There are not enough police in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/austin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Austin</a> to handle multiple major emergencies as a result of the 2020 movement to “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/defund-the-police" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defund the police</a>,” according to a new documentary from The Daily Caller.
The documentary, called “<a href="https://lawless.dailycaller.com/optin1693416044525?sl=dailywire">Lawless</a>,” examines the effects of the anti-police movement across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd in May 2020. One of the cities Daily Caller investigators examined was Austin, Texas, where the city council <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/08/13/austin-city-council-cut-police-budget-defund/">voted</a> to cut the police budget by one third in August 2020 amid a wave of anti-police sentiment.
While Austin later voted to move funding back to the police department, it still faces massive staffing shortages and its chief of police <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/austin-police-chief-abruptly-retires-staffing-shortages-lack-police-union-contract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigned</a> in August. As of September, Austin <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/police/new-austin-police-officers-sworn-in/269-99244b89-dcda-4133-9d32-4b2b457b094a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was at least</a> 300 officers short of full staff.
“We are not a city that can handle parallel critical incidents,” Matt Mackowiak, co-founder of Save Austin Now, told The Daily Caller. “If we get to a situation where we have a serious bank robbery in North Austin, and something happening at [Austin City Limits Music Festival] at the same time, we will not have enough police officers to respond to both incidents.”
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Save Austin Now is a nonpartisan group <a href="https://www.saveaustinnow.com/who-we-are" target="_blank" rel="noopener">committed</a> to addressing the challenges facing Austin, including homelessness, high property taxes, and crime.
The budget cuts in Austin came alongside the national push by some Democrat politicians, including Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), to defund and dismantle police departments throughout the U.S.
At the same time, police departments across the country have struggled to stay fully staffed amidst a wave of resignations and a decline in new recruits. The Daily Caller spoke with law enforcement, politicians, and small business owners about the crisis in policing.
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“I want to signal a crisis,” Fraternal Order of Police President Patrick Yoes <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/10/05/daily-caller-documentary-lawless-defund-police/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Our profession is dependent on the best and brightest stepping up and taking this job. And because of the actions, and because of the turmoil that has happened in the last two years, we have a crisis right now in manpower.”
The Daily Caller said the film “will expose the true human cost of turning against law enforcement. We are traveling across the country to discover the terror that has been unleashed upon American cities as a result of the &#8216;Defund the Police&#8217; movement. We will uncover how the movement became as powerful as it did and give a voice to the forgotten men and women who bear the brunt of the violence in their daily lives.”
TRAILER: 
<iframe loading="lazy" title="LAWLESS: Liberal Policies | American Blood (Trailer)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oy99jQ0IFlU?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Lawless Thumbnails (3)

New Doc Sheds Light On Dangerous Impact Of ‘Defund The Police’ Movement

New Doc Sheds Light On Dangerous Impact Of ‘Defund The Police' Movement

Austin

Defund The Police

General

Police

Texas

The Daily Caller

U.S.

Transportation Secretary <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/pete-buttigieg-tries-to-spin-bipartisan-criticism-as-proof-congress-should-do-something-on-train-derailment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Buttigieg</a> reportedly snapped a photo of a journalist from The Daily Caller News Foundation after refusing to answer her questions about the ongoing disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, because he was &#8220;taking some personal time.&#8221;
The Foundation&#8217;s <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/02/21/jennie-taer-pete-buttigieg-east-paletine-ohio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jennie Taer</a> caught up to Buttigieg in Washington, D.C., and asked him a series of questions about the <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/employees-say-derailed-train-had-failed-on-route-days-before-east-palestine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">train derailment</a> and subsequent chemical fires — primarily what he might have to say to local residents who have concerns about the safety and quality of the air and water in their homes.
&#8220;I asked Secretary Buttigieg about the crisis in East Palestine and I guess he didn’t like that so he took a pic of me. I&#8217;m just doing my job, sir,&#8221; Taer tweeted, sharing video of the brief encounter.
WATCH:
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I asked Secretary Buttigieg about the crisis in East Palestine and I guess he didn’t like that so he took a pic of me. Im just doing my job, sir. <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyCaller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DailyCaller</a> <a href="https://t.co/HjKNgF25FJ">pic.twitter.com/HjKNgF25FJ</a>
&mdash; Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) <a href="https://twitter.com/JennieSTaer/status/1628190304284160001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Hi, how are you, Jennie Taer at The Daily Caller News Foundation,&#8221; she said as she approached the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor. &#8220;What do you have to say to the folks in Ohio — East Palestine — who are suffering right now?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, I&#8217;d refer you to about a dozen interviews I&#8217;ve given today,&#8221; Buttigieg replied, adding, &#8220;And if you&#8217;d like to arrange a conversation you should reach out to our press office but I&#8217;m not going to have that conversation with you just walking on the street.&#8221;
&#8220;You don&#8217;t have a message for them?&#8221; Taer pressed.
&#8220;I do, and I&#8217;ve shared it with the press many times today and I&#8217;d refer you to those comments,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;Would you mind sharing it with us?&#8221; she asked.
&#8220;No, I&#8217;m going to refer you to the comments that I made to the press because right now I&#8217;m taking some personal time and I&#8217;m walking down the street,&#8221; Buttigieg continued to stonewall her.
Taer persisted, asking the Transportation Secretary whether he planned to make a visit to East Palestine – and he said that he did intend to go, but then refused to give specifics when she asked when he might be making that trip.
&#8220;I&#8217;ll share that when I&#8217;m ready,&#8221; he said, and then stopped and turned to face her. &#8220;Can I get a photo of you?&#8221; he asked.
Joe Concha, Fox News commentator and Media and Politics columnist for The Hill, suggested that the mainstream press&#8217; failure to address the situation was part of the problem.
&#8220;This is how elitists who are made uncomfortable act out. Amazing how few members of the press are commenting on this,&#8221; he said.
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This is how elitists who are made uncomfortable act out. Amazing how few members of the press are commenting on this. <a href="https://t.co/0rROITxhFM">https://t.co/0rROITxhFM</a>
&mdash; Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeConchaTV/status/1628412604208095232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Conference Of Mayors Held In Washington, DC

