks was to publish several leaks they never did. Including phase 3, Tim Keane, possibly John Kerry, UK and Ecuador files.Two of Assange's other lawyers both recently ''commit suicide'' in extremely questionable waysPer Samualson, Assange's Swedish lawyer has not been allowed into the embassy to see himHowever, on the other hand, if this was going on, long time respected people including John Pilger, Assange's Lawyer and even Jennifer Robinson would have to be apart of all of this. Even Ecuadorians working around the embassy and Swedish prosecutors would have to play a role.

ConclusionThere is no 100% proof that Wikileaks has been compromised, however, the tone has definitely changed in the recent month since Assange lost Internet. There is also clear cryptographic proof that the hashes aren't matching up and we aren't getting any clarification.

It appears only time will tell us Assange's whereabouts, we can only hope he is safe and in good health!

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:45

Disclaimer: This is simply my opinion, based upon published stories, events and alleged sightings. I cannot prove the conclusions I've reached at this time. The facts (transpired events) are however, the facts. These events did happen. When pieced together, they present a disturbing conclusion.

Lacking ''proof of life'', there is every reason to suspect that Julian Assange of Wikileaks is dead, captured or escaped. Since his disappearance, there has been no current, actual proof of life from any source.

Proof of life is means current evidence that he is alive. Which means what it says '' daily evidence of life. So far since his disappearance, there's been none that can be reliably trusted. Just ''reports'' most of which are actually old regurgitated stories and videos.

None of the claims, videos, stories and reports circulating on the Internet since his disappearance are actually current when they were published, including Micheal Moore's video (recorded in June) and widely circulated online, Pam Anderson's visit in October, and even the John Pilger's recent interview with Assange (released on November 5th). Outside of these last two people, NOBODY has claimed they've seen him and there are reasons to suspect both Pam and John's stories as being a part of an ongoing coverup.

Since his disappearance, millions of people have wondered about the lack of evidence proving Assange is alive. Wikileaks (allegedly) responded to this demand early on '' conducting a ''poll'' asking what evidence would suffice. A vote was taken, which had a current video as being the most desired, and a appearance at a window then next most desired. Then nothing happened. Wikileaks did not respond any further which was very strange considering the level of interest.

A lot of older videos and stories popped up the moment Assange disappeared too, which have been shared all over the Internet if you were looking (I did), all had their dates removed. The sheer number of these and their date removals were / is astounding (hundreds). Investigation into these stories and videos reveals that they are all ''old'' with nothing current being shown at all. Some dated back more then two years ago. What stood out each time was the apparent deliberate attempt make the videos and stories seem current when none actually were. Major news media sources and nearly all alternative news media sources were doing this. There are even several released today that has this same characteristic '' they're ALL old video takes. This can't / couldn't have been accidental since it is so consistent acrossed the Internet.

For the past four weeks, since October 12th, nobody other then Pam has admitted to actually seeing Julian Assange. In fact, only Pam Anderson has actually made this claim since October 16th. Nobody at the Ecudorian embassy, none of the staff, no bystanders watching the windows, nobody has reporting anything. All we have since then on October 16th is the story from Pamela Anderson. It's possible she actually did see him then, but there has been nothing at all since.

There have been a few Tweets allegedly from Assange, and some very strange ones from Wikileaks containing odd mispellings and odd statements, however, none of these can be considered as evidence of anything.

John Pilger released a video interview of Assange on November 5th that appears to confirm it was taken after his internet was cutoff, however Assange does not actually bother to discuss this, nor does Pilger reveal when the interview actually takes place. Neither person even mentions his long disappearance either or the public demand for proof of life, only a specific point made by Pilger about his internet. Assange does not even answer this point nor even mention the interest in proof of life, which he would by now surely know about.

This in itself is also quite odd, since the Internet was abuzz with this request, but it was simply ignored like the Wikileaks promises that were issued. Assange is meticulous, very detail oriented and highly organized, it simply makes no sense at all that he would not respond to this request given opportunity. Which he allegedly had if the interview with Pilger was current. But we do not know for certain that it actually was. I suspect it wasn't, just like all the other videos and stories that cropped up after his disappearance, because it contains critical absence of content.

I've written to Pilger myself, but it's unlikely I'll get a response. I suspect lacking more evidence, that the Pilger interview was performed shortly before Assange's internet was cut off, or shortly thereafter. But this still does not explain anything else, nor can the Pilger video (posted here) be considered proof of life at this time.

There does seem to be an agenda from Wikileaks themselves to keep up appearances regarding Assange's status. Tweets and postings about Assange are widely ignored, but the few that have appeared try to disaude any ''conspiracy'' regarding Assange and proof of life. This is also unusual, since it would be an incredibly easy thing to do to provide actual evidence and quell the rumors and speculation. Yet none has been provided. The resistance to this request is what is so strange.

If Assange has been taken or compromised, this raises many other serious questions, such as how compromised is Wikileaks now and the stories and leaks they're releasing? The whole issue of trust and transparency becomes paramount. There have been many earth-shattering leaks regarding the Clintons, the Clinton Foundation and the crime / corruption / connections to global terrorism and pedophilia and much, much more since Assange disappeared. That is why proof of life is so imporant '' if the Wikileaks editor has been captured, how much of the information being released by Wikileaks is compromised?

Maybe none of the information is compromised or fabricated at all, even if he were captured or dead. But integrity and honesty demands evidence on Assange anyway. Somebody is running the show over at Wikileaks and they probably do know his real status, but they're not saying anything more then ''Assange is ok''. However, considering all that has transpired, is that really sufficient? I think not. Either Wikileaks can't or refuses to say more (at this time), or worse, Wikileaks isn't really Wikileaks anymore. If their communications have been taken over, then the world will be left without this organization and the trust the people have placed within it.

Wikileaks is a repository and outlet for information leaked by anyone in the world, they are not the source of this information. You can read up about Wikileaks yourself to find out how it works.

Now, just two days before the (s)Election (November 6th), Wikileaks is apparently promised another ''bombshell'' release on Hillary Clinton. The Clinton camp however, already anticipated this a day ago and announced that if there were any more leaks, ''they're probably fake''. If they already know Assange is dead or in custody, this would certainly make sense. But if they are just running scared, they'd also say this to disuade anyone from being convinced by another new leak. So this isn't really proof of anything, and the Hillary camp is quite obviously capable of saying / do anything to get (s)Elected as their record now clearly shows.

This new video was just released. In my opinion (as others have pointed out already), it's fake. There are really strange head movements, odd delays and questions. The story about Seth Rich notwithstanding, I doubt that this video is really the real Assange. They certainly have the ability to fake it as my last post shows. Assange claims Wikileaks doesn't delay leaks in this video '' which is exactly what Wikileaks has been doing for some time now, exquisitely ''timing'' leaks for maximum damage. This makes no sense.

Today (Monday, November 7th) there is wide-spread reporting that Julian Assange ''will be questioned in the Ecuadorian Embassy'' in London regarding the rape allegations. A Internet search will reveal that this story is very consistent across the Internet (carbon copies), which means what you should think it means, it's all coming from a single source. It also means there there is a decided LACK of independent reporting on this.

In itself, this doesn't mean much necessarily, other then evidence that reporters are pretty damned lazy today. It may also mean that nobody is expecting any surprises or doing any investigative journalism on this, and THAT is what stands out to me. All these news sources are simply reguritating what they've been told. That's dangerous. But it's very typical these days. The mind-control the media has over the public is quite astounding.

A DNA test is also supposed during this questioning period ''if Assange agrees to this''. If this interview does not provide current video evidence of life to the world, then this interview is also suspect as proof of life. They already have his DNA if he's been captured and could easily claim this as ''proof''.

Lacking current video evidence with multiple credible eyewitnesses, there is simply no way to know if Assange is actually still alive and in the embassy. Not yet. But to this date, it is absolutely possible that there is a gigantic conspiracy unfolding pretending to keep Assange ''alive'' in the public eye. He could already be dead or captured, and this could have happened anytime after October 12th or the 16th (take your pick on who / what you believe). Moreover, he could still be permanently disappeared or renditioned or killed at anytime in the future.

This is a standard tactic by the way in clandestine operations. You can appear to make a disappearance before or after the actual, real event takes place. It is especially useful if you need to keep up appearances '' or credibility.

We'll have to wait for the promised November 14th interview at the embassy for additional proof one way or the other. If this is delayed, it is suspect. If it does not provide actual real proof, it is suspect. If we are left wondering again, having to trust or base ''proof'' on claims that cannot be trusted, it is suspect.

Here is the timeline as best as I can make it at this time, including the alleged ''extradition'' by aircraft of Assange. Note that this isn't proof '' just a claim. You can easily find the events below online, these actually did happen as far as I can tell:

Internet connection was cutoff, allegedly by the Ecuadorian embassy. Shortly thereafter, there were reports that the embassy was raided by police vehicles.

Pam Anderson visits on October 16th.

Three pre-commitments ''tweets'' were made on Oct 16, the same day Assange supposedly met with Pam Anderson:

pre-commitment 1: John Kerry 4bb96075acadc3d80b5ac872874c3037a386f4f595fe99e687439aabd0219809pre-commitment 2: Ecuador eae5c9b064ed649ba468f0800abf8b56ae5cfe355b93b1ce90a1b92a48a9ab72pre-commitment 3: UK FCO f33a6de5c627e3270ed3e02f62cd0c857467a780cf6123d2172d80d02a072f74Fox News reports that Assange would be arrested in a few hours, on October 18th. This video reporting this has now been deleted, and deleted here too.

Wikileaks promised information releases on Tim Kaine and John Kerry, yet nothing to date has been provided. John Kerry allegedly asks Ecuador to stop Assange from publishing Clinton docs.

Wikileaks tweets on 22nd they will provide proof of life. A poll it taken, yet no proof is ever provided.

October 23rd '' Michael Moore claims to have visited Assange. This video was recorded on June 9th. Wikileaks does not dispute this old video as evidence and neither does anybody else. This is repeated all over the place (far too many to list here) with old videos of Assange and interviews and many stories being suddenly resurfaced, all with their dates removed.

Wikileaks offers to provide proof of life, this story is picked up everywhere, yet nothing of the sort has been provided.

Ecuador conference call October 26th. It's probable that this was fake. It is certainly not proof of lie. From a Reddit poster: ''I think it was prerecorded yes. He never responds to a question which is very odd. And given the info he mentioned in there it could have been recorded as early as the 14th.''

There is a claim that Assange is actually being extradited '' https://i.reddituploads.com/8ab040357e8f40dba8a66030f750b721?fit=max&h=1536&w=1536&s=fc6528a63b71065f538e09c2936d89f6

Less than two weeks prior to the start of this timeline, Wikileaks published Assange's Medical and Psychological Records on 9/14/2016. This is odd.

Some commentary I found:

The reason you would release that info is if you needed to either protect yourself from ''dying of cancer'' or getting ''Alzheimers''. What they did was show that the only thing wrong with him is bad dentistry, but it also shows that there are dental records'... It was a protection from character assassination by discrediting any claims that he was not of sound mind or actual assassination by mysterious un-diagnosed physical ailment. It's possible Assange did this for security.

The Embassy was raided, we saw the pictures of police vehicles. Fox News reported he would be arrested in a few hours, that was on Oct 18th. They took Assange for the rape allegations or CIA rendition 9 miles away from the Embassy to a nearby airport, which coincidentally underwent a chemical attack clearing out witnesses and distracting low level airport personnel. John Kerry and Goldman Sachs may have struck a deal to bring him down any way possible. The conference was somehow forced or faked, using voice technology, or it was done under the presence and duress of multiple intelligence agents with their fingers on the mute button. Assange's whereabouts unknown.

On the 26th of September 2016 Secretary of State John Kerry (self admitted Skull and Bones member) visited Colombia. WikiLeaks reported that inside sources had confirmed that John Kerry also met with Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa in Ecuador to personally ask Ecuador to stop Assange from publishing documents about Clinton. This was initially fervently denied in the press only later to be confirmed by the Ecuadorian embassy who admitted cutting off Julian's internet due to pressure from the US. Ecuador wanted to appear impartial.

For over four years, the Ecuadorian embassy has been under surveillance and Julian's human rights violated as he has been unlawfully detained termed ''illegal arbitrary detention'' by a recent UN ruling. During that time, it has been possible for intelligence agencies to gather critical information and build a detailed profile and plan to circumvent Julian's dead man's switch.

