Bringing you the news worth mentioning, from a variety of sources
News for 1 July 2019 through 31 December 2019 - Click here for current news.
Don't miss News Sources Worth Mentioning at left.
Don't miss Political Commentary Worth Considering at right.
Illinois loses population for 6th straight year
— and it lost more residents than any state this decade
Democrats search for ways to retake the courts
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun
Biggest military pay raise in years takes effect Jan. 1
Ex-NFL star predicts 'black awakening' will give Trump unprecedented support in 2020
U.S. rolls back standards on energy saving light bulbs
Twitter Admits to Removing Pro-Trump Twitter Accounts After Trump Tweeted Them!
Also
see the news about Twitter CENSORSHIP here.
PRISM - the NSA's surveillance program
Trump deserves credit for strong economy
– ‘expert’ predictions of disaster were all wrong
Global stock markets gained $17 trillion in value in 2019
Democrats claim most Americans don’t benefit from booming Trump economy
– But voters know they do
Trump's stock rally far outpaces those of past presidents
Trump’s 2020 campaign created a website offering talking points
for debating ‘that liberal snowflake relative’ over the holidays
Pelosi's 'game' of withholding impeachment articles
'is being exposed as not having much to stand on'
Trump is remaking the federal judiciary
187 Federal judges for Trump - one in every four
"It is not one party or the other that benefits when our federal courts consist of men and women who understand that a judge’s job is to follow the law, not to make the law."
Boeing capsule returns to Earth after aborted space mission
China slave smuggles plea for help into Christmas card
Mexico danger map updated as US warns of 'widespread' crime
amid rise in murders, kidnappings, carjackings and robberies
California growth slowest since 1900
Pelosi stalls - impeachment not impeachment yet
and trying to tell the Senate how to operate - unconstitutional!
UK lawmakers pass Johnson's Brexit bill, pave way to EU exit
Lawmakers voted by 358 to 234 pass the second reading of the legislation, underlining Johnson’s large majority in parliament that should ensure a smooth ratification of the divorce deal to implement Britain’s biggest policy shift in more than 40 years.
Boeing's Starliner launch malfunctions en route to International Space Station
401(k) changes part of bipartisan bill heading to Trump's desk
Thought for the Day:
McConnell rips Pelosi for impeachment delay,
says Dems 'afraid' to transmit 'shoddy' articles
"a toxic new precedent that will echo well into the future"
"Democrats were pursuing an outcome they have preordained
before Trump was even sworn into office."
A Dozen Mystery Objects Suddenly Popped Out Of Hangars
At Tonopah Test Range Airport
Dow gains 10,000th point since Trump's election
The stock market has been unstoppable under the influence of President Trump.
Read why: Politics Trumps Economics.
"You should be wearing the prison uniform,"
said former Congressman Trey Gowdy to former FBI director Comey
'Could it be years in jail?'
President Trump asks after Comey admits he was wrong on FISA conduct
Dem Rep Schiff admits FBI committed 'very serious abuses of FISA'
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) conceded a federal law enforcement agency committed a major abuse of power while monitoring a campaign adviser to a presidential candidate back in 2016, admits the FBI made an error of judgment when it repeatedly extended 90-day search warrants through the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in order to conduct surveillance on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign adviser, Carter Page. "The inspector general found serious abuses of FISA."
China is not as strong as it seems
China flaunts common trade practices, steals technological secrets on a huge scale and spies outrageously. China suffers from a number of economic vulnerabilities and weaknesses it has little chance of returning to its former, stellar rates of economic growth. Particularly in light of its trade war with the United States, its dependence on exports and its top-down approach to economic management will become increasingly ineffective. Its failure in Hong Kong will further limit the country’s economic potential by choking off the conduit for much of its investment capital. Many financial firms have already begun to transfer their operations to Singapore. China’s aging demographics will constrain growth and cause financial strains.
Four percent to be purged from Georgia's voter rolls
See exciting photos of America's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford!