Pete Buttigieg Takes ‘Personal Time’ In Midst Of East Palestine Disaster, Asks If He Can Snap Photo Of Reporter Who Dares To Question Him

Pete Buttigieg Takes 'Personal Time' In Midst Of East Palestine Disaster, Asks If He Can Snap Photo Of Reporter Who Dares To Question Him

Disasters

Ohio Train Disaster

Pete Buttigieg

Politics

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) slammed Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President, for refusing to answer a question during a press briefing this week about the origins of COVID-19.
Gabbard&#8217;s remarks come after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karine-jean-pierre-loses-control-of-briefing-room-and-herself-as-journalists-balk-at-her-skipping-conservative-reporter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost her cool</a> against a conservative reporter after she pressed Dr. Anthony Fauci on his approach to COVID.
As Daily Caller White House Correspondent Diana Glebova began to ask about the origins of COVID, Jean-Pierre resumed the podium and said that she would not call on “people who yell,” adding that she had no interest in “getting into a back-and-forth” with Glebova after she noted that Jean-Pierre “calls on the same people all the time.”
Jean-Pierre, who had asked another journalist to pause his question while Glebova was reprimanded, provided no opportunity to let Glebova request comment from Fauci. Other journalists, including Steven Nelson of The New York Post and Simon Ateba of Today News Africa, were heard <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1595107064921133056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595107064921133056%7Ctwgr%5Ea48b038d061c47904abac835718c998a022133ba%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2022%2F11%2F22%2Fwhite-house-briefing-karine-jean-pierre-diana-glebova%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asking</a> Jean-Pierre to allow Glebova to ask her “valid” question and “call on people across the room,” causing Jean-Pierre to become exasperated.
“It is not your turn,” a visibly annoyed Jean-Pierre said, resuming the podium for a second time. “I hear the question … but we’re not doing this the way you want it. This is disrespectful … I’m done with you, Simon.”
Gabbard <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/tulsi-gabbard-blasts-dr-fauci-refusing-answer-questions-last-briefing-continue-lie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Tuesday night that &#8220;we can&#8217;t deny the danger that he has created for the American people, not only with regard to his refusal to answer questions about the origins of COVID and gain of function research, and how it is very likely continuing on that we are paying for, but also the other big lies that he&#8217;s continued to propagate, even in his press conference today about masks.&#8221;
&#8220;He&#8217;s telling people ‘mask up,’ knowing full well that when people hear that, they&#8217;re going to throw on a cloth mask or a mask like the one he&#8217;s wearing in that picture that you&#8217;re showing or paper mask, knowing that they don&#8217;t do anything to prevent someone from getting COVID or spreading COVID,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;They continue to lie to the American people, and it&#8217;s putting the American people at risk.&#8221;
Ben Zeisloft contributed to this report.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karine-jean-pierre-loses-control-of-briefing-room-and-herself-as-journalists-balk-at-her-skipping-conservative-reporter">Karine Jean-Pierre Loses Control Of Briefing Room (And Herself) As Journalists Balk At Her Skipping Conservative Reporter</a>

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

Gabbard Hammers Dr. Fauci For Refusing To Answer COVID Origins Question: He ‘Created’ Danger For U.S.

Anthony Fauci

COVID

Karine Jean-Pierre

Media

The Daily Caller is threatening to sue the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) after two of its reporters were reportedly arrested and charged with misdemeanors while covering the riots roiling Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday night.
Reporters Shelby Talcott and Jorge Ventura were part of a mass detention of demonstrators who were instructed to get on the ground shortly before midnight, according to footage Talcott posted to Twitter. Despite identifying herself as press, the two were handcuffed with zip-ties and taken to a detainment cell.
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We are all on the ground right now and police are taking people and putting them in zip tie cuffs <a href="https://t.co/eIJJF1t1Ub">pic.twitter.com/eIJJF1t1Ub</a>
&mdash; Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShelbyTalcott/status/1308965986683551745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Daily Caller Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Ingersoll tweeted late on Wednesday that he had notified LMPD of his reporters&#8217; arrest while in the capacity of press reporting for an accredited media outlet. &#8220;My expectation is that they will be swiftly released,&#8221; he said, but he later learned that Talcott and Ventura &#8220;will be processed and charged like everyone else, despite my best efforts to alert official channels that they were operating in the capacity of press at a live news event.&#8221;
Ingersoll added that the two were to be &#8220;charged with two misdemeanors related to breaking curfew and unlawful assembly for their alleged failure to comply with police orders to disperse and for press to relegate themselves to an ‘observation area.&#8217;”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I’ve now notified <a href="https://twitter.com/LMPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LMPD</a> that both <a href="https://twitter.com/ShelbyTalcott?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shelbytalcott</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/VenturaReport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VenturaReport</a> were reporting for an accredited media outlet and were operating in the capacity of press. My expectation is that they will be swiftly released. <a href="https://t.co/BBa1b8yF1W">https://t.co/BBa1b8yF1W</a>
&mdash; Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) <a href="https://twitter.com/GPIngersoll/status/1308973875980644352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Another update: <a href="https://twitter.com/LMPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LMPD</a> tells me <a href="https://twitter.com/ShelbyTalcott?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShelbyTalcott</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/JorgeVentura05?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JorgeVentura05</a> will be charged with two misdemeanors related to breaking curfew &amp; unlawful assembly for their alleged failure to comply with police orders to disperse and for press to relegate themselves to an “observation area”
&mdash; Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) <a href="https://twitter.com/GPIngersoll/status/1308987997434585088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to Richie McGinniss, another Daily Caller reporter, Talcott described her conditions to him as &#8220;absurd,&#8221; adding, &#8220;I am packed in with 28 other people in a 20&#215;20 cell. Not all of us have masks, and there is not enough room so people are sleeping on the floor.&#8221; McGinniss said shortly after noon on Thursday that the two &#8220;have been processed for release, but will not actually be out for another 2-4 hours or more[.]&#8221;
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Corrections now telling me they have been processed for release, but will not actually be out for another 2-4 hours or more&#8230;
&mdash; Richie🎥McG🍿 (@RichieMcGinniss) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichieMcGinniss/status/1309162981083746310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Attorney Neil Patel, the co-founder and publisher of The Daily Caller, had earlier expressed concern for the reporters&#8217; safety. Patel threatened litigation in a <a href="https://twitter.com/NeilPatelTDC/status/1309134701433626632" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement posted to Twitter</a> on Thursday morning:
<blockquote>The Louisville police arrested two of our employees Wednesday night. We have informed the police that these are reporters who were peacefully doing their job, but they are still refusing to release them. They will not even let us speak with them. Given the fact that our reporters have been repeatedly harassed, punched and even shot at during past protests, we fear for their safety in lockup with people who may want to do them harm.
No other news outlet has been on the ground at more protests and riots, and none have done a more balanced job of telling the public what is happening. We appreciate the difficult situation that officers are in trying to balance their own safety while allowing protestors to exercise their First Amendment rights.
Unlike other outlets, we have interviewed police about this and told their side of the story. But this is not China. Those reporters flat out have a constitutionally protected role to play on our streets. The Louisville Police Department is going to find out all about this in the form of a lawsuit unless things start changing fast.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/funny-as-hell-young-reporter-flooded-with-gloating-death-threats-after-claiming-to-have-been-robbed-at-gunpoint-in-minneapolis" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Funny As Hell’: Young Reporter Flooded With Gloating Death Threats After Claiming To Have Been Robbed At Gunpoint In Minneapolis</a>