Both John Kerry and US intelligence agencies know perfectly well that cutting off Julian's internet would have no impact on the release of the leaked emails that are damaging to Hillary's campaign. It has been very clear for a long time that many US officials wanted Julian Assange dead, Hillary Clinton even has remarked, ''can't we just drone the guy''.

The cutting off of Julian's internet access was not for the purpose of preventing the leaks of the Podesta and Hillary emails. Unless intelligence agencies are truly inept, they know that media organisations already have the entire leaked email database and a schedule for release, they also know WikiLeaks staff would continue to leak regardless of Julian's ability to communicate.

Removing Assange would not be enough, they would need to circumvent his dead man's switch and then tarnish WikiLeaks reputation. Removing Assange's internet could have the effect of causing Assange to take steps that can be followed to prevent the automatic triggering of his DMS.

From the day Julian's internet was cut off, a series of peculiar and uncharacteristic events started to take place. The same day that Julian's internet was cut off, CBS reported that Pamela Anderson visited Assange and had ''Tortured'' him with a vegan sandwich. A few days before on the 14th, John Podesta tweeted ''I bet the lobster risotto is better than the food at the Ecuadorian Embassy''. Then on October the 16th the SHA-256 prerelease keys were issued on WikiLeaks twitter feed, although these events are odd and seemingly inconsequential, combined with John Kerry being in the UK from the 16th to the 17th sparked concern among the community for Julian's safety.

Assange supporters started to gather at the embassy to keep Assange safe and witness any foul play, some of these witnesses have claimed that a very swift police armed raid took place that lasted only 5 minutes while the crowd was kept under control and prevented from approaching, there have also been reports that they were prevented from taking photographs and that their phones were confiscated. A live periscope feed was also cut off. There have also been some reports of the presence of a mobile jamming van.

If Assange has been seized, any recognition by mainstream media would be detrimental to Hillary's campaign. A covert operation with media blackout would be the only effective way of seizing him at this time. On October the 18th Fox News said that Julian Assange would be ''arrested soon, maybe in a matter of hours.''. The was video was then promptly removed and articles relating to it have disappeared. However, one reddit user was able to find an alternative source and now the video can be found again on YouTube.

Although Julian's primary DMS (the release of insurance file encryption keys) did not activate, on October the 18th one of Julian's contingencies did activate, a script was activated that made https://file.wikileaks.org/file publicly visible and set all the file date and time stamps to 01/01/1984 (Orwell reference). This file repository contains many documents that had not been released prior.

Staffers Kristinn Hrafnsson and Sarah Harrison, have gone silent while the Ecuadorian embassy is refusing to provide any updates on Assange's fate. There is a recorded call made to the embassy by a journalist where the receptionist refused to confirm that Julian was at the embassy, she also refused to confirm that Julian was even alive. Julian has not made an appearance at the window of the embassy since being cut off.

WikiLeaks suggested in a tweet that its supporters were responsible for the DDOS attacks on the 21st. Neither Assange or WikiLeaks would ever insinuate such a thing. WikiLeaks deceptively tweeted a video of Michael Moore that was actually recorded in June. The video was posted on the 24th of October giving the impression that Michael Moore had been speaking with Assange in the embassy. Why would WikiLeaks do this when they know they are already under suspicion?

WikiLeaks have been using their Twitter account to give the appearance of his safety while providing no concrete evidence of his safety. They issued a poll asking what proof would satisfy the public that Julian was safe. WikiLeaks have yet to follow up on the conclusive result of a video or window appearance.

Julian Assange is known for his attention to detail and his consistently good spelling and grammar. Currently the twitter feed has very poor spelling, there are numerous uncharacteristic spelling errors, for example, an accomplished cryptographer knows how to correctly spell algorithm and so do WikiLeaks staff.

On the 21st of October, there was a massive widespread DDOS attack that disrupted US and EU internet. Also on the 21st of October London City Airport was evacuated. The next day (the 22nd), Gavin MacFayden is reported dead. WikiLeaks made a further blunder by stating his death as the 23rd.

There has been a number of high level WikiLeaks deaths recently too. John Jones QC '' WikiLeaks U.N. lawyer died on April 16th 2016. Michael Ratner '' WikiLeaks chief counsel died on May 11th 2016. Seth Rich '' Employee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) was fatally shot on July 10th 2016 and Gavin MacFadyen '' WikiLeaks director died October 22nd 2016.

If WikiLeaks has been compromised, it is already preparing the scene for future discrepancy to seriously tarnish WikiLeaks reputation. Nothing WikiLeaks has shared since the 15th of October 2016 should be trusted until Julian has been fully verified as alive.

My speculative fears are that Julian has been seized and removed from the Embassy. His internet being cut not being related to the release of the emails, but rather as a component of a plan of 4 years in the making to as secretly as possible remove Assange from the embassy, circumvent his DMS and hijack WikiLeaks with the key team members silenced or under duress.

My fears would be confirmed by no future public (mass witnessing and recorded/televised) appearance of Julian Assange discussing recent topics. His death by whatever means after the US presidential election would be extremely suspect. Until proof of life, assume the following compromised: SHA-256 verification Keys posted after the 15th. WikiLeaks submission process and/or platform. WikiLeaks twitter feed. Any WikiLeaks leaks after the 15th October 2016.

I have written to John Pilger about his recent video without any response, but I'm sure he gets tons of email:

Greetings, There has been wide speculation regarding Julian Assange and his disappearance. Virtually all videos, stories, articles, etc., now being published are ''pre-disappearance'' recordings and stories. What was the DATE you last interviewed Julian Assange? So far, there has been no actual proof of life since his disappearance. Millions of people are depending on YOU for the answer. Thank you.

Now, just two one day before the (s)Election, Wikileaks is apparently promising another ''bombshell'' on Hillary Clinton. The Clinton camp however, already anticipated this and announced that if there were any more leaks, ''they're probably fake''. If they already know Assange is dead or in custody, this was certainly make sense.

Today (Monday, November 7th) there is a report that Julian Assange ''will be questioned in the Ecuadorian Embassy'' in London regarding the rape allegations. A DNA test is also supposed to be performed. If this does not provide video evidence of life to the world, then this story is also suspect as proof of life. They already have his DNA if he's been captured.

It's actually also possible Assange has escaped and is somewhere else. Nobody that knows anything about this is saying. My conclusion however is Assange is no longer in the embassy. I don't know if he's dead or not (I've looked into the plane story, flight path, redirection to Florida, etc.) but cannot conclude anything lacking actual evidence.

It's an interesting twist, that's for sure, worthy of a Hollywood movie. I believe Assange is dead / gone / captured based on the evidence and obvious coverup taking place, until I actually see proof and evidence otherwise.

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 13:12

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#PizzaGatehttp://pzgate.com(work in progress)josephjstallion at gmail com to edit this documentA Coggle Diagram about Comet Ping Pongbizarre symbolism [source]Podesta e-mails make mention of Comet Ping Pong, ''family-friendly'' restaurant/venue with ping-pong for kids[official promotional video from Sasha Lord's website]Comet Ping Pong owned by James Alefantis[source]., Podesta , Hawaii (Dave Flintstone and Bif Skipman), Misc. (After a Russian MP's son hacked a pizza restaurant link, it was forced to shutdown Link), PizzaPac, Lisa Jackson (Richard Windsor) #, David BrockCEO of Correct The Record which is "a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks."David Brock is described as ''batshit crazy'' by Neera Tanden. His work history also shows temperamental behavior and volatility.[source]NY Times article being discussed is this one.# and Kimball StroudRoster for the party

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Wed, 16 Nov 2016 10:19

George Soros and other rich liberals who spent tens of millions of dollars trying to elect Hillary Clinton are gathering in Washington for a three-day, closed door meeting to retool the big-money left to fight back against Donald Trump.

The conference, which kicked off Sunday night at Washington's pricey Mandarin Oriental hotel, is sponsored by the influential Democracy Alliance donor club, and will include appearances by leaders of most leading unions and liberal groups, as well as darlings of the left such as House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chairman Keith Ellison, according to an agenda and other documents obtained by POLITICO.

The meeting is the first major gathering of the institutional left since Trump's shocking victory over Hillary Clinton in last week's presidential election, and, if the agenda is any indication, liberals plan full-on trench warfare against Trump from Day One. Some sessions deal with gearing up for 2017 and 2018 elections, while others focus on thwarting President-elect Trump's 100-day plan, which the agenda calls ''a terrifying assault on President Obama's achievements '-- and our progressive vision for an equitable and just nation.''

Yet the meeting also comes as many liberals are reassessing their approach to politics '-- and the role of the Democracy Alliance, or DA, as the club is known in Democratic finance circles. The DA, its donors and beneficiary groups over the last decade have had a major hand in shaping the institutions of the left, including by orienting some of its key organizations around Clinton, and by basing their strategy around the idea that minorities and women constituted a so-called ''rising American electorate'' that could tip elections to Democrats.

That didn't happen in the presidential election, where Trump won largely on the strength of his support from working-class whites. Additionally, exit polls suggested that issues like fighting climate change and the role of money in politics '-- which the DA's beneficiary groups have used to try to turn out voters '-- didn't resonate as much with the voters who carried Trump to victory.

''The DA itself should be called into question,'' said one Democratic strategist who has been active in the group and is attending the meeting. ''You can make a very good case it's nothing more than a social club for a handful wealthy white donors and labor union officials to drink wine and read memos, as the Democratic Party burns down around them.''

Another liberal operative who has been active in the DA since its founding rejected the notion that the group '-- or the left, more generally '-- needed to completely retool its approach to politics.

''We should not learn the wrong lesson from this election,'' said the operative, pointing out that Clinton is on track to win the popular vote and that Trump got fewer votes than the last GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney. ''We need our people to vote in greater numbers. For that to happen, we need candidates who inspire them to go to the polls on Election Day.''

But Gara LaMarche, the president of the DA, on Sunday evening told donors gathered at the Mandarin for a welcome dinner that some reassessment was in order. According to prepared remarks he provided to POLITICO, he said, ''You don't lose an election you were supposed to win, with so much at stake, without making some big mistakes, in assumptions, strategy and tactics.''

LaMarche added that the reassessment "must take place without recrimination and finger-pointing, whatever frustration and anger some of us feel about our own allies in these efforts," and he said "It is a process we should not rush, even as we gear up to resist the Trump administration."

LaMarche emailed the donors last week that the meeting would begin the process of assessing ''what steps we will take together to resist the assaults that are coming and take back power, beginning in the states in 2017 and 2018.''

In addition to sessions focusing on protecting Obamacare and other pillars of Obama's legacy against dismantling by President-elect Trump, the agenda includes panels on rethinking polling and the left's approach to winning the working-class vote, as well as sessions stressing the importance of channeling cash to state legislative policy battles and races, where Republicans won big victories last week.

Democrats need to invest more in training officials and developing policies in the states, argued Rep. Ellison (D-Minn.) on a Friday afternoon donor conference call, according to someone on the call. The call was organized by a DA-endorsed group called the State Innovation Exchange (or SiX), which Ellison urged the donors to support.

Ellison, who is scheduled to speak on a Monday afternoon panel at the DA meeting on the challenge Democrats face in winning working-class votes, has been a leading liberal voice for a form of economic populism that Trump at times channeled more than Clinton.

As liberals look to rebuild the post-Clinton Democratic Party on a more aggressively liberal bearing, Ellison has emerged as a top candidate to take over the Democratic National Committee, and he figures to be in high demand at the DA meeting. An Ellison spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday evening. Nor did a Trump spokesman.

Raj Goyle, a New York Democratic activist who previously served in the Kansas state legislature and now sits on SiX's board, argued that many liberal activists and donors are ''disconnected from working class voters' concerns'' because they're cluster in coastal cities. ''And that hurt us this election,'' said Goyle, who is involved in the DA, and said its donors would do well to steer more cash to groups on the ground in landlocked states. ''Progressive donors and organizations need to immediately correct the lack of investment in state and local strategies.''

The Democracy Alliance was launched after the 2004 election by Soros, the late insurance mogul Peter Lewis, and a handful of fellow Democratic mega-donors who had combined to spend tens of millions trying to boost then-Sen. John Kerry's ultimately unsuccessful challenge to then-President George W. Bush.

The donors' goal was to seed a set of advocacy groups and think tanks outside the Democratic Party that could push the party and its politicians to the left while also defending them against attack from the right.

