| Republicans can't be stopped from confirming Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Senate Democrat says Posted: 22 Sep 2020 03:41 PM PDT  Senator Sheldon Whitehouse tells "Skullduggery" Democrats do not have the votes to stop the Republicans from confirming Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's replacement. It could happen before the election.
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| Stranger tries to snatch child from moving SUV outside Costco, California cops say Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:09 AM PDT  "I'd do anything I could to stop him because that's the worst nightmare."
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| Real estate tycoon and critic of China's President Xi Jinping jailed for 18 years Posted: 21 Sep 2020 08:56 PM PDT  The former chairman of a state-owned real estate company who publicly criticised President Xi Jinping's handling of the coronavirus pandemic was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday on corruption charges, a court announced. Ren Zhiqiang, who became known for speaking up about censorship and other sensitive topics, disappeared from public view in March after publishing an essay online that accused Mr Xi of mishandling the outbreak that began in December in the central city of Wuhan. Mr Xi, party leader since 2012, has suppressed criticism, tightened censorship and cracked down on unofficial organisations. Dozens of journalists, labour and human rights activists and others have been imprisoned. Mr Ren, 69, was convicted of corruption, bribery, embezzlement of public funds and abuse of power, the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court announced on its social media account. It cited Mr Ren as saying he wouldn't appeal. The former chairman and deputy party secretary of Huayuan Group was expelled from the ruling party in July. In a commentary that circulated on social media, Mr Ren criticised a Feb. 23 video conference with 170,000 officials held early in the pandemic at which Mr Xi announced orders for responding to the disease. Mr Ren didn't mention Mr Xi's name but said, "standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes but a clown who had stripped off his clothes and insisted on being an emperor". Mr Ren criticised propaganda that portrayed Mr Xi and other leaders as rescuing China from the disease without mentioning where it began and possible mistakes including suppressing information at the start of the outbreak. "People did not see any criticism at the conference. It didn't investigate and disclose the truth," Mr Ren wrote, according to a copy published by China Digital Times, a website in California. "No one reviewed or took responsibility. But they are trying to cover up the truth with all kinds of great achievements." Mr Ren had an early military career and his parents were both former high officials in the Communist party. Some called him a princeling, a term for offspring of the founders of the communist government, a group that includes Mr Xi. He appeared to have crossed a political line by criticising Mr Xi's personal leadership.
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| Anthony Bottom: Man convicted in killing of two police officers in 1971 is granted parole Posted: 23 Sep 2020 03:09 PM PDT  'He has completely changed, transformed his life and helped an entire generation transform their lives,' says former inmate Jose Saldana
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| Only in Arizona: Bobcats clinging to a saguaro cactus caught on camera Posted: 22 Sep 2020 08:04 AM PDT  "At first, obviously, it was exciting to see them but then I kind of realized, 'Oh they're up there for a reason,' " Mindy King said.
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| Volkswagen's Tesla competitor is finally here: Meet the ID.4, a cheaper alternative to the Model Y designed to sell against America's most popular cars Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:15 AM PDT  The German automaker is all-in on making an affordable, fully-electric car — and admits it's following Tesla's lead on design and sales.
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| Conjoined twins are successfully separated after being locked in embrace Posted: 23 Sep 2020 12:28 PM PDT  Amelia and Sarabeth Irwin were born attached at the chest and upper abdomen in June 2019. Luckily, the conjoined twins did not share a heart.
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| China 'coercing' thousands of Tibetans into mass labour camps - report Posted: 23 Sep 2020 01:54 AM PDT  Researchers warn the "militarised vocational training" can lead to a loss of cultural heritage.
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| House passes temporary funding bill, averting shutdown Posted: 23 Sep 2020 03:27 AM PDT  The House on Tuesday night passed a sweeping bipartisan funding bill, averting a government shutdown.