Libya's civil war continues - Fighting has raged on around the country's capital city of Tripoli between forces loyal to the two main competing governments. The eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) has continued to consolidate footholds around the capital, but still hasn't managed to turn the tables enough to capture the city itself from the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). Meanwhile, forces of the so-called "Islamic State" (formerly ISIS/ISIL) are still present in the Libyan desert despite the death of their organization's leader in Syria.
Obama Wanted To Know Everything His Trump Spies Were Doing,
And It Looks Like He Did
The Sept. 2, 2016, text message from Lisa Page to her paramour Peter Strzok saying “POTUS wants to know everything we are doing.”
Read more
here.
IG report is a big, big problem for CNN, others
– They are exposed as liars and know-nothings
Porch pirates get boxed-up trash - for the third time
UK’s Johnson claims Brexit mandate as Tories secure majority
Boris Johnson vows to resolve Brexit by Jan 31,
European markets hit record high after Conservative sweep
Shattered dreams of global far-left revolution - Tyranny Begone!
Corbyn's bloodbath defeat in UK election sends 'catastrophic warning' to 2020 Dems
"Even a populist incumbent as irreverent and contentious as Johnson could ride to victory when the alternative is an equally controversial leftist vowing massive government expansion.
The election result "hands the Conservatives their biggest majority since the days of Margaret Thatcher and marks the worst showing for Labour since the 1930s. [...] Corbyn had taken over the party leadership in 2015 and dragged it to the left in a rejection of the kind of centrism embodied by three-term Prime Minister Tony Blair."
MSNBC host Chris Hayes pointed out that Corbyn is running in a way that many Democrats would like to see. “One thing you can’t say about the Corbyn campaign was that he was ‘Tory lite’ or too neoliberal or too establishment. He ran unabashedly from the left in a way many leftists want Democrats to run here in the U.S.," he tweeted.
McConnell says 'zero chance' Trump is removed,
'one or two Democrats' could vote to acquit
Nancy Pelosi seems to be rejecting impeachment 'like a bad organ transplant'
Some moderate Democrats expected to defect when full House votes on impeachment
"I don't see anything there worthy of actually taking a president out of office. I'm concerned about splitting our nation apart."
— U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, D-N.J.
FBI Uncovers New Clinton Emails - turned over to the State Department for review
The FBI uncovered 72,000 pages of documents Clinton attempted to delete or did not otherwise disclose.
Hunter Biden wants his financial records kept secret in paternity suit with DC stripper
Companies are sick of "moving to China and having them steal our goods"
Trump secures 50th appellate court appointment, with another 9th Circuit judge confirmed
"The president has nominated a highly qualified and experienced individual, committed to supporting and defending the Constitution – rather than seeking to legislate from the bench."
The Senate confirmed Lawrence VanDyke to the Ninth Circuit, marking President Trump's 50th appellate court and 2nd Ninth Circuit appointment. Judge VanDyke is an NRA member and a strong protector of the Second Amendment.
"Generations from now, Americans will know that Mitch McConnell helped save the constitutional rule of law in America -- it's true," Trump said.
Bombshell: FBI Caught Altering Evidence To Link Trump Campaign With Russia
Inconvenient Truths:
British PM seeks Brexit breakthrough as polls tighten
When the villain is Obama, not Trump, news suddenly becomes not worth reporting
FBI told FISA court Steele wasn't source of report used to justify surveilling Trump team
Schiff's report is 100% empty when it comes to evidence
Trump impeachment hearing becomes a shouting match
Read the IG report on the FBI's surveillance of the Trump campaign
CNN's ratings plummet to embarrassing multi-year record lows amid impeachment focus
China's library officials are burning books that diverge from Communist ideology
Thoughts for the Day
Obama says his White House 'didn't have a scandal that embarrassed us' 
|
And they don't care if they tear the country apart. All each Democrat wants is to be the dictator in total control of his splinter of the once-great country. |
Democrats have tried to impeach every elected GOP President since Eisenhower
Two weeks before the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton tweeted, "Donald Trump refused to say that he’d respect the results of this election. By doing that, he’s threatening our democracy." As a Democrat she should know something about not respecting election results.