The group requires its members '-- a group that now numbers more than 100 and includes finance titans like Soros, Tom Steyer and Donald Sussman, as well as major labor unions and liberal foundations '-- to contribute a total of at least $200,000 a year to recommended groups. Members also pay annual dues of $30,000 to fund the DA staff and its meetings, which include catered meals and entertainment (on Sunday, interested donors were treated to a VIP tour of the recently opened National Museum of African American History and Culture).

Since its inception in 2005, the DA has steered upward of $500 million to a range of groups, including pillars of the political left such as the watchdog group Media Matters, the policy advocacy outfit Center for American Progress and the data firm Catalist '-- all of which are run by Clinton allies who are expected to send representatives to the DA meeting.

The degree to which those groups will be able to adapt to the post-Clinton Democratic Party is not entirely clear, though some of the key DA donors have given generously to them for years.

That includes Soros, who, after stepping back a bit from campaign-related giving in recent years, had committed or donated $25 million to boosting Clinton and other Democratic candidates and causes in 2016. During the presidential primaries, Soros had argued that Trump and his GOP rival Ted Cruz were ''doing the work of ISIS.''

A Soros spokesman declined to comment for this story.

But, given that the billionaire financier only periodically attends DA meetings and is seldom a part of the formal proceedings, his scheduled Tuesday morning appearance as a speaker suggests that he's committed to investing in opposing President Trump.

The agenda item for a Tuesday morning ''conversation with George Soros'' invokes Soros' personal experience living through the Holocaust and Soviet Communism in the context of preparing for a Trump presidency. The agenda notes that the billionaire currency trader, who grew up in Hungary, ''has lived through Nazism and Communism, and has devoted his foundations to protecting the kinds of open societies around the world that are now threatened in the United States itself.''

LaMarche, who for years worked for Soros's Open Society foundations, told POLITICO that the references to Nazism and Communism are ''part of his standard bio.''

LaMarche, who is set to moderate the discussion with Soros, said the donor ''does not plan to compare whatever we face under Trump to Nazism, I can tell you that.'' LaMarche he also said, ''I don't think there is anyone who has looked at Trump, including many respected conservatives, who doesn't think the experience of authoritarian states would not be important to learn from here. And to the extent that Soros and his foundations have experience with xenophobia in Europe, Brexit, etc., we want to learn from that as well.''

The Soros conversation was added to the agenda after Election Day. It was just one of many changes made on the fly to adjust for last week's jarring result and the stark new reality facing liberals, who went from discussing ways to push an incoming President Clinton leftward, to instead discussing how to play defense.

A pre-election working draft of the DA's agenda, obtained by POLITICO, featured a session on Clinton's first 100 days and another on ''moving a progressive national policy agenda in 2017.'' Those sessions were rebranded so that the first instead will examine ''what happened'' on the ''cataclysm of Election Day,'' while the second will focus on ''combating the massive threats from Trump and Congress in 2017.''

A session that before the election had been titled ''Can Our Elections Be Hacked,'' after the election was renamed ''Was the 2016 Election Hacked'' '-- a theory that has percolated without evidence on the left to explain the surprising result.

In his post-election emails to donors and operatives, LaMarche acknowledged the group had to ''scrap many of the original plans for the conference,'' explaining ''while we made no explicit assumptions about the outcome, the conference we planned, and the agenda you have seen, made more sense in the event of a Hillary Clinton victory.''

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 13:43

Angelina Jolie has publicly surfaced for the first time since her divorce filing and recorded a video message for the International Criminal Court on Friday to coincide with the Dutch-based tribunal's launch of its policy on children.

'Successful prosecution, whether at the ICC or elsewhere is part of the long and vital generational effort. That is the light in which I believe the court's new policy on children should be seen,' the 41-year-old Oscar winner said in a clip captured on Twitter.

'I particularly welcome the commitment to include charges for crimes against children wherever the evidence permits as part of a more systematic approach. I congratulate the office of the chief prosecutor, and all those working on the policy.'

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Divorc(C)e: Angelina Jolie recorded a video message for the International Criminal Court on Friday to coincide with the Dutch-based tribunal's launch of its policy on children

The Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees also stated: 'Mankind owes to children. We know we aren't giving the best to children.'

'There can be no complete justice without consideration for the victims of the war crimes themselves, and the practical assistance they need to move on with their lives and overcome the harm they have suffered,' Angelina noted.

'That is why the work of the trust fund is important and must be supported and strengthened over time.'

Jolie had previously visited the ICC in the Hague back in April where she met with staff from the Trust Fund for Victims.

The 41-year-old Oscar winner said in a clip captured on Twitter: 'Successful prosecution, whether at the ICC or elsewhere is part of the long and vital generational effort. That is the light in which I believe the court's new policy on children should be seen'

Jolie continued: 'I particularly welcome the commitment to include charges for crimes against children wherever the evidence permits as part of a more systematic approach. I congratulate the office of the chief prosecutor, and all those working on the policy'

The Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees also stated: 'Mankind owes to children. We know we aren't giving the best to children'

Angelina noted: 'There can be no complete justice without consideration for the victims of the war crimes themselves, and the practical assistance they need to move on with their lives and overcome the harm they have suffered'

Wild child-turned-humanitarian: Jolie had previously visited the ICC in the Hague back in April where she met with staff from the Trust Fund for Victims

It was the first public appearance for the Kung Fu Panda 3 actress since filing for divorce from her third husband Brad Pitt on September 19.

It came just ten days after Pitt's first appearance at a screening with Julia Roberts.

Angie is requesting full custody of their six children - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne & Knox, 8.

And while the LA County Department of Children and Family Services has cleared the 52-year-old Oscar winner, the FBI is still investigating his alleged altercation with Maddox on a private jet.

The By the Sea director recently helmed a film about human rights activist Loung Ung, which Netflix will stream next year.

Brangelina is over: It was the first public appearance for the Kung Fu Panda 3 actress since filing for divorce from her third husband Brad Pitt on September 19 (pictured last year)

Bitter break-up: Angie is requesting full custody of their six children - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne & Knox, 8 (pictured in 2014)

Legal woes: And while the LA County Department of Children and Family Services has cleared the 52-year-old Oscar winner, the FBI is still investigating his alleged altercation with Maddox on a private jet (pictured Monday)

Jolie co-wrote the biopic based on Ung's 2006 memoir First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers.

Meanwhile, Brad is about to embark on a press campaign of his own.

He plays North African intelligence officer Max Vatan, who falls for French Resistance fighter (Marion Cotillard) in the romantic thriller Allied.

The 1942-set WWII flick - also starring Lizzy Caplan and Matthew Goode - hits US theaters Wednesday and UK theaters on November 25.

Adaptation: Jolie co-wrote the biopic based on Loung Ung's 2006 memoir First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers

Trusting women: Meanwhile, Brad will next play North African intelligence officer Max Vatan, who falls for French Resistance fighter (Marion Cotillard) in the romantic thriller Allied

'The enemy is listening': The 1942-set WWII flick - also starring Lizzy Caplan and Matthew Goode - hits US theaters Wednesday and UK theaters on November 25

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 15:34

Even as it threatens to illegally prosecute American soldiers, the dictator-dominated United Nations judicial body known as the ''International Criminal Court'' is imploding spectacularly on the world stage. With the withdrawal of the Russian government this week and South African authorities last month '-- not to mention the fact that the U.S. government never joined in the first place '-- the ICC appears to be on its deathbed. Other African and Asian governments are also preparing to exit the outfit. The establishment and various globalists are outraged, of course. But for humanity and the cause of true justice, the dictatorship-infested ICC's collapse is great news, as anyone familiar with the UN kangaroo court and its operation can attest.

On November 14, the Hague-based ICC, perhaps hoping to make itself appear relevant amid a growing wave of formal withdrawals, issued a threat about potentially prosecuting U.S. troops. ''Members of U.S. armed forces appear to have subjected at least 61 detained persons to torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity on the territory of Afghanistan between 1 May 2003 and 31 December 2014,'' read a ''report'' issued by ICC's self-styled ''chief prosecutor'' Fatou Bensouda (shown), a controversial Muslim lawyer from Gambia who served one of the most oppressive dictators in the world before taking the UN ICC post. The threats follow calls for Bush and Obama to be prosecuted for war crimes, too.

The kangaroo court's ''chief prosecutor'' also claimed that operatives with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency might have subjected more than two dozen detainees to ''torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity and/or rape'' between December 2002 and March 2008. The alleged crimes took place in Afghanistan, Poland, Romania, and Lithuania, according to the report. Echoing previous rhetoric, ICC ''prosecutors'' said they would ''imminently'' decide whether to try and press forward with a full-scale investigation and possible war-crimes charges against U.S. military and intelligence personnel. The court also claims jurisdiction over vague ''crimes of aggression.''

Whether the baseless threat to illegally prosecute U.S. forces was an effort to stem the exodus of members from the troubled and widely ridiculed court was not immediately clear. But while the ICC has in the past issued illegitimate threats to prosecute Americans over supposed crimes in places such as Libya, the threats have generally been ignored, because the court has no jurisdiction over Americans. By claiming that the alleged crimes by U.S. troops took place in nations where authorities have signed on to the Rome Statute, which created the court, the ICC now claims it may be able to investigate and prosecute Americans without constitutional protections.

Under normal circumstances, the U.S. government might kindly remind the ICC of its irrelevance and lack of jurisdiction, and that would be the end of the story. After all, American courts and officials are perfectly capable of prosecuting any of the crimes alleged to have been committed '-- all of which are serious crimes under U.S. law. Instead, though, the Obama administration, even while expressing doubts that U.S. troops would actually be prosecuted, has attempted to legitimize the ICC's usurpation of jurisdiction by taking the threats seriously and treating them as legitimate, despite the fact that such schemes might open him and his top officials up to war-crimes trials.

After the ICC prosecutors' threats against Americans were released, Obama State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said the Obama administration did not believe the ICC investigation was ''warranted or appropriate.'' What the department did not say was what it should have said: The ICC is a rogue body with mass-murdering tyrants as members that has no authority to investigate or prosecute Americans under its pseudo-justice system. Obama might have also reminded the ICC that it includes none of the U.S. Constitution's protections that ordinarily would ensure that suspects' rights, presumption of innocence, and due process are upheld.

The many reasons why Americans should (and do) avoid the ICC like the plague have long been common knowledge among clear-thinking legal experts. The late Dr. Charles Rice, a professor of law at Notre Dame University, called the ICC ''a monster'' that essentially ''repudiates the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence and cancels the 4th of July.'' Especially troubling, he said, is that the court acknowledges no boundaries to its supposed authority. ''In our system, law is supposed to be a rule of reason which, in a sense, controls the state and compels the state to operate under the law,'' Dr. Rice explained. ''What are the limits on the ICC? There are none. It's insane!''

But that sort of view of coercive power is widespread in the outgoing Obama administration, which was thoroughly repudiated by voters via the rejection of Hillary Clinton. Indeed, the Obama administration, which has been illegally trying to legitimize the court from the start of Obama's term, pretended in its statement that the probe was legitimate. ''The United States is deeply committed to complying with the law of war, and we have a robust national system of investigation and accountability that more than meets international standards,'' Trudeau added. In reality, Americans and the U.S. government are not legally bound in any way to the dangerous ''international standards'' of the dictators clubs that are the UN and its kangaroo courts.

But even as Obama seeks to legitimize the pseudo-court's usurpations and attacks against Americans and the U.S. justice system, the ICC is still imploding and becoming a joke. The latest devastating blow to the court came this week, when the Kremlin issued a decree withdrawing from the self-styled court over its alleged bias and politicization of investigations '-- especially as it relates to Putin's controversial annexation of Crimea. The blow is particularly harmful coming from the Russian government, which was one of the architects of the court and one of its chief boosters for many years, including amid the civil war in Syria.

Russian officials blasted the ICC in public statements after announcing the withdrawal. ''The resolution signed by Vladimir Putin on Russia's refusal to remain a member of the Rome Statute did not come out of the blue,'' First Deputy Chairman of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Frants Klintsevich was quoted as saying by Russian media outlets this week. ''Almost all investigations by the ICC concerning Russia have been politicized if not biased.'' He cited the ICC's refusal to investigate the 2008 conflict in South Ossetia as an example.

In the months before the Kremlin withdrew, several African governments did as well. Most prominent among them, perhaps, was the increasingly autocratic regime ruling South Africa. Genocide experts for years sounded the alarm about the Communist Party-dominated regime '-- especially when corrupt President Jacob Zuma went on national TV and encouraged genocide against the vulnerable Afrikaaner minority. But the chances of that regime facing justice at the ICC for that were slim to none anyway. Instead, what appears to have triggered the withdrawal was an ICC order that South African authorities arrest their genocidal ally, Sudanese dictator Omar Bashir. The regimes in Burundi and Gambia also withdrew in recent months, and many of the rest of Africa's governments are considering mass withdrawal.