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| The Trump campaign is reportedly 'discussing contingency plans to bypass election results' Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:31 AM PDT  President Trump's campaign is discussing "contingency plans" that would involve bypassing the result of November's election, reports The Atlantic.The report delves into possible scenarios if Trump apparently loses the 2020 presidential election but doesn't concede, noting that although we're used to electors being selected based on the popular vote, "nothing in the Constitution says it has to be that way." Citing Republican Party sources, The Atlantic says that Trump's campaign is "discussing contingency plans to bypass election results and appoint loyal electors in battleground states where Republicans hold the legislative majority."The campaign would reportedly assert that this step was necessary due to claims of supposed voter fraud, which experts have noted is extraordinarily rare, ahead of the "safe harbor" deadline to appoint 538 electors on Dec. 8."Trump would ask state legislators to set aside the popular vote and exercise their power to choose a slate of electors directly," The Atlantic reports. "The longer Trump succeeds in keeping the vote count in doubt, the more pressure legislators will feel to act before the safe-harbor deadline expires."A Trump campaign legal adviser who spoke to The Atlantic said that in this scenario, "the state legislatures will say, 'All right, we've been given this constitutional power. We don't think the results of our own state are accurate, so here's our slate of electors that we think properly reflect the results of our state." Lawrence Tabas, chair of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, also told The Atlantic he has discussed the direct appointment of electors with the Trump campaign, saying, "I've mentioned it to them, and I hope they're thinking about it too." The Trump campaign said it is "fighting for a free and fair election."This potential scenario is just one part of the broader piece in which experts warn "conditions are ripe for a constitutional crisis." Read more at The Atlantic.More stories from theweek.com America needs to hear the bad news first A mild defense of Republican hypocrisy on the Supreme Court Trump is the only one being honest about the Supreme Court fight
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| Joe Biden is already being cagey about expanding the Supreme Court Posted: 22 Sep 2020 11:21 PM PDT  Biden refuses to say whether he'd expand the Supreme Court if he wins
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| Operation Warp Speed advisers held investments in COVID vaccine firms, records show Posted: 22 Sep 2020 02:27 PM PDT  Former pharmaceutical officials now guiding White House vaccine efforts held stocks, raising questions on conflict of interest
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| Pakistan sentences 2 to death for deadly 2012 factory fire Posted: 22 Sep 2020 06:48 AM PDT |
| How to watch as an asteroid zooms close to Earth this week Posted: 22 Sep 2020 02:20 PM PDT  An asteroid is passing extremely close to Earth this week — and skywatchers have a chance to spot it.
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| Former Fox News Regular Joe diGenova Claims Network Is Beholden to George Soros Posted: 23 Sep 2020 10:22 AM PDT  Long-time Trump ally and former Fox News regular Joe diGenova lashed out at the conservative-leaning network on Wednesday, claiming Fox News "fears George Soros" and wondering aloud what the liberal philanthropist "has on" Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott.For more than a week now, right-wing media outlets and pro-Trump pundits have railed against Fox News for an on-air segment that featured multiple hosts shutting down Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich just as he began a conspiratorial rant against Soros—who has long been the target of anti-Semitic tropes from the right. After Gingrich asked if the topic was "verboten," the discussion ended in a long awkward silence.Amid a growing backlash from conservatives—who felt Gingrich was being silenced from criticizing a right-wing bogeyman—Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner later issued an on-air apology for the segment, describing the former speaker as "beloved" and "needed to be allowed to speak." Gingrich, meanwhile, authored an op-ed complaining that he was the victim of a "Soros cover-up."DiGenova, who has been absent from Fox airwaves for nearly a year after baselessly accusing Soros of controlling the State Department, appeared on former Fox News contributor Sebastian Gorka's radio program on Wednesday to claim Fox is in the pocket of the liberal billionaire. (Gorka, a one-time Trump assistant, continues to make frequent guest spots on Fox Business Network.)