Louisville Police

‘This Is Not China’: The Daily Caller Threatens To Sue Louisville Police Department For Arresting Its Reporters, Refusing To Let Them Speak To Attorney

Louisville

A bail fund promoted by Democrat vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) reportedly helped an alleged child rapist get out of jail over the summer.
Harris solicited donations from her millions of followers on Twitter for the Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF), which has helped numerous allegedly violent criminals post bail. As of Friday morning, the link directed users to a landing page that featured Harris on the campaign trail and asked the users to donate to the fund.
Daily Caller News Foundation investigative reporter Andrew Kerr highlighted in a <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2020/09/16/kamala-harris-minnesota-bail-fund-accused-sexual-assault-child/">report</a> the case of the alleged child rapist:
<blockquote>Timothy Wayne Columbus, 36, faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in 2015, court records show. He was released from a Minneapolis jail in early July on $75,000 bail, according to jail records.
One day after his release, Columbus signed a document asking the court to return any refunded bail to the MFF, indicating that the fund played a role in securing his release from jail, a court document obtained by the DCNF shows.
Minnesota prosecutors provided graphic details of Columbus’s alleged sexual assault of the eight-year-old girl in her mother’s home, records reviewed by the DCNF show.
“Victim stated ‘Tim’ laid her on the couch and held her down as he unbuckled his pants and pulled down her pants. Victim stated he then ‘put his thing inside me,&#8217;” the statement of probable cause read.
“Victim stated ‘Tim’ told her not to tell anyone and continued to penetrate her,” the statement added.</blockquote>
The DCNF noted that Columbus was already a registered sex offender due to a separate prior incident.
The report highlighted other shocking instances where the fund bailed out people accused of serious crimes:
<ul>
<li>MFF paid $350,000 in cash to get a twice-convicted rapist released from jail who was facing kidnapping and sexual assault charges.</li>
<li>MFF helped bail out a man accused of breaking into a 71-year-old woman&#8217;s home and violently attacking her. The suspect was charged with burglary and 1st-degree assault.</li>
<li>MFF helped a 33-year-old man get out of jail after he was arrested for allegedly beating a robbing a man who was leaning on a cane. The suspect is accused of kicking and punching the victim while the victim was on the ground. The suspect is alleged to have stomped on the victim&#8217;s head.</li>
</ul>
Harris’ promotion of the controversial bail fund group comes after she supported making bail more expensive when she was San Francisco’s district attorney in 2004.
“On a daily basis, the work I have to do and where I have to put my mind in terms of my priorities is on things like sitting down with Russ [Guintini] my chief assistant and talking with him about the fact we are going to change the bail schedule in San Francisco,” Harris <a href="https://freebeacon.com/politics/kamala-harris-made-increasing-bail-costs-a-priority-as-san-francisco-da/">said</a>. “We are in the process of asking the bench, the judiciary, to reevaluate the fact that we require people who have been arrested to pay a lot less than other counties.”
Harris said that criminals were coming to the area because it was “cheaper” for them to commit crimes there since bail was less expensive.
“The San Francisco Chronicle reported in June 2004 that following a ‘nudge from the district attorney&#8217;s office,’ the court decided it would be ‘doubling, tripling and even quadrupling bail’ for people arrested on weapons-related charges,” The Free Beacon reported. “A look at the bail schedules in 2010, the last year Harris was district attorney, show bail was set at thousands of dollars for minor offenses, e.g., $5,000 for petty theft.”

Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris Campaigns In Milwaukee

Bail Fund Promoted By Harris Helped Alleged Child Rapist Get Out Of Jail: Report

Kamala Harris

Rape

Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday that he hasn&#8217;t &#8220;given any thought&#8221; to anything past the upcoming 2020 presidential election when asked if he is mulling his own run in 2024.
“I haven’t given any thought to anything beyond the election in 2020 because I think this election is so important to the life of the nation. I think this could well be one of the most important elections in the long and storied history of the United States, because we’re really deciding what path we will take,&#8221; Pence said in an interview with <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2020/09/10/mike-pence-2024-president-donald-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Daily Caller</a>.
“By winning in 2020, we have an opportunity to continue to take our nation on the path that President Trump set us on in 2016, so all of my energies, all of my focus is dedicated to that prospect, and we’ll let the future take care of itself,” he added.
Pence singled out the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout as the most pressing issue for him and the Trump administration, after which fiscal responsibility will be front and center.
“President Trump has made it clear: We believe providing additional direct support to families, providing additional support and extension of the kind of programs that have literally saved more than 50 million jobs [&#8230;] is absolutely essential to bring our economy all the way back,” Pence continued. “That being said, once we find our way through this global pandemic in the second term of this president’s administration, we’re gonna roll our sleeves up. And, and look to, you know, restore fiscal responsibility to the federal budget.”
Pence is just one of the potential candidates to whom Republicans are looking to carry the party&#8217;s standard after President Donald Trump&#8217;s tenure. As <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/07/mike-pence-president-2024-067313" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Politico</a> reported, other potential candidates include Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Another candidate that has been floated for 2024 is Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-fox-news-host-tucker-carlson-is-drawing-2024-speculation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>:
<blockquote>Politico reports that “there’s an emerging consensus in the GOP that the 51-year-old Carlson would be formidable if he were to run” in the 2024 election.
[&#8230;]
“What he’s been saying speaks for a lot of people, and it’s basically not expressed or serviced by most Republican politicians,” Rich Lowry, editor of National Review, told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/02/tucker-carlson-2024-republicans-348334">Politico</a>. “There’s a lot to be said for being fearless, and he is, while Republican politicians, as a breed, are not.”
Sam Nunberg, a former Trump aide who also knows Carlson, told the news agency that while he doesn’t believe Carlson will run for president, as he’s “so disgusted with politicians,” the Fox News host would become the 2024 Republican nominee if he were to run during a Joe Biden presidency.</blockquote>
&#8220;He’s a talented communicator with a massive platform. I think if he runs he’d be formidable,&#8221; said Republican strategist Luke Thompson of a potential Carlson run.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-fox-news-host-tucker-carlson-is-drawing-2024-speculation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fox News Host Tucker Carlson Is Drawing 2024 Speculation</a>

Vice President Pence Leads Coronavirus Task Force Briefing

‘I Haven’t Given Any Thought’: Pence Doesn’t Rule Out 2024 Run

2020 Election

Mike Pence

Tucker Carlson

Republican lawmakers from Georgia criticized Disney for filming &#8220;Mulan&#8221; in regions of China where people are reportedly tortured in concentration camps, despite having threatened to boycott Georgia for outlawing abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Georgia&#8217;s Gov. Brian Kemp, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R), and Rep. Jody Hice (R) each issued statements to the Daily Caller&#8217;s <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2020/09/10/georgia-lawmakers-disney-china-concentration-camps-kemp-loeffler-hice/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Henry Rodgers</a> that condemned Disney for their apparent double standard.
In 2019, then-Disney CEO Bob Iger <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-ceo-signals-withdrawal-georgia-over-amanda-prestigiacomo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told Reuters</a> that the entertainment giant might sever ties with the state after the heartbeat bill, saying, &#8220;I don’t see how it’s practical for us to continue to shoot there.&#8221; Despite the backlash, Kemp remained adamant at the time that the law was the right thing to do, describing it as &#8220;a declaration that all life has value, that all life matters, and that all life is worthy of protection.&#8221;
In his statement to the Caller, Kemp said, &#8220;With a low cost of doing business, incredible natural resources, and a highly skilled and motivated workforce, Georgia remains the choice location for television and film production. We will continue to compete globally for these projects that invest in local communities and employ thousands of hardworking Georgians.&#8221; Georgia offers a 30% tax rebate for film and TV production, making it a hub for the industry in the Southeast.
As for Disney’s filming in China, according to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-under-fire-for-filming-mulan-in-chinas-xinjiang-province" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Hollywood Reporter</a>, not &#8220;only did Disney shoot in the region, but the studio appears to have offered its gratitude to Chinese government agencies involved in alleged abuses.&#8221; Specifically, they thanked the Turpan Municipal Bureau of Public Safety, which is the agency reportedly responsible for the internment and abuse of nearly 1 million Uyghur Muslims, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-54064654" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BBC</a>.
The Hollywood Reporter added, &#8220;Mulan&#8216;s credit sequence also extends a thank you to the ‘publicity department of CPC Xinjiang Uighur Autonomy Region Committee,’ the Chinese Communist Party agency responsible for producing and managing state propaganda efforts in the region.&#8221;
Loeffler told the Caller, “I’m extremely disappointed that Disney has chosen to partner with—and even thank—the Chinese Communist Party as part of their most recent film production. Xinjiang and China’s disgraceful history of human rights violations, free speech suppression, and even genocide should be denounced vociferously—not applauded.&#8221;
&#8220;As the best state in the country for film and business, I encourage Disney to prioritize freedom, equality, and opportunity for all—and put Georgia back on its mind,&#8221; she added.
Hice offered the lengthiest statement, saying:
<blockquote>Yet another once-great American corporation – the Walt Disney Company – has decided to stand in-league with the evil communist regime in China rather than support and defend American values of equality and respect for all peoples, creeds and religions. Disney happily jumped into the debate in the State of Georgia to oppose the ‘Heartbeat’ bill, which saves the lives of thousands of unborn babies from abortion – but refuses to condemn Communist China’s systematic persecution of religious minorities by the millions.
This grossly hypocritical position and the recent controversy surrounding the movie “Mulan” demonstrates the massive influence of China in Hollywood. Many of us in Congress have been speaking out against China’s blatant disregard for religious liberty for years. But if the American private sector continues to support and collaborate with the communist government, then the fight to stop China’s human rights abuses becomes that much harder.
I urge Disney to seize this moment to serve as a light in the darkness and set an example for other corporations.</blockquote>
Other companies, such as Netflix, followed Disney in their threat to boycott Georgia. “We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content creator, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-ceo-signals-withdrawal-georgia-over-amanda-prestigiacomo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told Variety in 2019</a>. “It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court.”
Netflix <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walsh-child-sexualizing-cuties-movie-on-netflix-is-even-worse-than-we-thought-its-time-to-cancel-netflix" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">is in hot water</a> with many viewers after clips from its new movie &#8220;Cuties&#8221; depicting young girls dancing in an overtly provocative, sexualized way, went viral.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/more-hypocrites-disney-partners-china-it-threatens-paul-bois" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">More Hypocrites: Disney Partners With China As It Threatens Georgia Boycott</a>