But in Africa, the ICC has been losing legitimacy for many years '-- and for good reason. While complaints among African dictators about an anti-African bias at the court are perhaps overblown '-- many of the ICC ''judges'' are Africans '-- there are very legitimate concerns surrounding the UN's kangaroo court. Perhaps most alarming to observers around the world, from an African perspective at least, was the UN-backed overthrow of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and his subsequent railroading by the UN's farcical ''justice'' regime.

The elected Christian president challenged vote fraud by a Muslim central banker, and won at the nation's constitutional court, which is supposed to decide such matters. But the UN decided to ignore that nation's constitutional procedures and support brutal Islamic militias that butchered their way to the capital, slaughtering thousands of Christians to install the brutal UN-backed usurper and tyrant with a history of loyalty to globalism. (Imagine the UN invading America and arresting George W. Bush because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for Bush instead of Gore following the election dispute).

Gbagbo is now the first head of state to be taken into custody by the kangaroo court, offering a strong warning to nations worldwide about the dangers of joining the UN's extremist ''justice'' outfit. Meanwhile, the predatory UN ''peacekeeping'' troops that, according to surveys, regularly raped and sexually exploited four out of five underage girls in Ivorian towns, remain at large.

U.S. government-funded propaganda organs loyal to Obama, such as Voice of America, cited establishment-minded ''human-rights groups'' to claim that Putin's withdrawal from the ICC was a ''bad sign for justice.'' Various tax-funded globalist ''Non-Governmental Organizations'' (NGOs) have also been whining about the alleged need for governments to join or remain involved with the UN's court. But even former U.S. President George W. Bush, a pro-UN globalist, withdrew Bill Clinton's signature on the Rome treaty, which was never ratified by the U.S. Senate, because of the threat of unfair prosecutions of Americans for political reasons. Far from being a ''bad sign,'' the implosion of the ICC is great news to supporters of justice everywhere.

As this magazine has been documenting since before the ICC was born, the UN and its pseudo-courts '-- including special courts such as the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon, infamous for trying to jail journalists for doing their job '-- are a threat to freedom, justice, and national independence around the world. If U.S. troops actually tortured or raped somebody, they can and should be prosecuted '-- by Americans in American courts with all the standard constitutional protections and guarantees that Americans are entitled to, not by representatives of dictators and oppressive Third World regimes in globalist kangaroo courts with no limits on their power. So while Putin and company may have their own less-than-noble reasons for ditching the ICC, humanity can rest easier knowing that the UN's kangaroo court is one step closer to landing on the ash-heap of history where it belongs.

Photo of ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda

Alex Newman, a foreign correspondent for The New American, is normally based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @ALEXNEWMAN_JOU. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Archived Version

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:49

Mark Zuckerberg has a credibility problem.

The tech mogul's Facebook just admitted to finding more ''bugs'' in the way it measures ads '-- and once again, those bugs benefited Facebook.

The social-networking giant said Wednesday it has found numerous errors in the ways it calculates how many people view its ads, artificially inflating their perceived value to advertisers and publishers.

Key metrics that Facebook has exaggerated include the weekly and monthly reach of marketers' posts, which got inflated by 33 percent and 55 percent, respectively, as the site improperly included repeat visitors in its figures.

Elsewhere, Facebook admitted to exaggerating the number of full views that video ads received, as well as time spent by users reading fast-loading ''Instant Articles'' for publishers including The Post and the Wall Street Journal, both of which are owned by News Corp.

Facebook insisted that the messed-up metrics '-- which followed the company's admission in September that it had inflated its reporting of video viewing times to advertisers by as much as 80 percent '-- didn't affect billing to publishers and advertisers.

Nevertheless, industry insiders said the inflated figures likely swayed ad-buying decisions as Facebook competed for ad dollars with everybody from Google's search engine to struggling newspaper sites.

''It's not difficult to measure views. It's not difficult to measure engagement. It's not difficult to measure any ad metric,'' said Mike Gamaroff of Sito Mobile, an ad-targeting firm. ''For Facebook to over-report these metrics is pretty inexcusable.''

The disclosures came as Chief Executive Zuckerberg is taking heat for allowing a barrage of fake news stories to propagate across its site, a policy some critics say may have tipped the outcome of the presidential election.

Earlier this month, Facebook shares got slammed after it told investors it expects a ''meaningful'' slowdown in ad-revenue growth next year as it seeks to avoid saturating users' News Feeds with marketing posts.

To fix the ad-metric mess, Facebook said Wednesday it will begin allowing third-party firms like comScore and Moat to vet its viewability data for display-ad campaigns, in addition to video campaigns.

The tech giant also said it is working with TV-ratings firm Nielsen to count video views, and that it's forming a ''Measurement Council'' of marketers and ad-agency execs to monitor its metrics.

Still, Facebook stopped short of putting all of its ad measurements up for third-party verification '-- a stubborn refusal that continues to undermine trust in its ad data, critics say.

''It certainly doesn't look good,'' said Mitchell Reichgut of Jun Group, a New York ad firm. ''Online advertising has a history of opaque reporting, and this doesn't help.''

Facebook, which has more than 4 million advertisers, has been growing its ad revenue this year at more than three times the rate of the overall online ad market, according to Cantor Fitzgerald.

Here's how industry analysts reacting to this news:

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 02:58

2016 is shaping up to be a year of electoral surprises, with Britain voting to leave the E.U. and the U.S. sending Donald Trump to the White House. On Dec. 4, it's Italy's turn as a crucial constitutional reform referendum could decide the future of the country '-- and the fate of its young Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

The referendum will ask voters to back the approval by parliament of Renzi's ambitious reforms. He wants to strip the Senate of many of its legislative powers and modernize Italy's rusty institutional framework by speeding-up its sluggish decision-making process.

Were Italians to vote against the reform, the premier has repeatedly pledged to step down from office ahead of the next 2018 general election. This could trigger the risk of an early vote, delay reforms and offset political chaos at a delicate moment when the economic outlook is still gloomy, with the risk of jeopardising investor confidence and public debt sustainability.

A prolonged period of political instability could trigger a financial speculative attack on sovereign treasury bonds due to Italy's elevated public debt exposure, raising the spread between Italian and German bonds, with the risk of fuelling a financial crisis similar to the one of 2011.

With only weeks to go before voters cast their ballots, Renzi is now doing everything he can to avoid a 'Brexit' style defeat '--. Italian populists and right-wing parties are already exploiting to their advantage Trump's unexpected presidential victory, saying it has lowered Renzi's chances of referendum success making him bound to be the next ''domino'' to fall in post-Brexit Europe.

''The U.S. elections have shown that a wind of change is blowing across both sides of the Atlantic and will soon wipe Renzi away. His time is over and Italy needs a new government'', says Massimiliano Fedriga, Lower House leader of the Northern League party, a member of the ''no'' front.

Read more:Why Brexit Could Be Just the Beginning for an Angry Europe

How might Renzi avoid a similar populist uprising to the ones that swept through Britain and the U.S.? The answer could be found on a recent weekend inside the Music Inn, a cozy lounge bar in Rome's historical centre popular for its live music soir(C)es. There, people gathered for a ''Constitutional Concert'' aimed at explaining to Italians why they should vote to change their 70-year-old constitution. Over Prosecco and finger food, a lively debate kicked off among participants until the musicians came on stage to play R&B and jazz sessions.

Aware that the vote's outcome will determine the future not just of his government, but also of his entire political career, Renzi has gone directly to the people to increase his chances of success. He has mounted an aggressive ''do-it-yourself'' campaign that encourages Italians around the world '-- not just at home '-- to raise enthusiasm for a ''yes'' vote. An ''army'' of pro-yes referendum committees made up of thousands of local volunteers, scattered across each continent, are spreading the word virally under the slogan ''Basta Un S¬'' meaning ''Just One Yes Is Enough'' to change Italy.

These pro-referendum committees resemble a party within Renzi's Democrat group. According to latest data by the ''yes'' campaign body there are currently about 5,000 committees in Italy, up from 2,000 last month as more rise almost on a daily basis. Roughly 50,000 volunteers are taking part in the Italy campaign while a total of 34 foreign committees have been set-up in the rest of the world to motivate expats: 23 in Europe, 2 in Asia (Australia and United Arab Emirates); 2 in Africa (Tunisia and Kenya); 5 in North America and 2 in South America.

The vote of Italians abroad could be crucial to the referendum's passage. Following the approval of a new law, even Italian citizens who are not foreign residents (roughly 5 million) but are travelling or working in another country for at least three months can vote by mail.

''It's the rise of the do-it-yourself campaign and we're registering a lot of enthusiasm from ordinary citizens who contact us to take part in it. These committees are all spontaneous, grassroots initiatives. The more we are, the higher the chances of winning'', says Rudy Francesco Calvo, spokesman of ''Basta Un S¬'' .

This is how the DIY campaign works: Any Italian citizen can set up a local committee by finding 5 other people and paying a '‚¬50 online registration fee to the campaign central body. Once registered, she can then download banners, stickers, flyers, logos and colourful manuals with clear Q&As explaining the benefits of the reform from the pro-referendum website and start battling on her own, going door-to-door to convince swing voters who still haven't decided what to vote.

Social events are key to this grassroots campaign. Volunteers organise dinners, evening drinks, parties, end-of-day gatherings, concerts and tea sessions during which Italians are invited to share their views, express doubts and debate on what this referendum means for their nation.

''There are no rules. Each committee is free to hold the weirdest events as long as these help to lure voters' attention, creating social buzz over the reform. We want their imagination to run wild'', says Calvo. During the hot summer months a bunch of volunteers in Italy even came up with the crazy idea of having watermelon-eating contests to promote the ''yes'' vote.

Foreign-based activists are perhaps even more tireless than those at home. In Stockholm the local campaign committee holds picturesque ''Constitutional Coffee'' meetings at caf(C)s while in London there are weekly ''Aperi-S¬'' soir(C)es, ''Yes-Aperitif'' evenings that link hardcore politics to the pleasure of sipping a beer or Italy's iconic Ap(C)rol Spritz cocktail.

''It's a chance to rub shoulders with voters after office hours, chilling out together while discussing the reform's impact,'' says Mina Zingariello, who coordinates the Basta Un S¬ campaign in the UK where roughly 600,000 Italians are now living. ''These social gatherings make the referendum debate more sexy and appealing.''

Mina, who also hands out flyers on Sundays in front of Italian churches in London, says she has has seen a growing interest among her expat compatriots in Renzi's referendum following Brexit. ''People are curious, they want to be informed'', she says. ''Italians living in the U.K. think that many British citizens voted to leave the E.U. without having a clear picture of what they were actually voting for. And Italians don't want to make that same mistake with this referendum.''

Read more:These Are the 5 Votes That Will Matter for the World in 2017

The 'yes' campaign will need all the help it can get. Recent polls suggest a tie at the moment between the ''yes'' and ''no'' fronts, with the ''no'' slightly ahead with 3 percentage points. But if the ''no'' vote does emerge victorious, it would translate into ''Renzexit'' '-- as Italian populists, nationalists and far-right parties have already dubbed the potential departure of Renzi from Italy's political stage.

Were Renzi to resign from office, Italy's head of state Sergio Mattarella would need to evaluate if there is another candidate supported by the Democrat majority, or another political coalition, willing to step in and run the country until the next general vote in 2018. But if all Renzi's ministers step-down with him and Mattarella fails in finding an interim government, then an early vote would take place.

This worst-case scenario would translate into a power void of at least 8 to 12 months before a new government is formed, as political parties battle to identify candidates through tedious primaries or strike difficult alliances while putting aside the country's economic woes. The European Commission last week cut Italy's growth forecasts for this year to 0.9% of GDP.

Much will depend on swing voters. Many Italians are still skeptic: roughly 26% haven't decided yet and 14% have not understood what's really at stake with the referendum. Renzi's supporters have only weeks left to bring them over to his side. ''I'm not sure yet what I'll vote,'', says Luigi Franco, a Rome-based public employee. He believes the Prime Minister should have gone further, and cleared the Senate out completely. ''That would have been a real revolution. He lost a great opportunity''.