Enjoy this video of the Clydesdales.
Obamas pay $11.75M for Martha’s Vineyard home on nearly 30 acres: report
Obamas worth $135 million
US to stiffen work rules for food stamps
"The Trump administration is tightening work requirements for food stamps eligibility for able-bodied adults without children, a move that could push almost 700,000 people from the program while saving $5.5 billion over five years. The food stamp program was meant to provide 'assistance through difficult times, not a way of life.'"
Germany's Merkel claims freedom of speech must be limited to maintain a free society
... another nail in the coffin of freedom in Germany
Supreme Court to take up first gun rights case in nearly a decade
After Florida county becomes '2nd Amendment sanctuary,'
others in state want to follow suit
"The Second Amendment is the one that protects everything else. This is a right that we have that distinguishes us from almost every country on the globe."
China Financial Warning Signs Are Flashing Almost Everywhere
Beijing threats over bill supporting Hong Kong ’laughable,’ China expert says
Hong Kong sings "O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!"
New York Times columnist’s Republican brother pens column blasting 2020 Dems, praising Trump
See her brother's column here
Lifelong Democrat billionaire says 2020 election is Trump's to lose
How Trump’s Thanksgiving Afghanistan trip was kept under wraps amid extreme security
"There's nowhere I'd rather celebrate Thanksgiving than with the best and bravest warriors on this earth."
Rebranding "climate change" to scare you
Climate change remains a political issue - to control you - not a scientific issue
Meanwhile, San Francisco ties all-time low temperature for this date
President Trump's Judiciary - defenders of the Constitution!
New Benghazi Documents Confirm Clinton Email Cover-Up
Newly Elected Councilors Step Up Challenge to Hong Kong Leaders, Beijing
Hong Kong Election Landslide Signals More Frictions With Beijing
The city’s Beijing-backed establishment camp suffered a staggering defeat in elections. Democracy supporters were emboldened by capturing most of the seats in local elections, but Beijing and its allies are reluctant to compromise.
In Hong Kong elections, big defeat for elites pressures Beijing to rethink approach
Hong Kong elections: Carrie Lam promises 'open mind' after election rout
What is Hong Kong's political unrest about?
Hong Kong, once a British colony, is part of China, but it has some autonomy and people have more rights than on the mainland
That special status is set to expire in 2047, and many in Hong Kong do not want to become "another Chinese city".
The current protests started in June against a planned law which would have cleared the way for criminal suspects to be extradited to the mainland. Many feared this would undermine the city's freedoms or be used to silence anti-Beijing voices.
The bill was withdrawn in September, but demonstrations continued.
Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers with bows and arrows or throwing petrol bombs.
The demands of the protesters, mostly young people, have expanded to include genuine universal suffrage and an inquiry into allegations of police brutality.
Analysis: Hong Kong election shows desire for change
US Senate unanimously passes Hong Kong rights and democracy bill
Election 2020
Dems’ doomsday scenario: Could anxious moderates scuttle impeachment push?
Top Democratic strategist pleads with party to abandon impeachment
Transparently a Democrat witch-hunt ...
Regretful Democrats locked into Trump impeachment – and paying a price for it
California's Restrictive Gun Laws Still Can't Prevent Shootings
Instead of reducing the dangers posed by criminals, California's gun restrictions have increased the threat posed to decent people by the law itself.
America's Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement Is Alive and Well
Horowitz reportedly finds FBI lawyer falsified FISA doc;
WaPo stealth-deletes Strzok connection
Founding Fathers had 'grave concerns' House would go 'rogue' with impeachment
Donald Trump Jr. hits media for hypocrisy
Mueller probe led to eye-opening revelation about Dems
Democrats 'used' Robert Mueller to try to damage the president
"They're trying to, you know, reverse the results of an election that they didn't agree with, though the American people obviously agreed"
President Trump has "shown conservatives that you can actually fight back. You don't just have to turn the other cheek. We've done that for 50 years and all we've done to cede ground to the lunatic fringe of the left and their policies."