Kemp Mulan

‘Grossly Hypocritical’: Georgia Lawmakers Blast Disney For Filming In China After Snubbing State Over Abortion Law

Abortion

Disney

Georgia

Uyghur

On Thursday, The Daily Caller <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/20/chris-burgard-music-video-american-heart-coronavirus-pandemic-lockdown-quarantine/">released</a> a YouTube video from actor/producer Chris Burgard in which the band American Made sings the original song “American Heart.”
The description text below the video states: “Two months into COVID lockdown, the band &#8216;American Made&#8217; felt the country could use some inspiration. Friends and neighbors agreed. So they started a band, recorded a song, and got the neighbors together to make this video.”
The text adds that “a portion of the proceeds from each download goes to COVID19 related charity, Meals For Heroes.”
As the intro plays and footage shows dozens of people standing together donning cowboy hats, Burgard can be heard saying:
<blockquote>Getting this many people to come out to do a nice pro-American, Christian video is huge. The fact that you did it during COVID lockdown? You’re here because people are starting to figure out, yes we need to be cautious, yes we need to be smart, but we’re not frickin’ sheep, okay? This country was founded on freedom. This country wasn’t founded on fear.</blockquote>
The lyrics of the song say in part:
<blockquote>They say our reputation needs a new coat of paint and a delicate melody. But I say, I like the bruises ‘cause a melody don’t mean a thing if we don’t have the strength to sing.
And I won’t be made to ever feel ashamed that I am American made, I got American parts, I got American faith, an American heart. Go on and raise a flag, ‘cause I’ve got stars in my eyes. I’m in love with her, and I won’t apologize.</blockquote>
During a musical transition, various people are quoted:
“United we stand.”
“Victory.”
“God bless America.”
“Don’t tread on me. World peace.”
Near the end of the video, a man walks up to a woman wearing a mask, tears it off, and the couple kiss and proceed to slow dance.
The music video features people dancing happily, cowboys roping and doing tricks, horses, motorcycles, and more as a band plays behind them.
Check out the full video here:
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lxUP990oe-E" width="720" height="385" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