One thing's sure: the December vote is bound to be the second most important referendum in Italy's history, after the 1946 vote when post-war Italians had to choose between monarchy and republic, explains Sergio Fabbrini, head of the School of Government at Rome's LUISS University.

''Exactly 70 years ago Italians were called to decide their future. Same happens today: our republic, despite being very young, is badly in need of a restyle. We need to change our outdated constitution that makes governing Italy mission impossible'', says Fabbrini.

But the prevailing trends look bleak for Renzi. Populists in Italy and across Europe '' from Germany to Austria, France and the United Kingdom '' have defeated the establishment at local and national ballots. Unless he can convince voters that he is the vehicle for real change, Italy's prime minister could join Hillary Clinton and David Cameron on the list of 2016's political victims.

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Archived Version

Source: American Renaissance

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:20

The Sweden Democrats (SD) have boomed in popularity in the past 12 months, with support rising to 22 per cent, just three per cent behind leading party Social Democrats.

It is the third month in a row the anti-EU party's popularity rose, according the poll by local media.

SD leader, Jimmie Akesson, said: ''There is a movement in both Europe and the United States where the establishment is being challenged.

''It is clearly happening here as well.''

Akesson hailed the success of Donald Trump and Brexit this year as the reason for a hike in anti-establishment popularity.

The right-wing surge is spreading across Europe as Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front and Eurosceptic AfD, in Germany, make huge gains ahead of national elections next year.

Speaking about Trump's impact, Le Pen said: ''Donald Trump has made possible what was presented as completely impossible.

''So it's a sign of hope for those who cannot bear wild globalisation. They cannot bear the political life led by the elites.''

Violent scenes erupted across Sweden earlier this month after neo-Nazi and anti-fascist protesters clashed in Stockholm.

Last week 600 neo-Nazis marched to the city's Parliament but were met by anti-racism protestors as they charged through the Old Town in Sweden's capital.

The counter-demonstrators began throwing eggs, stones, snowballs and flares at the police, who were preventing them from getting through to the right-wing march.

At least one police officer sustained injuries, while several people were taken away from the scenes in ambulances.

Original Article

Topics: Europe, Race and Politics, Scandinavia

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Archived Version

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 02:34

It's 2016 going on 1984.

The UK has just passed a massive expansion in surveillance powers, which critics have called "terrifying" and "dangerous".

The new law, dubbed the "snoopers' charter", was introduced by then-home secretary Theresa May in 2012, and took two attempts to get passed into law following breakdowns in the previous coalition government.

Four years and a general election later -- May is now prime minister -- the bill was finalized and passed on Wednesday by both parliamentary houses.

But civil liberties groups have long criticized the bill, with some arguing that the law will let the UK government "document everything we do online".

It's no wonder, because it basically does.

The law will force internet providers to record every internet customer's top-level web history in real-time for up to a year, which can be accessed by numerous government departments; force companies to decrypt data on demand -- though the government has never been that clear on exactly how it forces foreign firms to do that that; and even disclose any new security features in products before they launch.

Not only that, the law also gives the intelligence agencies the power to hack into computers and devices of citizens (known as equipment interference), although some protected professions -- such as journalists and medical staff -- are layered with marginally better protections.

In other words, it's the "most extreme surveillance law ever passed in a democracy," according to Jim Killock, director of the Open Rights Group.

The bill was opposed by representatives of the United Nations, all major UK and many leading global privacy and rights groups, and a host of Silicon Valley tech companies alike. Even the parliamentary committee tasked with scrutinizing the bill called some of its provisions "vague".

And that doesn't even account for the three-quarters of people who think privacy, which this law almost entirely erodes, is a human right.

There are some safeguards, however, such as a "double lock" system so that the secretary of state and an independent judicial commissioner must agree on a decision to carry out search warrants (though one member of the House of Lords disputed that claim).

A new investigatory powers commissioner will also oversee the use of the powers.

Despite the uproar, the government's opposition failed to scrutinize any significant amendments and abstained from the final vote. Killock said recently that the opposition Labour party spent its time "simply failing to hold the government to account".

But the government has downplayed much of the controversy surrounding the bill. The government has consistently argued that the bill isn't drastically new, but instead reworks the old and outdated Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA). This was brought into law in 2000, to "legitimize" new powers that were conducted or ruled on in secret, like collecting data in bulk and hacking into networks, which was revealed during the Edward Snowden affair.

Much of those activities were only possible thanks to litigation by one advocacy group, Privacy International, which helped push these secret practices into the public domain while forcing the government to scramble to explain why these practices were legal.

The law will be ratified by royal assent in the coming weeks.

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Archived Version

Sat, 19 Nov 2016 23:08

BREAKING : A Woman Investigating Clinton's Shady Dealings in Haiti Just WOUND UP DEADWe are sad to report there is a new entry in the ''Clinton Body Count''

From Reddit

MONICA'S MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS STREAMED LIVE ON FRIDAY. HER RESEARCH BOSS CONFIRMED HER 2-YEAR INVESTIGATION INTO TRAFFICKING '-- SEE UPDATE 6 BELOW

Monica Petersen was in Haiti working for the Human Trafficking Center and also previously worked for the Colorado Human Trafficking Council's Data & Research Task Force.

She died a few days ago under suspicious circumstances. Her friends on Facebook are looking for answers. Several close friends have made mentions on various FB posts that friends and family have no clear understanding of what happened to Monica except that she died on Sunday.

Earlier this year a FB friend of Monica re-shared a post by Monica where Monica linked to a blog post critical of Hillary Clinton's dealings in Haiti!! SHE WAS ONTO SOMETHING, very likely between now and then she found out about #PIZZAGATE! The linked post was: http://thehaitianblogger.blogspot.com/2015/03/hillary-clintons-scandalous-conduct-in.html

Search FB for Monica Petersen Haiti. This is a compilation of screenshots where I edited out other people's names but they can still be found via FB search:

http://imgur.com/TmiB2gU

See the comments '' family and friends are not getting the details!

On August 2015 Monica posted on Facebook a post asking for info on sex trafficking in Haiti because she was heading there to help/investigate! Also shown in the screenshot.

Monica is also mentioned in this report: http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2015A/commsumm.nsf/b4a3962433b52fa787256e5f00670a71/c7210a3a7ccb122c87257ddb006f5a66/$FILE/15SenJud0128AttachE.pdf

A blog post written by Monica: http://humantraffickingcenter.org/guest-posts/root-causes-contradictions-displaced-youth-along-u-s-mexico-border/

WHAT THE FUCK

UPDATE Good friend of Monica picked up this thread and posted on her Facebook. Search Monica Petersen Haiti and you'll see, name is Bella. LOOKS AT THE COMMENTS. Bella found out what happened and saw it fit to share this Reddit thread. Says quite a lot. http://imgur.com/a/kNEuC

Bella is also linking to the blog post previously found: http://humantraffickingcenter.org/guest-posts/root-causes-contradictions-displaced-youth-along-u-s-mexico-border/ '' hint??

UPDATE 2 Close friends are in the dark and unsure what to make of it. One of them wants to go down to Haiti to investigate: https://i.sli.mg/03JA2Y.png

UPDATE 3 Bella, a friend of Monica's, posted this as well: http://imgur.com/a/yZKqt '' ''It seems that Monica was in Haiti investigating the Clintons possible ties to a pedophile ring. Monica family hasn't been able to get any straight answers about her death''

UPDATE 4: MONICA FOUND CLINTON TRAFFICKING CONNECTION AS EARLY AS JANUARY 2016: Check out what her friend Bella posted back in January to the Facebook group ''Woman's Work Goes On''. You can find it by searching the group for ''Monica Peterson'' '' with the quotes, and note the misspelling of Monica's last name. Scroll down a bit to January 4. This is the screenshot: https://i.sli.mg/PsLtmj.png '' Thanks /u/Jimr117 for the find!

UPDATE 5: Conversation with her friend, Bella: http://imgur.com/16Ghx3F

UPDATE 6: At her memorial service, her boss CONFIRMED MONICA'S 2-YEAR-LONG investigation and findings of human trafficking in Haiti! /r/The_Donald/comments/5dowzr/new_info_monica_petersen_died_mysteriously_in/

UPDATE 7: A friend of hers claims Monica was murdered: http://imgur.com/a/GXWrN

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Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:58

Just hours after the presidential election was called for Donald J. Trump '-- and as Hillary Clinton was delivering her emotional Wednesday morning concession speech '-- officials with the Texas Department of State Health Services were for the second time this year hearing public comments on a proposed new rule that would require women who seek abortions, or who miscarry their pregnancies, to cremate or bury their fetal tissue.

The rule is necessary, anti-abortion activists have variously claimed, because it provides dignity to fetuses, which have historically been disposed of in accordance with regulations for medical waste. At least one prominent Texas anti-abortion advocate, Carol Everett, said the rule was necessary to prevent AIDS from spreading through the state's water system.

Women's health and other advocates have sternly disagreed. The Texas Medical Association and the Texas Hospital Association (both reflexively hesitant to enter into the state's politically charged abortion wars) wrote a joint letter to the health agency questioning the logic of the rule. Meanwhile, the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Texas penned a far sterner letter in July, lambasting the state for determining that there would be no fiscal impact (a basic burial costs $2,000, meaning the rule could cost upwards of $96 million per year) and for failing to consider Texas women as stakeholders before proposing the measure. ''This new rule appears to force [a] woman to reveal to family, friends and the community her very personal choice of abortion because it requires the woman to contract with a funeral establishment, or ask for family and friends' support with fetal disposition,'' reads the letter. ''This is a forced invasion of privacy with no apparent regard for the woman.''

Sadly, the proposed rule is just the latest in a long string of attacks on women's reproductive health rights in Texas, which for nearly two decades has been a one-party state run by conservative Republicans hostile to women and their reproductive rights '' a reality that last week's election portends the federal government will soon reflect.

In short, it appears the country, and particularly its women, are poised to experience exactly what it's like to live in Texas.

Since Gov. Rick Perry assumed his position in the wake of George W. Bush's elevation to the White House in 2000, conservative lawmakers have done their best to ban Planned Parenthood from participating in any government-funded programs that provide basic wellness exams and birth control for legions of poor and uninsured Texas women; they have tried to block access to emergency contraception; and they have sought, at nearly every turn, to place onerous, medically unnecessary restrictions on access to safe and legal abortion, which, despite protestations that they're meant to promote women's health, are plainly and nakedly political.

That was certainly the case back in 2013, when members of the Texas legislature fought tooth and nail to pass restrictions that would ban abortion at 20 weeks (four weeks before the generally accepted date for viability outside the womb), severely restrict access to pharmaceutical abortion (traditionally carried out in the privacy of a woman's home, this form of abortion takes place in the earliest weeks of pregnancy), and require not only that doctors who provide abortions have admitting privileges at hospitals close to each clinic where they practice, but also that abortion clinics transform themselves into costly hospital-like surgical centers.

After a first go at passing the controversial package of regulations was thwarted with an epic filibuster by Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis, Gov. Perry intervened, almost immediately calling for a special legislative session designed solely to pass the omnibus abortion bill, which ultimately happened.

In the wake of the passage of House Bill 2, dozens of the state's abortion clinics shuttered operations, leaving large swaths of the state '-- particularly in the Rio Grande Valley, where some of the state's poorest women live '-- without any meaningful access to care.

Still, the efforts of conservative lawmakers to essentially end abortion access in Texas went unfulfilled, thanks to the June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down two of the provisions challenged by the Center for Reproductive Rights. The five-justice majority, which importantly included Justice Anthony Kennedy, found the provisions requiring hospital admitting privileges and the transformation of clinics into surgical centers unconstitutional. Supreme Court precedent allows for some restriction to abortion, but only where the restriction furthers some legitimate state interest and does not place an undue burden on a woman seeking care. Neither of the challenged Texas provisions passed that test.

State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Ft. Worth, stands after the Democrats defeated the anti-abortion bill SB5, which was up for a vote on the last day of the legislative special session on June 25, 2013, in Austin, Texas.

Photo: Erich Schlegel/Getty Images

A Renewed Assault on Women's HealthIndeed, the federal government has been crucial in insulating Texas women (and women in similar states) from the insidious regulations championed by conservative state lawmakers '-- but under a Trump presidency, those important protections may altogether disappear.