Nikki Haley reveals Tillerson, Kelly privately discussed resisting Trump:
'It was offensive'
Florida county first in state to enact 'Second Amendment Sanctuary' in support of gun rights
Trump wants Pelosi, Biden to be called as impeachment inquiry witnesses,
says he'll release second phone call transcript
US, China agree to roll back tariffs if phase one deal reached
Socialism guarantees failure and suffering – So why do so many Americans support it?
High-tax New York in 'death spiral,' Florida Sen. Rick Scott says
"What are these states thinking? If you keep raising taxes, what's going to happen to their citizens? They're moving." Florida has no statewide income tax or estate tax.
US added 128,000 jobs in October vs. 75,000 expected
The unemployment rate ticked higher to 3.6%, in line with estimates, but remains around the lowest in 50 years. [...] "This report is yet another sign that the economy is still strong right now and adds to a list of indicators that are looking optimistic of late."
Want to destroy the strong U.S. economy?
Elizabeth Warren's Medicare-for-all would do that.
She targets "the financial sector, large corporations, and the top 1 percent."
In other words, the people whose investments drive the U.S. economy.
Amazon's Jeff Bezos would pay nearly $7 billion to Elizabeth Warren's Medicare-for-all tax
But Medicare-for-all taxes would also hit the middle class.
"Senator Warren would place a new tax of nearly $9 trillion that will fall on American workers."
Trump impeachment vote is Democratic declaration of war
– Republicans must declare war on Dems
"If Democrats want to investigate phone calls, President Trump should release transcripts of calls by former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Biden with world leaders from countries such as Russia, Ukraine and Iran."
![](https://legalinsurrection.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/07-Baghdadi-LI-600.jpg")
Remember ObamaCare? "You have to vote for it to read it." - Nancy Pelosi
The people teaching our kids are the biggest threat to Americans' freedom.
FBI - Violent crime dropped in 2018
28 September 2019
Humor for the Day:
Herding cats
26 September 2019
Why the Hong Kong protesters keep marching
By their bravery, the people of Hong Kong are showing that man has two sides—economic and noneconomic—and that the noneconomic side is just as important as the economic. Hong Kong residents understand how precious their freedom is and how easily it can be lost. They are willing to risk everything to preserve it. The Hong Kong demonstrators are the tip of a giant iceberg: the Chinese people, who are no longer satisfied with just a "full rice" but seek basic human rights and some form of democracy.
Will "Red Flag" Laws Stop Suicide?
Rubio and other leftist Republicans: You should go to the other side. Join your totalitarian brothers and sisters in the Democratic Party who want simply to force everyone to hand over their guns. These leftists are MORE interested in forcing the peaceful to hand over their guns than they are about controlling criminals. They don’t care about crime. Most politicians are criminals themselves. They just want to be the winners in the criminal game. That’s the government too many of us have created for ourselves … in what started out as a land of liberty and individual rights! Shame on most of us for letting that happen. But let’s not intensify the evil by pretending that suicides will go down if we only hand over our guns.
The scandal in Washington no one is talking about
Controversy Flares Over F-35 Air Combat Report
America 'isolated' at UN? General Assembly breaking with US on most votes, report finds
The UN is so corrupt, so warped by bias, that it needs a disinfectant. It's met its match in Trump.
The U.N.'s founding principles of peace, freedom, and equal rights are universally hailed. But in practice, they have been subordinated to the U.N.'s own institutional power and interests.
Antifa members caught on camera harassing Portland police near climate rally
Decades of failed 'eco-predictions' more about politics than climate
"eco-pocalyptic predictions" have often been used to advance a political agenda
We’ve all heard of the Rorschach test - you know, the one where you look at an ink blot and say what you see. The theory is that it’s a tunnel into someone’s subconscious thoughts or desires. If you’re obsessed with hockey you might look at an ink splotch and see hockey sticks, or pucks, a Stanley Cup, or even Bobby Orr; if someone is obsessed with outer space, she could look at the same picture and see flying saucers or aliens.