American flag

‘American Heart’ Music Video Aims To Inspire During COVID-19 Lockdowns

Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and other Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee were slammed online on Wednesday over their &#8220;arrogant,&#8221; &#8220;inaccurate,&#8221; and &#8220;embarrassing&#8221; attacks on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg appeared before the committee for over six hours to answer questions about Facebook&#8217;s proposed cryptocurrency, Libra.
&#8220;Anybody who believes the Democrats are angry at Facebook because they want more free speech should take a look at this,&#8221; Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1187230110060957696">commented</a> on the hearing. &#8220;Democrats are angry at Facebook because they want less free speech. They simply want more Democratic control of the means of informational distribution.&#8221;
Rep. Al Green (D-TX) pressed Zuckerberg about the representation that certain intersectional groups have within the company&#8217;s Libra project.
After asking how many women and how many minorities worked on the project, Green asked Zuckerberg: “Are there any members of the LGBTQ+ community associated with this association, Mr. Zuckerberg?”
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepAlGreen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepAlGreen</a> is incredulous Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t know how many staffers working on Libra are LGBT <a href="https://t.co/K6AJXFIZlp">pic.twitter.com/K6AJXFIZlp</a>
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1187033479395061761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
Senior RealClearInvestigations writer Mark Hemingway <a href="https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/1187058429812264962">commented</a> on Greens&#8217; remarks, tweeting: &#8220;Gotta love it when bosses make a habit of brushing up on their employees&#8217; sex lives. Really shows you care.&#8221;
&#8220;Is it legal to collect this information?&#8221; Reason staff editor Liz Wolf <a href="https://twitter.com/lizzywol/status/1187046714294853634">tweeted</a>. &#8220;Is it in any way relevant to the employee&#8217;s ability to do their job well? JFC, people.&#8221;
During another portion of questioning, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) suggested, without evidence, that Zuckerberg had &#8220;ruined the lives of many [African-Americans].&#8221;
&#8220;Do you know what percentage of African Americans are on Facebook, in comparison to majority folks?&#8221; Beatty pressed. &#8220;Do you know what the percentages are?&#8221;
Zuckerberg responded: &#8220;I don&#8217;t because we don&#8217;t collect the races of people.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Democrat Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH) gets nasty with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg: “You have ruined the lives of many [African-Americans]”
What on earth is she talking about?
This is insane <a href="https://t.co/ugViEELGRO">pic.twitter.com/ugViEELGRO</a>
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1187067044799246336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Holy, this lady almost makes AOC look competent,&#8221; Dave Rubin <a href="https://twitter.com/RubinReport/status/1187155562393243648">commented</a>. &#8220;I actually feel bad for Zuckerberg. That’s how totally ridiculous these congresspeople are.&#8221;
During another embarrassing portion of the hearing, far-left Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) attacked Zuckerberg over the fact that some people in the world do not have a lot of money.
Pressley, like many of her Democrat cohorts, repeatedly pressed Zuckerberg on questions that he was unlikely to know the answers to and then cut him off before he could offer any real response to their questions.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepPressley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepPressley</a> attacks Zuckerberg, says Libra won’t be useful for people with “virtually no money” <a href="https://t.co/eF4Ad5wW9W">pic.twitter.com/eF4Ad5wW9W</a>
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1187116317486305280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
The most cringeworthy portion of the hearing belonged to Ocasio-Cortez, whose arrogance and desire for censoring her opponents was on full display.
Ocasio-Cortez suggested that she wanted to take advantage of the fact that Facebook tries to not censor political speech from politicians by intentionally lying in her campaign ads, specifically wanting to falsely claim that Republicans supported her <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/green-new-deal-would-cost-93-trillion-or-600g-per-household-study-says">$93 trillion</a> Green New Deal.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) gets nasty with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg
AOC&#8217;s arrogance here is absolutely embarrassing <a href="https://t.co/gVTURgvzlk">pic.twitter.com/gVTURgvzlk</a>
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1187104024337629184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
Ocasio-Cortez then leveled bogus attacks against The Daily Caller, a conservative publication that has been critical of Ocasio-Cortez&#8217;s often flawed ideas and has often called out her false statements and highlighted corruption that involves her.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a> attacks Zuckerberg for the <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyCaller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DailyCaller</a> having a role in fact checking. She says the news outlet “has ties to white supremacists.” <a href="https://t.co/wRe74ixjZP">pic.twitter.com/wRe74ixjZP</a>
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1187090234145759242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
Ocasio-Cortez claimed that The Daily Caller “has ties to white supremacists,” a claim that drew quick response from the leadership at The Daily Caller.
&#8220;Those accusations are rich coming from the leader of the most openly anti-Semitic freshman Congress in modern American history,&#8221; Daily Caller Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Ingersoll told The Daily Wire. &#8220;Ocasio-Cortez herself employed a staffer who <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/aocs-chief-of-staff-worships-a-servant-of-nazism-and-imperial-japan">lionized Nazis collaborators</a>. Maybe she should spend more time cleaning her room and making her bed before she goes to work.&#8221;
&#8220;Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez’s call for censorship is typical coming from a party hellbent on annihilating opposing views, in this case one of the only groups of journalists aggressively reporting on her,&#8221; Ingersoll added.
In a tweet, The Daily Caller wrote: &#8220;Ooh did our reporting on her campaign finance shenanigans get under her skin?&#8221;
The tweet linked to a <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2019/03/04/ocasio-cortez-justice-democrats/">report</a> by investigative reporter Andrew Kerr titled, &#8220;Ocasio-Cortez And Her Chief Of Staff ‘Could Be Facing Jail Time’ If Their Control Over PAC Was Intentionally Hidden, Former FEC Commissioner Says.&#8221;
The Daily Caller issued a statement on Ocasio-Cortez&#8217;s remarks from publisher Neil Patel.
&#8220;Our reporting has directly contributed to putting four members of the &#8216;alt-right&#8217; in prison and sending two more on the run, at great personal risk to our reporters on the ground,&#8221; Patel wrote. &#8220;And as a minority-owned and minority-run news company with a diverse staff — including many African-American, Jewish, Asian, and other minority employees — any allegation that our company is in league with white supremacy is offensive.&#8221;
&#8220;We have denounced white supremacy in the past and are happy to do so again,&#8221; Patel continued. &#8220;We share nothing with them and they aren&#8217;t welcome at our company. For a sitting member of Congress to knowingly repeat such spurious allegations — especially during these polarized, violent times — is not just despicable, it endangers our staff.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a>’s statement is dangerous on a fundamental level, not just because it is inaccurate and damaging.
I have a diverse staff — in politics, race, and creed — and when lunatics roaming the streets think its okay to get violent, this kind of allegation puts my reporters at risk. <a href="https://t.co/W3tNY7Ivkz">https://t.co/W3tNY7Ivkz</a>
— Geoffrey Ingersoll (@GPIngersoll) <a href="https://twitter.com/GPIngersoll/status/1187179990636519425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
Ocasio-Cortez&#8217;s attacks on Zuckerberg predictably earned the strongest negative reaction online.
Dave Rubin <a href="https://twitter.com/RubinReport/status/1187137659140890624">tweeted</a>: &#8220;She’s absolutely awful. Zuckerberg tries to calmly explain that allowing people to decide for themselves is sometimes what’s right. That’s foreign to progressive groupthink.&#8221;
Tim Pool <a href="https://twitter.com/Timcast/status/1187140327922130945">tweeted</a>: &#8220;AOC just proved exactly why Mark Zuckerberg is right to not police truthfulness of political speech Poynter runs the fact checking approval for Facebook, she is wrong and is smearing the Daily Caller Should Facebook ban AOC from saying this on FB?&#8221;
Guy Benson <a href="https://twitter.com/guypbenson/status/1187134342700687360">tweeted</a>: &#8220;Can confirm: White supremacy was not joked about, made light of, espoused, or even mentioned at the &#8216;far right&#8217; / Zuckerberg dinner party I attended. What a performance she put on.&#8221;
Allie Beth Stuckey <a href="https://twitter.com/conservmillen/status/1187113825860046848">tweeted</a>: &#8220;My gosh. @AOC tries very hard to seem fierce and operates solely out of a desire for viral clips. These questions are not at all interesting or clever, and she is cringefully arrogant.&#8221;