The fact that Trump may have an opportunity to seat more than one jurist on the high court, plus the possible dismantling of the Affordable Care Act and the defunding of Planned Parenthood, along with the specter of a health and human services agency controlled by one of the four men Trump is apparently considering for that post '-- each of whom have been openly hostile to a woman's right to choose abortion in general '-- all add up to a terrifying scenario. The ramifications for women could be severe, allowing Texas-style regulations to become the national standard. ''We've seen what this looks like in Texas, so, my gosh, it's terrifying,'' said Sarah Wheat, chief external affairs officer for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, who has been working on women's reproductive health issues in the state for nearly 20 years. Without the kind of federal protections that now exist, she said, ''We're looking at unbelievable risks ahead.''

For example, when the state of Texas sought to defund Planned Parenthood by refusing to grant it federal Title X funds '-- the only pot of money earmarked for disbursement to the states to provide reproductive and basic health care to low-income individuals '-- the Obama administration subsequently declined to grant the money directly to the state of Texas in favor of releasing it instead to a coalition of health clinics that refused to discriminate among qualified providers, as the state had vowed to do.

And more generally, the ACA has leveled the playing field for women '-- disallowing insurers from charging more to women than to men for basic health services (one example of the so-called Pink Tax) and requiring that birth control be covered. ''Those were huge benefits,'' Wheat said.

There is ample evidence to suggest that these kinds of protections would be dismantled under a Trump administration, emboldening states like Texas to continue, if not dramatically expand, their assault on women's health. Aside from his vow to eliminate the ACA, Trump suggested during his interview on ''60 Minutes'' that the nearly 44-year-old Roe v. Wade is merely unsettled law and that the legality of abortion should be decided by individual states '-- meaning, of course, that some women would simply be blocked from accessing abortion care unless they could afford to travel across state lines.

But perhaps most immediately telling is Trump's selection of Mike Pence as vice president, a man who has repeatedly demonstrated hostility toward women's rights and Planned Parenthood, both as a U.S. congressman and as governor of Indiana. In March, for example, Gov. Pence signed into law a package of abortion restrictions that includes a requirement that fetal tissue be buried. And as a congressman, in 2011, he led Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood, with its vast network of clinics, has been the largest recipient of Title X funds and remains the largest single provider of basic women's health care in the country. (Importantly, no public funds support the group's abortion services.) Nonetheless, Pence said that it was time to eliminate the group from any access to government funds. ''My focus has and will remain on denying taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood or any organization that provides or promotes abortion as a means of birth control,'' Pence said in a floor statement.

For now, this is all business as usual in places like Texas, where on November 14, the first day for filing legislation for the upcoming 2017 session, several lawmakers had already filed a range of proposed restrictions on women's reproductive freedom. One measure would ban abortion based on a determination that the fetus suffers from a ''severe and irreversible abnormality,'' while a second measure would ask voters to amend the state's constitution to extend personhood rights to a fetus. And, in a move seemingly designed to hedge bets, a third would create a statute requiring interment or cremation of fetal tissue.

Top photo: Christian anti-abortion activists lead an ''Encircle the Court in Prayer'' vigil on March 25, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 20:02

The World Health Organization declared an end to its global health emergency over the spread of the Zika virus on Friday, prompting dismay from some public health experts still wrestling with the epidemic.

An agency advisory committee said it ended the emergency '-- formally known as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern '-- because Zika is now shown to be another dangerous mosquito-borne disease like malaria or yellow fever, and should be treated, like them, as an ongoing problem, not an exceptional situation.

The experts who recommended ending the emergency were at pains to explain that they did not consider the current Zika crisis over.

''We are not downgrading the importance of Zika,'' said Dr. Peter Salama, executive director of the W.H.O.'s emergencies program. ''We are sending the message that Zika is here to stay and the W.H.O. response is here to stay.''

Like other mosquito-borne diseases, Zika is seasonal and can be expected to return, Dr. Salama added, and countries now need to consider it an endemic disease and respond accordingly, with help from the W.H.O.

Interactive Feature | Short Answers to Hard Questions About Zika Virus Why scientists are worried about the growing epidemic and its effects on pregnant women, and how to avoid the infection.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is funding many efforts to find a vaccine against Zika, suggested that it was premature for the W.H.O. to lift the state of emergency, since summer is just beginning in the southern hemisphere.

''Are we going to see a resurgence in Brazil, Colombia and elsewhere?'' he asked. ''If they pull back on the emergency, they'd better be able to reinstate it. Why not wait a couple of months to see what happens?''

His agency will not slow down its efforts, he said. ''The decisions we make about developing a vaccine or not are unrelated to what the W.H.O. says,'' he said.

Since the W.H.O. first declared a state of emergency on Feb. 1, the Zika virus has spread to almost every country in the Western Hemisphere except Canada. Thousands of babies have suffered deformities as a result of the infection.

Recent outbreaks and related birth defects have also been detected in Southeast Asia, although scientists believe the virus has circulated there for decades.

The most severe deformity is microcephaly, a tiny head with a severely underdeveloped brain; but fetuses have been killed by the virus, and others have been bornblind, deaf, with severely clubbed feet and with permanent limb rigidity.

Scientists also fear that many babies who seem normal but whose mothers were infected may suffer intellectual deficits throughout their lives.

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Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:11

The global war on cash is remarkably well coordinated. Less than a week after the Indian government announced it was withdrawing its two highest denomination currency notes (equivalent to about $15.00 and $7.50, respectively) from circulation, the Anti-Cash Axis, which comprises a witch's brew of national governments, establishment media outlets, international bureaucracies and, especially, gigantic multinational banks, has launched a concerted attack on Australia. Two days ago, Citibank announced that it was going cashless at some of its Australian bank branches. Yesterday, Swiss giant UBS called for the elimination of the Australian $100 and $50 bills because it would be ''good for the economy and good for the banks.'' The Australian government in cahoots with the media prepared the way for these brazenly self-serving antics by two of the largest banks to have failed and been bailed our during the financial crisis. Back in February a leading Sydney newspaper published a series of articles, some authored by officials from Australia's Treasury Department, suggesting that abolishing cash would ''save billions'' and that ''a cashless society is the next step for the Australian dollar.''

I have a better proposal for our brothers and sisters Down Under: don't acquiesce in the elimination of your cash; eliminate the banks by immediately reclaiming all your cash that is "on deposit" at these institutions that cannot exist without government guarantees and bailouts.

Joseph T. Salerno is professor of economics in the Lubin School of Business of Pace University in New York. He is editor of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics; Academic Vice President of the Mises Institute, and Director of the Mises Institute Fellows Program. Contact: email.

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[See NewsBusters for more.] Jon Stewart may have surprised people on Thursday as he called out fellow liberals and demanded they stop trashing all Trump voters as a bunch of bigots. CBS This Morning co-host Charlie Rose apparently expected the former Daily Show host to blast the new president-elect. Rose wondered if Stewart's reaction to Trump is ''fear.'' Instead, the comic cautioned, ''There is now this idea that anyone who voted for him... has to be defined by the worst of his rhetoric.'' Speaking of Trump supporters he knows, Stewart explained that ''there are guys in my neighborhood'' ''who are not afraid of Mexicans and not afraid of Muslims and not afraid of blacks, they are afraid of their insurance premiums.''

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Sun, 20 Nov 2016 13:12

The 17 November 2016 edition of CNN's New Day harped on how supposedly for "millions of American women...the pain runs deep" in the wake of Hillary Clinton's defeat. Kyung Lah touted that "if 2016 was identity politics, women across social media feel theirs is under attack in Clinton's loss." Lah spotlighted three female Clinton supporters at UCLA. One undergraduate revealed, "I've had to wake up to the reality that a lot of America is not like what Los Angeles is like." Surprisingly, Alisyn Camerota admitted, "People on the coast do live in a bubble that is not necessarily reflective of the entire country."

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Sun, 20 Nov 2016 13:05

More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.

On the heels of days of network coverage hyping liberal fears that fake news stories shared on Facebook and across social media fueled Donald Trump's election victory, on Friday, NBC's Today and CBS This Morning touted President Obama pushing the issue during a Thursday press conference overseas.

On Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie made sure to credit her network for teeing up Obama's remarks: ''The President is weighing in on a story we've been following this week '' fake news that popped up on social media during the election season and may have influenced some voters.''

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Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:58

Friday morning's The View started off with the mostly liberal panel having a meltdown over the announcement of Trump choosing retired General Michael Flynn and Alabama's Senator Jeff Sessions for White House positions. Whoopi Goldberg complained that Sessions and the right wanted to bring back slavery and to deport Muslim Americans. Sunny Hostin then claimed that violence was only coming from the right, while Whoopi and Behar conceded there was violence from the left but it was deserved and provoked. ''People better not sit back and just take it,'' Behar lamented. ''They [Republicans] started it,'' she stated before justifying the violence as ''[A] response you're going to get.''

Read the rest of the blog here.

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Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:40

[See NewsBusters for more.] New Yorker editor David Remnick appeared on CBS This Morning, Friday, to brag about his scoop on Barack Obama's reaction to the election of Donald Trump. Asked by Charlie Rose what ''worries'' Obama about the President-elect, Remnick marveled, ''Where to on begin? Certainly appointments like Sessions or Flynn, whom he fired, or Steve Bannon. That is for starters worries him. He worries that someone who had a national campaign that was marked by misogyny and racism and all the rest is now president of the United States.'' Remnick touted his inside information on what Obama really thinks about Trump. Regarding the Oval Office meeting between the two, the journalist noted, '' He smiled and he said, 'I'll tell you all about it over beer off the record.' Meaning for the moment now, certainly for the next couple of months, he is playing it close to the vest.''

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Sun, 20 Nov 2016 04:17

De overwinning van Donald Trump is een direct gevolg van het ingrijpen van FBI-directeur James Comey. Dat zegt Sidney Blumenthal, adviseur en vriend van de Clintons, tegen Nieuwsuur.

Elf dagen voor de verkiezingen maakte Comey bekend het onderzoek naar de e-mails van Hillary Clinton te heropenen. Twee dagen voor de verkiezingsdag deelde de FBI-directeur mee dat er niets strafbaars gevonden was.

In de negen dagen dat het onderzoek duurde, is de voorsprong van Clinton in rook opgegaan, aldus Blumenthal. Hij noemt dit een coup d'(C)tat van FBI-agenten in New York, onder invloed van de Republikeinse politicus, Trump-aanhanger en voormalig burgemeester van New York Rudolph Giuliani.

Trump heeft beloofd corruptie en vriendjespolitiek in Washington uit te bannen. Volgens Blumenthal omringt Trump zich nu als president in spe met figuren die alleen maar uit zijn op eigen gewin. "Dit wordt de meest corrupte regering ooit."

Blumenthal meent dat de campagne van Trump gebaseerd is op racisme en uitsluiting. Het sociaal contract dat Democratische en Republikeinse presidenten met het Amerikaanse volk gesloten hebben aan het begin van de vorige eeuw, wordt volgens Blumenthal door Trump gebroken.

Blumenthal zegt verder dat hij niet graag in de Baltische staten zou willen wonen. Donald Trump heeft zich volgens hem tijdens de campagne opgesteld als zetbaas van de Russische president Vladimir Poetin.

Bekijk hieronder het gehele interview met Blumenthal

Blumenthal heeft onlangs een biografie geschreven over Abraham Lincoln, de president die de slavernij afschafte. Toen scheidde het zuiden van het land zich af en begon de Amerikaanse burgeroorlog. Volgens Blumenthal is er nu een koude burgeroorlog begonnen in de VS.

Politiek-journalist Sidney Blumenthal is een vriend en naaste adviseur van de Clintons. Al tijdens het presidentschap van Bill Clinton in de jaren negentig was hij een van de belangrijkste raadsmannen in het Witte Huis. Hij werd adviseur van Hillary Clinton toen ze haar eerste presidentscampagne begon. Vrienden noemen hem 'het brein van Hillary'.

Blumenthal schreef talloze boeken en bracht dus recent een boek uit over president Abraham Lincoln. Zaterdag spreekt hij op de Nexus-conferentie 'What will save the World'. Hiervoor zijn nog kaarten verkrijgbaar.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 23:04

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The abandoned village of O Penso, in northwest Spain, is for sale for about $230,000. The last resident died a decade ago. The village includes 100 acres with half a dozen houses, two sprawling farms with room for 70 cattle and a stand-alone bread-making kitchen. Lauren Frayer for NPRhide caption

toggle captionLauren Frayer for NPRThe abandoned village of O Penso, in northwest Spain, is for sale for about $230,000. The last resident died a decade ago. The village includes 100 acres with half a dozen houses, two sprawling farms with room for 70 cattle and a stand-alone bread-making kitchen.