These tests come to mind because lately, three dominant types of economic thought seem to analyze every data point and come to conclusions that always support their particular interpretation of the US economy.
One group is obsessed with President Trump’s tariffs, thinking they are slowing the economy. They even search the internet and earnings calls to find mentions of “trade uncertainty” to prove their point. But uncertainty is one thing, data are quite another. Total US trade in goods and services (exports plus imports, combined) was $4.9 trillion in 2016. In the past twelve months, it’s been $5.7 trillion, an increase of 14.5%. In other words, trade has grown faster than the overall economy.
Yes, we know trade tensions with China are real and important for some companies. And yes, we look forward to the US reaching an agreement with China. But the Middle Kingdom is not the be-all end-all when it comes to world trade. Supply chains are moving - trade is dynamic - which is why the costs to the US economy have been far less than static analysis predicted.
So far this year, US imports from China are down 12.3% from the same period in 2018, but imports from Vietnam are up 33.2%, and they are up 20.2% from Taiwan, 9.8% from South Korea, 9.7% from India, and 6.3% from Mexico. Meanwhile, we’re confident that Congress will pass the new version of NAFTA by early 2020, facilitating stronger trade ties with Canada and Mexico. Trade is moving forward, not dying.
The second major thought group consists of those who oppose the president’s policies in general and are looking for any way they can to discredit the tax cuts and deregulation. They love to focus on supposedly weak business investment, which they say signals the ineffectiveness of the president’s policies.
The problem with this theory is that, since the tax cut was enacted at the end of 2017, “real” (inflation-adjusted) business investment in equipment has grown at a 3.4% annual rate, while real business fixed investment (equipment, structures, and intellectual property) has grown at a 4.5% annual rate. These are respectable numbers. It was inventories that held down GDP growth back in Q2, and this can’t last with a strong consumer.
Moreover, productivity growth (the growth in worker output per hour) has accelerated, growing at a 1.7% annualized rate since the start of 2018 (and up at a faster 2.9% annualized rate so far in 2019), versus a 0.9% annualized rate for the four years ending in 2016.
The last of the three thought groups have been obsessing about the next recession since the moment the last one ended. Any day now they expect the “sugar high” to end.
They celebrated when the ISM Manufacturing index dropped to 49.1 last week, but then the ISM index for the much larger service sector surprised on the high side at 56.4. For every data point that signals a slowdown, there are nine that don’t.
For example, a soft 130,000 gain in headline payroll growth for August dominated headlines, but civilian employment (which includes small business) surged 590,000, wage growth picked up, labor force participation moved higher, initial claims remained low, and auto and truck sales rose. Not exactly negative news.
If someone has an axe to grind about the US economy, we’re sure they’ll see a recession in whatever blot or piece of data they look at. They can always find something to worry about. Nonetheless, we continue to believe that optimism should be the default position for investors when it comes to the US.
Brian S. Wesbury - Chief Economist
Robert Stein, CFA – Deputy Chief Economist
The Left Is NOT About Liberalism. It’s About De-Civilization.
It's easier to be a dictator over ignorant, illiterate hordes.
... and buys a $15M estate.
So every morning in 1st period they do the pledge. I am the only one in my first period class to stand and to put my hand over my heart. It's sad and it makes me mad and irritates the crap out of me. Such disrespect to our country and the people that have served and lost their life in battle for us to have freedom. I will continue to stand because I love this country and I respect it, our flag, the pledge, and all the men and women who are veterans, active duty. And the fallen ones. I am forever thankful. If I was allowed I'd be going into the Air Force which is a dream but it won't happen. Anyway I'm done with my rant. #OnenationunderGOD
-- a 12th-grader named Hope