Mark Zuckerberg

Ocasio-Cortez, Democrats Skewered After Embarrassing Attacks On Zuckerberg

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Facebook

Amid a brewing controversy over her affiliation with the PAC that helped get her elected, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) and her chief of staff were officially de-listed from the Justice Democrats&#8217; board on Friday.
The &#8220;quiet&#8221; removal of Ocasio-Cortez from the board was first reported by <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2019/03/18/ocasio-cortez-justice-democrats-pac/">The Daily Caller</a>&#8216;s Andrew Kerr. The removal was made official in a <a href="https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Justice-Democrats-2019-Report.pdf">corporate filing</a> to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs on Friday.
Kerr provides some background on the congresswoman&#8217;s affiliation with the group: &#8220;The New York Democrat and her chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, who served as her campaign chair, joined the board of Justice Democrats in December 2017, according to the political action committee&#8217;s website. It also <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180710013817/justicedemocrats.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a> the two held &#8216;legal control over the entity&#8217; at the same time it was playing a key role in supporting Ocasio-Cortez&#8217;s campaign prior to her shock victory over incumbent Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in June 2018.&#8221;
Though the move was not officially documented until Friday, Ocasio-Cortez&#8217;s attorneys claim that she was removed from the board back in June 2018. However, as Kerr notes, as late as March 14, 2019, she was still listed in <a href="https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Justice-Democrats-Incorporation-Documents.pdf">corporate filings</a> as an &#8220;entity governor&#8221; of the group.
The PAC&#8217;s move comes amid mounting questions about her affiliation with the Justice Democrats and just days after a legal complaint filed by a Virginia-based conservative group, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ocasio-cortez-de-listed-from-board-of-justice-democrats-after-controversy">Fox News</a> notes in its coverage of the story. &#8220;The development is the latest in the controversy surrounding the left-wing firebrand&#8217;s campaign,&#8221; Fox reports. &#8220;Earlier this month, Ocasio-Cortez and Chakrabarti were accused in an FEC complaint of violating campaign finance law by funneling nearly $1 million in contributions from PACs, including Justice Democrats, to private companies also controlled by Chakrabarti.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ocasio-cortezs-millionaire-chief-of-staff-violated-fec-rules-to-hide-885g-fec-complaint-alleges">complaint</a>, filed by conservative National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) on March 4, alleges that Chakrabarti established two PACs &#8212; Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress PAC &#8212; which then transferred over $885,000 in contributions to two &#8220;shell&#8221; companies he controlled and that are exempt from reporting their significant expenditures to the FEC, thus potentially skirting campaign finance laws.
Ocasio-Cortez failed to disclose to the FEC that she and Chakrabarti maintained &#8220;legal control&#8221; over the PAC while it backed her campaign, Kerr reports. The allegations in the complaint are serious enough that a former FEC commissioner told The Daily Caller that Ocasio-Cortez and Chakrabarti could face severe repercussions, while another former FEC commissioner stated in a March 10 <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/ocasio-cortez-and-top-aide-should-be-investigated-for-possible-campaign-finance-violations">op-ed</a> for Fox that he believes there&#8217;s enough evidence to merit an investigation.
&#8220;As a former FEC commissioner who has studied the complaint against Ocasio-Cortez and Chakrabarti, I have concluded that there is unquestionably more than enough evidence to justify the FEC opening a civil investigation,&#8221; wrote former FEC Commissioner Hans A. von Spakovsky. &#8220;And there&#8217;s also enough evidence for the U.S. Justice Department to seriously consider opening a criminal investigation.&#8221;
&#8220;Federal law (52 U.S.C. §30104) and the pertinent FEC regulation (11 CFR §104.3(b)(4)) require any political committee &#8211; and both of these entities [the companies Chakrabarti controlled] would qualify &#8211; to provide itemized descriptions of all their expenditures over $200,&#8221; von Spakovsky explains. &#8220;Simply listing &#8216;strategic consulting&#8217; for almost $900,000 in disbursements to an organization that admits it was doing all of the administrative work of the campaign &#8211; including fundraising, campaign advertisements, organizing rallies and speaking events, and handling volunteers &#8211; certainly does not meet this requirement.&#8221;
<a href="http://dailycaller.com/2019/03/18/ocasio-cortez-justice-democrats-pac/">Read Kerr&#8217;s full report here</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/44599/ocasio-cortez-melts-down-amid-mockery-her-wells-james-barrett">Ocasio-Cortez Melts Down Amid Mockery Of Her Wells Fargo Questions</a>