Lauren Frayer for NPREvery August, Spain's countryside comes alive with fiestas.

A jolly trombone player prances through a crowd of revelers in Cantalejo, a small town about 1 1/2 hours' drive north of Madrid. But the hubbub is deceiving '-- because hardly anyone actually lives here. People come one week a year to party in the villages of their ancestors. During the other 51 weeks, towns like this are deserted.

"There was a time when this place was growing! But not anymore. This pueblo is dying," says Felix Sacristan, who's 55 and unemployed, living in his late grandfather's house. "The only ones left are the elderly. There are lots of abandoned homes."

It makes for cheap housing, he says.

Like much of Spain's central meseta table plateau, this land is dusty and the climate is severe. People joke it's like nine months of winter and three months of fiery hell.

"This land used to be for cereals, but it's difficult to grow anything else," Sacristan says. "And who wants to be a farmer these days now, anyway?"

In northern Europe, the Industrial Revolution pulled people to big cities centuries ago. But in Spain, that migration happened much later '-- in the mid-20th century. The first wave occurred after the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s; the second, after Spain's military dictatorship ended in the late 1970s.

Elderly residents gather in a dying village in the Sierra Francia region, northwest of Madrid. Lauren Frayer for NPRhide caption

toggle captionLauren Frayer for NPRElderly residents gather in a dying village in the Sierra Francia region, northwest of Madrid.

Lauren Frayer for NPRNow there's been a third exodus, amid the recent economic crisis. But it's not just on Spain's harsh central plans. Even villages in the country's most fertile northwest region, Galicia, are being depopulated. The lush Galician landscape once supported Spain's highest population density, and half of all Spanish villages '-- some 3,500 hamlets '-- are located there.

Now nearly half of these villages are abandoned.

Enter Mark Adkinson, a British-born real estate agent who scours the countryside for abandoned properties, and tries to match them up with foreign buyers.

"Some of the places I'm finding have been empty for 50 or 60 years," Adkinson says. "And my job is to try to find the descendants."

He drives around Galicia, dropping off leaflets at boarded-up old homes, asking owners if they'd like to sell. Adkinson unfurls a map annotated with hundreds of abandoned villages as he takes NPR on a visit to one of them.

Mark Adkinson, a Briton who lives in Spain, runs a real estate agency selling abandoned villages and other historic properties. Here Adkinson stands amid buildings for sale in the abandoned village of O Penso. Lauren Frayer for NPRhide caption

toggle captionLauren Frayer for NPRMark Adkinson, a Briton who lives in Spain, runs a real estate agency selling abandoned villages and other historic properties. Here Adkinson stands amid buildings for sale in the abandoned village of O Penso.

Lauren Frayer for NPRDown a track about a mile long, he arrives at the village of O Penso '-- which has "100 acres of land, a total of six houses, two barns and a big cattle barn that'll hold 70 cattle," he says.

The village, near Ortigueira, comes with free well water and a bakery with a stone hearth. Six miles away, green cliffs drop off onto white sand beaches '-- and some of Europe's best surfing.

The biggest of the village houses has hardwood floors and five bedrooms overlooking an orchard with peaches, figs, walnuts, apples and pears. At the bottom of the valley, there's a little river full of trout.

The asking price for the whole village: About $230,000 '-- negotiable. Smaller villages with less fertile land go for tens of thousands. Adkinson has one house for sale for $5,600.

Prospective buyers include British retirees, Adkinson says, and an Indian who has expressed interest in converting the hamlet into a yoga retreat center.

"There's also an American who already lives in Spain and wants to set up an English school here," he says. "I've got lots of buyers who want to go back to nature '-- and let's face it, there's nothing more natural than this."

O Penso's last resident died a decade ago '-- leaving the village uninhabited for the first time in perhaps 500 years.

In the surrounding area, "When you talk to the old people, tears come into their eyes," Adkinson says. "They say, 'Oh, there were a lot of kids, this place was alive!' They'd like to see these places picked up and turned around. They don't want them to die."

But many local Spaniards just don't want to live in villages anymore. They migrate to bigger cities for jobs, education, access to public transit and health care.

There are six abandoned houses in O Penso, a village for sale in northwest Spain. Lauren Frayer for NPRhide caption

toggle captionLauren Frayer for NPRThere are six abandoned houses in O Penso, a village for sale in northwest Spain.

Lauren Frayer for NPRBack out on the paved road, at a tiny caf(C), Maria Benedicta Fernandez meets with fellow retirees and reads the morning newspapers. She was among the last to leave the picturesque stone village where she was born. Only the four walls '-- no roof '-- remain of her ancestral family home. She prefers now to live in a rented apartment in a bigger town nearby, with a medical center.

"Everyone else left, too, or they've died, and the local school closed," Fernandez says. "There aren't enough children anymore."

Galicia's birth rate is 1.1 offspring per fertile woman '-- one of the lowest rates in all of Europe. The region is on track to lose a third of its population in the next 35 years.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, says Avelino Luis de Francisco Martinez, the mayor of Cortegada, a rural town in southern Galicia. An abandoned hamlet that's part of his town isn't for sale. He's giving it away.

"For free! Someone just has to promise to renovate the 12 ruined houses," he says. "They're beautiful '-- bucolic! Next to a river and an 18th century royal procession path."

The challenge? "We just need to find someone to live here in this century," he says.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 15:34

While plenty of questions were raised about Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, Jon Stewart says there was at least one question that was never posed to the Republican nominee.

''Nobody asked Donald Trump what makes America great,'' Stewart told Charlie Rose in an interview that aired on ''CBS This Morning'' on Thursday. ''What are the metrics? Because it seems like from listening to him, the metrics are that it's a competition. And I think what many would say is what makes us great is '-- America is an anomaly in the world.''

The former ''Daily Show'' host, who left the Comedy Central show last year, said Trump's candidacy ''has animated that thought: that a multiethnic democracy, a multicultural democracy is impossible. And that is what America by its founding, and constitutionally, is.''

Stewart, who made a few surprise appearances on stage and on television but was largely absent during 2016 election, said he ''thought Donald Trump disqualified himself at numerous points'' during the race. But the comedian also cautioned against painting Trump's supporters with a broad brush.

''There is now this idea that anyone who voted for him has to be defined by the worst of his rhetoric,'' Stewart said. ''Like, there are guys in my neighborhood that I love, that I respect, that I think have incredible qualities who are not afraid of Mexicans, and not afraid of Muslims, and not afraid of blacks. They're afraid of their insurance premiums. In the liberal community, you hate this idea of creating people as a monolith. Don't look at Muslims as a monolith. They are individuals, and it would be ignorance. But everybody who voted for Trump is a monolith, is a racist. That hypocrisy is also real in our country.''

Trump, Stewart argued, isn't even a Republican: He's a ''repudiation of Republicans.''

''Donald Trump is a reaction not just to Democrats, to Republicans,'' he said. ''They're not draining the swamp. [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell and [House Speaker Paul] Ryan, those guys are the swamp. And what they decided to do was, 'I'm going to make sure government doesn't work and then I'm going to use its lack of working as evidence of it.''

''The ultimate irony of this election is the cynical strategy of the Republicans, which is: 'Our position is government doesn't work. We're going to make sure'... that it doesn't work,''' Stewart continued. ''But they will reap the benefit of his victory, in all of their cynicism. I will guarantee you Republicans are going to come to Jesus now about the power of government.''

Stewart also said the outrage over Trump's appointment of Breitbart CEO Steve Bannon '-- who has championed white nationalism '-- as his chief White House strategist is overwrought.

''You know, somebody was saying there might be an anti-Semite that's working the White House,'' he said. 'And I was like, 'Have you listened to the Nixon tapes?' Like, forget about advising the president, the president.'''

At a standup benefit the week before the election, Stewart recalled his 2013 Twitter feud with Trump, who had called him a ''phony'' and suggested that Stewart '-- nee Jonathan Leibowitz '-- was ashamed of his Jewish heritage.

''Vote wisely in November,'' Stewart joked.

On the eve of the election, Stewart joined former colleague Stephen Colbert to blast Trump on CBS' ''The Late Show.

''Are you kidding me?!'' he said. ''Are you serious? That angry tax-and-draft-dodging little orange groundhog is running for president?''

On Thursday, though, Stewart offered a glimmer of hope to those distraught over Trump's election.

''I don't believe we are a fundamentally different country today than we were two weeks ago,'' he said. ''The same country with all its grace and flaws, and volatility and insecurity, and strength and resilience exists today as existed two weeks ago. The same country that elected Donald Trump elected Barack Obama. I feel badly for the people for whom this election will mean more uncertainly and insecurity. But I also feel like this fight has never been easy.''

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 14:40

''Hamilton,'' the hit Broadway musical about colonial rebels shaping the future of an unformed country, took an even more political turn at the end of its performance on Friday night.

With Vice President-elect Mike Pence attending the show, the cast used the opportunity to make a statement emphasizing the need for the new administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, a Republican, to work on behalf of all Americans.

As the play ended, the actor who played Aaron Burr, Brandon Victor Dixon, acknowledged that Mr. Pence was in the audience, thanked him for attending and added, ''We hope you will hear us out.''

''We, sir '-- we '-- are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,'' he said. ''We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf all of us.''

The audience broke out in enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Mr. Pence was leaving as Mr. Dixon began to read the statement from the stage. A show spokesman said that Mr. Pence stood in the hallway outside the entrance to the auditorium and heard the full remarks.

Brandon Victor Dixon in July. At the end of the show on Friday, he told Mr. Pence, ''We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf all of us.''

Brad Barket / Invision, via Associated Press

Mr. Pence had been seated in the center orchestra section, prominently visible to audience members. He appeared engaged throughout the show and applauded after most of its numbers, audience members near him said.

When Mr. Pence entered the Richard Rodgers Theater in Manhattan, he was greeted with a mix of clapping and booing, according to theatergoers who posted on Twitter.

The audience gave a standing ovation during the play at the line, ''Immigrants, we get the job done,'' one theatergoer, Christy Colburn, wrote on Twitter.

She added: ''Crowd went NUTS at King George's lines 'when people say they hate you' & 'do you know how hard it is to lead?' He had to stop the song.''

The statement that Mr. Dixon read was written by the show's creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, its director, Thomas Kail, and the lead producer, Jeffrey Seller, with input from cast members, Mr. Seller said.

A protester's sign referred to a line from ''Hamilton'' while others shouted slogans at Mr. Pence as he left the theater.

Andres Kudacki / Associated Press

''We had to ask ourselves, how do we cope with this?'' Mr. Seller said. ''Our cast could barely go on stage the day after the election. The election was painful and crushing to all of us here. We all struggled with what was the appropriate and respectful and proper response. We are honored that Mr. Pence attended the show, and we had to use this opportunity to express our feelings.''

Mr. Seller said that there was some discussion about whether it was appropriate to inject a political statement into the night, and that those involved decided to wait until the end of the performance. He said no cast members had skipped the performance to protest Mr. Pence's appearance.

Mr. Trump has not seen ''Hamilton'' or inquired about tickets, Mr. Seller said, adding that the president-elect would be ''welcomed to attend.''

The show's politics '-- particularly its celebration of diversity and of the critical role immigrants played in the American Revolution and the early republic '-- stand in sharp contrast to some of the harsh language about immigrants that Mr. Trump used during the campaign and his focus on appealing to white men with statements about returning America to ''the good old days.''

His first appointments to his cabinet and other major positions have been dominated by older white conservative men, with relatively few women or minorities under consideration for top-ranking positions at this point.

One of the most acclaimed Broadway musicals in years, ''Hamilton'' has been especially celebrated by liberals for its resonant, provocative portrayal of America as a nation of immigrants '-- particularly with its casting of Hispanic or black actors in the roles of Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers.

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Sat, 19 Nov 2016 13:54

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 22:24

President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he plans to nominate Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) as attorney general and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) as CIA director, a pair of hard-line conservatives who offer early signs of the shape of Trump's Cabinet.

Trump also confirmed the news reported a day earlier that he has selected retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn as his national security adviser, a position that, unlike the other two, does not need to be confirmed by the Senate.

''The president-elect is a man of action, and we've got a great number of men and women with great qualifications who look forward to serving in this administration,'' Vice President-elect Mike Pence told reporters in New York. ''Our agency teams arrived in Washington D.C. this morning, and I am very confident it will be a smooth transition that will serve to lead this country forward.''

[Jeff Sessions is Donald Trump's biggest fan. Here's how their relationship began.]

The announcements were greeted with widespread applause from Republicans, but Democrats and civil rights groups denounced Sessions and Flynn for their hard-line views on Muslims and immigrants that have put them in close alignment with Trump. The criticism could portend a messy Senate confirmation process for Sessions, though several of his GOP colleagues, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), lavished praise on him.

Here are the people whose names have been floated for Trump's CabinetAnd Senate Democrats will not be able to filibuster Trump's nominations to executive branch positions, having eliminated that option in 2013 for all nominations except Supreme Court justices.

Flynn has spoken out frequently against radical Islam and clashed with the Obama administration while serving as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, from where he was ousted in 2014. Sessions supported Trump's call last year for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and has called for deporting millions of people who are in the country illegally.

In a statement, Trump called Sessions one of his most trusted campaign advisers and cited his ''world-class legal mind.''

''Jeff is greatly admired by legal scholars and virtually everyone who knows him,'' Trump said.

Trump said he was pleased to have Flynn at his side ''as we work to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, navigate geopolitical challenges and keep Americans safe at home and abroad.''

Also Friday, Trump spoke by phone with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and the two men ''underlined NATO's enduring importance,'' according to a statement from a NATO spokeswoman. During the campaign, Trump had said he might reconsider the United States's commitment to the alliance. Stoltenberg invited Trump to Brussels for the NATO Summit next year.

GOP officials working with the Trump transition operation said that the president-elect plans to meet Friday with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R), amid reports he is being considered to be U.S. ambassador to Israel. Also spotted at Trump Tower on Friday was Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), reportedly a candidate for defense secretary.

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) to be CIA director, close allies say. Here's what we know about him. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

Among those Trump will meet with on Saturday are former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who has been cited as a possible candidate for secretary of state, former D.C. public schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts and retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, whose name also has been mentioned as a potential defense secretary nominee.

Meantime, the Trump transition named agency landing teams for the departments of Defense, State and Justice, along with the National Security Council, to help smooth the transfer of power in the weeks leading up to Trump's inauguration Jan. 20.

Sessions, 69, was Trump's first endorser in the Senate and quickly became the then-candidate's chief resource on policy, but the fourth-term senator has been dogged by accusations of racism throughout his career.

In 1986, he was denied a federal judgeship after former colleagues testified before a Senate committee that he joked about the Ku Klux Klan, saying he thought they were ''okay, until he learned that they smoked marijuana.''

''If you have nostalgia for the days when blacks kept quiet, gays were in the closet, immigrants were invisible and women stayed in the kitchen, Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions is your man,'' Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) said in a statement. ''No senator has fought harder against the hopes and aspirations of Latinos, immigrants, and people of color than Sen. Sessions.''

The NAACP wrote in a Twitter message that Sessions's nomination is ''deeply troubling, and supports and old, ugly history where Civil Rights were not regarded as core American values.''

Sean Spicer, a Republican National Committee spokesman who has been assisting the Trump transition operation, said on a conference call with reporters that the nominees' personal view ''isn't what matters. You are serving the president-elect of the United States and his views .'‰.'‰. Everybody who serves in a Trump administration will serve Donald Trump and Mike Pence. They will implement their vision and their ideas.''

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), appearing at a Federalist Society convention in Washington, did not mention Trump's nominees in her remarks. But Haley, whose parents immigrated from India, urged the Republican Party to remind the public that it is the party who will offer opportunities ''to all citizens, regardless of their race, gender or where they are born and raised.''

Sessions served as a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama and as Alabama's attorney general. In a statement, he said there was ''no greater honor'' than to lead the Justice Department.

''I enthusiastically embrace President-elect Trump's vision for 'one America,' and his commitment to equal justice under law,'' Sessions said in a statement. ''I look forward to fulfilling my duties with an unwavering dedication to fairness and impartiality.''

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz), a key Judiciary Committee member who had been wary of Trump during the campaign, intends to support Sessions's nomination, his office said.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), also at the Federalist Society convention in Washington, said that Sessions would make an ''extraordinary'' attorney general.

''He is a committed and deeply principled conservative,'' Cruz said.

Several Senate Democrats pledged a rigorous confirmation review.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who will become Minority Leader in January, said Sessions's rhetoric and opposition to a comprehensive immigration reform in 2013 make him ''very concerned about what he would do with the Civil Rights Division.''

But some conservatives suggested it would be politically damaging to Democrats if they attempt to block Trump's nominees.

''Mr. Trump has a plane and double-digit victories where Senate Democrats are up for reelection,'' said Leonard A. Leo, executive vice president of The Federalist Society. ''Obstructing his nominees will be a political loser.''

Pompeo, 52, was elected to the House in 2010 as part of the first wave of so-called tea party lawmakers. A U.S. Military Academy and Harvard Law School graduate, he has a varied background. He served as a U.S. Army cavalry officer before founding an aerospace company, serving as president of an oil-field equipment manufacturing firm and '-- in a brief, little-known chapter of his early career '-- was an attorney with the Washington, D.C. mega-law firm Williams and Connolly.

He currently serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and is a close ally of Pence.

''He has served our country with honor and spent his life fighting for the security of our citizens,'' Trump said of Pompeo in a statement.

Notably, Pompeo backed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) over Trump in the Republican presidential primary. In May, a Pompeo spokesman gave a somewhat tepid endorsement, saying the congressman would ''support the nominee of the Republican Party because Hillary Clinton cannot be president of the United States.''

Pompeo is a vocal critic of President Obama's nuclear accord with Iran. ''I look forward to rolling back this disastrous deal with the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism,'' he tweeted Thursday, before his offer to become CIA director was public.

The choices of Sessions and Pompeo follow Trump's decision to offer the position of national security adviser to Flynn, and confirm the president-elect's desire to assemble his Cabinet by naming national security and law enforcement leaders first.

[Trump's pick for national security adviser brings experience and controversy]

At the same time, Trump is soliciting the help of Romney, a mainstream consensus figure who had been the face of the Republican resistance to Trump's candidacy, in assembling his government.

Trump sought a meeting with Romney, who had fiercely criticized him during the campaign, to broker peace '-- and Sessions, a vice chairman of Trump's transition, told reporters that Trump could consider the 2012 GOP presidential nominee for an administration position, perhaps secretary of state.

The presence of Flynn and Romney in Trump's orbit sends mixed signals to already jittery leaders around the globe, as well as officials in Washington's foreign policy community, about the tone and substance of the Trump administration's posture to the world.

Flynn, who would hold the most powerful national security position, is a retired three-star general and decorated intelligence officer who established a close relationship with Trump while campaigning at his side this year. His behavior and a string of controversial and dark statements about Islam, among other topics, have alarmed many of his former colleagues.

Trump's selection of Flynn comes after the president-elect enraged Democrats and civil rights groups by appointing Stephen K. Bannon, former chairman of Breitbart News, an alt-right news site that has become a forum for the white nationalist movement, as his chief strategist and senior counselor in the White House.

Karen DeYoung, Robert Costa, Mike DeBonis, Ellen Nakashima, Greg Miller, Phillip Rucker and Katie Zezima contributed to this report.

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 18:05

The US Navy has confirmed that a mysterious plane spotted circling over Denver for at least an hour on Wednesday was one of its fleet '' but says details of its mission are classified.

The presence of the military plane in the Denver skies caught the attention of many planespotters curious to find out why the large aircraft was hanging over the city in a holding pattern.

Local news outlet Denver7 tracked flight IRON99 as it traveled from the west coast to Oklahoma. The plane eventually landed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma city after an hour loitering above Denver.

The news station's initial attempts to find where the plane originated proved fruitless as officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and a dozen Air Force Bases could not confirm the flight.

The next day, however, the Navy confirmed that the mysterious aircraft was in fact one of its E-6B Mercury planes, known as the 'Doomsday plane', and was simply returning to its homebase.

These planes, created by Boeing at a cost of $141.7 million per unit, have the capability to launch nuclear missiles and communicate with nuclear submarines.

The overall mission of the E-6B is to provide ''command, control and communications abilities between the National Command Authority (NCA) and U.S. strategic and non-strategic forces.''

The US Navy has a total of 16 of these powerful military aircraft in its fleet.

No further details of this particular mission were disclosed, however Denver7 reported that a high-ranking federal official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said the plane was involved in a classified training mission organized by the Department of Defense.

The officer claimed this was a multi-agency operation regarding electronic surveillance and that these training missions were not unusual, nor were they typically made known to the public.

A video of the incident shows the white four-engine plane glide across the Denver sky leaving lengthy contrails in its wake.

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Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:23

After Jon Stewart left ''The Daily Show'' last summer, much of the presidential campaign went on without his unique and satirical point of view.

He spoke with ''CBS This Morning'' co-host Charlie Rose Wednesday to discuss his new book about the more than 16 years he spent at the Comedy Central program, but he was also quick to give his post-election analysis.

''We just went through an election,'' Rose said.

''What?'' Stewart joked, laughing.

''Yes. Your reaction to this election? Surprise?'' Rose asked.

''In surprise'... I mean it,'' Stewart said.

''Fear?'' Rose asked.

''It all ties together... Here's what I would honestly say. I don't believe we are a fundamentally different country today than we were two weeks ago,'' Stewart said. ''The same country with all its grace and flaws, and volatility, and insecurity, and strength, and resilience exists today as existed two weeks ago. The same country that elected Donald Trump elected Barack Obama. I feel badly for the people for whom this election will mean more uncertainty and insecurity. But I also feel like this fight has never been easy. And the ultimate irony of this election is the cynical strategy of the Republicans, which is: 'Our position as government doesn't work. We're going to make sure'... that it doesn't work.'''

''Draining the swamp,'' Rose said.

''But they're not draining the swamp. McConnell and Ryan, those guys are the swamp. And what they decided to do was, 'I'm going to make sure government doesn't work and then I'm going to use its lack of working as evidence of it,'' Stewart said. ''Donald Trump is a reaction not just to Democrats, to Republicans.''

Stewart said Donald Trump is ''not a Republican,'' but a ''repudiation of Republicans.''

''But they will reap the benefit of his victory, in all of their cynicism and all of their -- I will guarantee you Republicans are going to come to Jesus now about the power of government,'' Stewart said.

What struck him most about this election, Stewart said, was that no one challenged Trump's campaign slogan: ''Make America great again.''

''He wants to make America great again'... But nobody said to him, 'Well, what is it that makes America great?'' Rose asked.

''Correct,'' Stewart said.

''What is it you want to do that we're not doing now?'' Rose asked.

''What are the metrics? Because it seems like from listening to him, the metrics are that it's a competition. And I think what many would say is what makes us great is -- America is an anomaly in the world,'' Stewart said. ''Nobody -- there are a lot of people, and I think'... his candidacy has animated that thought -- that a multi-ethnic democracy, a multicultural democracy is impossible. And that is what America by its founding, and constitutionally is -- unlike every other state.''

''And it's becoming more and more,'' Rose added.

''Correct.''

''Year by year,'' Rose said.

''Correct,'' Stewart said.

''But do you think, it's healthy that we have this now, that in fact this battle, this real sense of finding out'... who we are?'' Rose asked.

''Yes, but I also don't'...'' Stewart began before Rose added to his question, ''And whether we have gone off track in some way?''

''Absolutely. You know... I would rather have this conversation openly and honestly than in dog whistles. You know, somebody was saying there might be an anti-Semite that's working the White House.'' And I was like, 'Have you listened to the Nixon tapes?''' Stewart said, laughing. ''Like, forget about advising the president, the president. Like, have you read LBJ? Do you know our history?''

Stewart added that we must ''caution ourselves to the complexity of that history.''

''I thought Donald Trump disqualified himself at numerous points. But there is now this idea that anyone who voted for him is -- has to be defined by the worst of his rhetoric,'' Stewart said. ''Like, there are guys in my neighborhood that I love, that I respect, that I think have incredible qualities who are not afraid of Mexicans, and not afraid of Muslims, and not afraid of blacks. They're afraid of their insurance premiums. In the liberal community, you hate this idea of creating people as a monolith. Don't look as Muslims as a monolith. They are the individuals and it would be ignorance. But everybody who voted for Trump is a monolith, is a racist. That hypocrisy is also real in our country.''

Stewart said America wages a fight ''against ourselves'' because it is not ''natural.''

''Natural is tribal. We're fighting against thousands of years of human behavior and history to create something that no one's ever-- that's what's exceptional about America and that's what's, like, this ain't easy,'' Stewart said. ''It's an incredible thing.''

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