Ocasio-Cortez De-Listed From Justice Democrats’ Board After Ethics Complaint

Special Counsel Robert Mueller hasn&#8217;t found any collusion (yet). The House Intelligence Committee found no collusion. The Senate Intelligence committee found no collusion. No reporter has been able to find collusion (though they&#8217;ve tried and failed many times). But Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who now chairs the House Intel committee, is convinced that he will find collusion by hiring prosecutor-turned-pundit Daniel Goldman.
Goldman <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/05/house-intelligence-daniel-goldman-1204140">was described</a> by Politico as &#8220;a seasoned former Southern District of New York federal prosecutor with experience going after Russian organized crime.&#8221; Schiff hired Goldman to lead all of his committee&#8217;s investigations into President Donald Trump (because Schiff is convinced he&#8217;ll find it if he leaves no stone unturned).
Goldman&#8217;s credentials are impressive, having taken down Russian mobsters and some in the Genovese crime family. But he has since become a legal analyst for MSNBC and NBC, and clearly believes in Trump&#8217;s wrongdoing. Asking him to lead a &#8220;professional investigation&#8221; when he clearly already has a particular outcome in mind is anything but professional.
&#8220;Under Chairman Schiff&#8217;s leadership, we intend to run a professional investigation designed to uncover the facts and the truth,&#8221; Goldman said of his hiring.
Schiff and other House Democrats are determined to investigate anything he can involving Trump. Politico notes that Schiff&#8217;s investigations are among other &#8220;probes targeting the president, his administration, his presidential campaign and his business empire.&#8221;
Democrats are still so upset they lost in 2016 they are willing to dig through Trump&#8217;s life to find something they can use against him. Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, led by chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/44153/democrats-really-are-going-subpoena-trumps-taxes-ashe-schow">will subpoena Trump&#8217;s personal tax returns</a>, hoping to find quick ammo against him. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, led by chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), will investigate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/44221/house-democrats-will-investigate-trump-obstruction-ashe-schow">whether Trump obstructed justice</a>.
Newsflash: The special counsel&#8217;s investigation is a counter-intelligence investigation that has found some criminal wrongdoing by former Trump officials. It is not actually a criminal investigation. Counter intelligence investigations <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/andrew-c-mccarthy-would-mueller-indict-trump-for-attempting-to-fire-mueller">are done for the president</a> (or, they&#8217;re supposed to be), so by definition he can&#8217;t obstruct them, as National Review&#8217;s Andy McCarthy has repeatedly written.
As The Daily Caller&#8217;s Chuck Ross <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2019/03/05/schiff-hires-msnbc-analyst/">reported</a>, Goldman&#8217;s prosecutorial chops have been diminished by his antipathy for Trump. Last December, Goldman whole-heartedly endorsed a McClatchy story that contained no evidence for its claims outside of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/44319/mcclatchy-still-standing-its-evidence-free-thinly-ashe-schow">&#8220;two sources familiar with the matter</a>.&#8221;
Schiff himself has lost all credibility when it comes to leading a &#8220;professional investigation.&#8221; Schiff, reportedly, routinely leaves closed-door hearings. Minutes after he leaves, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/44200/nagging-ethics-questions-regarding-democrat-house-ashe-schow">CNN breaks a story using leaks from the testimony</a>. It happened during Benghazi hearings and it happened when Donald Trump, Jr. testified behind closed doors. During former Trump attorney Michael Cohen&#8217;s testimony last week, Schiff left, and lo and behold, CNN had a scoop that Cohen provided documents that showed Trump&#8217;s lawyers changed his testimony, which Cohen gave in 2017 and which was false. CNN later had to <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2019/03/06/cnn-update-michael-cohen-story/">issue a major correction</a> to the report. Last year, one of these leaks led to another major error for CNN, when it claimed Don Jr. received early access to Wikileaks documents. The media outlet reported the email with the links was sent on Sept. 4, 2016, when it was clearly sent on Sep. 14, after the documents had already been released.

Adam Schiff Hires Prosecutor-Turned-Pundit Who Believes Trump Colluded With Russia To Investigate If Trump Colluded With Russia

Adam Schiff

Donald Trump

MSNBC

Russia

Last year, McClatchy published two articles claiming that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen went to Prague in 2016 to allegedly pay Russia-linked hackers for stolen Democrat emails. Neither article provided any solid evidence for this claim, outside of &#8220;two sources familiar with the matter.&#8221;
No other media outlet was able to independently confirm the report, and last Wednesday, Cohen testified under oath that he has never been to Prague or the Czech Republic.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve never been to Prague,&#8221; Cohen said at the congressional hearing. &#8220;I&#8217;ve never been to the Czech Republic.&#8221;
Now, Cohen has lied under oath before, and he is going to jail in part for that reason. But he has also never wavered in his denial that he was in Prague, as McClatchy reported.
Chuck Ross of The Daily Caller <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2019/03/05/mcclatchy-michael-cohen-prague/">reached out to McClatchy on Tuesday</a> to ask if the outlet still stood by its reporting given Cohen&#8217;s testimony.
&#8220;We stand behind our reporting,&#8221; the outlet&#8217;s spokeswoman Jeanne Segal said.
Ross <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2018/04/16/michael-cohen-prague-meeting/">previously had received</a> a statement from Robert Mueller&#8217;s office regarding media claims of what the special counsel was investigating.
&#8220;What I have been telling all reporters is that many stories about our investigation have been inaccurate. Be very cautious about any source that claims to have knowledge about our investigation and dig deep into what they claim before reporting on it,&#8221; the spokesperson told Ross. &#8220;If another outlet reports something, don&#8217;t run with it unless you have your own sourcing to back it up.&#8221;
But instead of following the spokesperson&#8217;s advice, other outlets re-reported the McClatchy story for clicks. The Washington Post, <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/16/fbi-cia-doubted-dossier/">according to one of its reporters</a>, &#8220;sent reporters through every hotel in Prague, through all over the place, just to try to figure out if he was ever there, and came away empty.&#8221; As I reported previously, the Post <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/39979/emails-reveal-media-outlet-ran-non-story-designed-ashe-schow">never ran an article</a> about this information.
McClatchy&#8217;s first article on the Cohen-Prague claim <a href="https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article208870264.html">was published in April</a> 2018 as a way to bolster the dossier compiled on President Donald Trump by ex-British spy Christopher Steele. It said so right in the title: &#8220;Sources: Mueller has evidence Cohen was in Prague in 2016, confirming part of dossier.&#8221;
The second article was published on December 27, 2018, claiming Mueller had evidence that Cohen&#8217;s cell phone &#8220;pinged&#8221; in the &#8220;Prague area in late summer 2016.&#8221; The same McClatchy reporters who posted the first Cohen-Prague story published the second and admitted they had not seen the electronic record that would prove their story.
As I wrote previously, this aspect of the Steele dossier should have been the easiest to prove. Cohen has provided photos of his passport showing no trip to Prague, Washington Post reporters couldn&#8217;t find a single hotel where he would have stayed, and the only &#8220;evidence&#8221; we have this occurred are two anonymous sources.
Cohen may not be an upstanding citizen, but he has repeatedly denied this claim and no one has been able to produce evidence supporting what should be an easy claim to support. But it doesn&#8217;t matter, McClatchy got its clicks and can fall back on the notion that no one has disproven their article with evidence. That&#8217;s what passes for journalism these days, throwing out a wild claim with no evidence and hoping no one will or can dispute it.

McClatchy Still Standing By Its Evidence-Free, Thinly Sourced Claim Michael Cohen Was In Prague

Media Bias

Michael Cohen

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