> Banned Fox News guest and right-wing attorney Joe DiGenova and Seb Gorka are going all in, alleging that "Fox News fears George Soros, " while further theorizing about what Soros "has on" Fox CEO Suzanne Scott. pic.twitter.com/gWEI8nHBws> > — Zachary Petrizzo (@ZTPetrizzo) September 23, 2020Alongside his wife Victoria Toensing—both have served as attorneys for President Donald Trump—diGenova argued that Faulkner personally owed Gingrich an apology for interrupting his anti-Soros tirade, adding that she "didn't correct the record" and acknowledge that Soros has funded local district attorney races. (Gingrich alleged that "George Soros-elected, left-wing, anti-police, pro-criminal district attorneys who refuse to keep people locked up" was the main cause of violence at protests.)"Let me just tell you something: Fox fears George Soros," diGenova exclaimed. "I don't know what it is, I don't know what George Soros has on Suzanne Scott—the head of Fox—but the bottom line is this: that network is compromised when it comes to Soros!"At the same time, the Trump-boosting attorney applauded Fox News star Tucker Carlson's recent anti-Soros monologues, saying the far-right host is "strong enough" to do it while lamenting others will not."But there are other nighttime hosts who will not touch Soros," he concluded. "They've been told not to. I don't know why they won't do it. It's unbelievable!"Fox News came under fire last year from several Jewish organizations after diGenova said on Lou Dobbs' show that Soros "controls a very large part" of the State Department and has "corrupted FBI officials," dabbling in the right-wing trope that the Jewish billionaire was a political puppeteer.Several groups called on Fox to explicitly ban diGenova from its airwaves and issue a public apology, citing the network's decision to bar a previous guest for similar remarks. While the network never publicly declared that diGenova was no longer welcome, he hasn't appeared on air since late last year.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Kenosha protesters who say they were assaulted by right wing militias are suing Facebook for hosting a 'Kenosha Guard' page Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:53 AM PDT  The lawsuit challenges the precedent of Section 230, a federal law that shields platforms like Facebook from being held liable for users' posts.
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| Great power competition heats up in the thawing Arctic, and the US must respond Posted: 23 Sep 2020 07:53 AM PDT  Russia and China have been busy in a rapidly changing Arctic, and America seems to have barely noticed.
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| Marines' 1st-Ever Littoral Regiment Will Include Combat, Logistics and Anti-Air Personnel Posted: 22 Sep 2020 12:42 PM PDT  Plans are moving ahead to form the first-ever Marine littoral regiment, or MLR.
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| Pence calls 200,000 Covid deaths a ‘heartbreaking milestone’ but says things could’ve been worse Posted: 22 Sep 2020 03:17 PM PDT  The vice president praised President Donald Trump for what he said was early action of "putting the health of America first."
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| I Was Just Denied Clemency in the State of Florida. I'm One of Many People With Past Convictions Living Without My Full Civil Rights Posted: 23 Sep 2020 10:32 AM PDT  Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, holds a news conference in front of the Orange County Supervisor of Elections, on Jan. 7, 2019, in Orlando. In a cruel twist, they can't even inform people of the amounts they owe since there is no comprehensive database of fines and fees.
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| ‘Super pigs’ can have piglets at only 3 months old. They’re terrorizing US, experts say Posted: 22 Sep 2020 05:10 PM PDT  "I've heard it referred to as a feral swine bomb," one expert said.
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| Black attorney general chokes up during Taylor announcement Posted: 23 Sep 2020 01:01 PM PDT  Kentucky's Black attorney general choked up Wednesday when explaining why a grand jury didn't seek criminal charges against police officers for Breonna Taylor's death — but his sympathetic words fell on many deaf ears. A grand jury indicted fired Officer Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment for shooting into a home next to Taylor's after police entered her house on March 13. Attorney General Daniel Cameron cited his own family in seeking to convey that he understood some people in Louisville and across the country would be angry at the jury's decision Wednesday.
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| First people to get COVID-19 vaccinations also will get daily health check-in text messages from the CDC Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:24 AM PDT  The first people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will get daily email and text messages asking how they're feeling to track possible adverse reactions.
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| Louisiana trooper who faced firing in Black man's death dies in crash Posted: 22 Sep 2020 05:15 PM PDT  A Louisiana state trooper died following a single-vehicle highway crash that happened hours after he learned he would be fired for his role last year in the in-custody death of a Black man.
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| Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny mocked Putin for suggesting that he poisoned himself Posted: 23 Sep 2020 11:08 AM PDT  Putin's critics and opponents have routinely been poisoned and some have been killed. Navalny is seemingly the latest victim.
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| Republicans to ask Supreme Court to curb mail-in voting in Pennsylvania as first key post-RBG decision Posted: 22 Sep 2020 01:45 PM PDT  State court ruled with Democrats to allow election officials to count mail-in ballots that arrive up to three days after Election Day
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| Civil lawsuits filed over COVID-19 outbreak at Austrian ski resort Ischgl Posted: 23 Sep 2020 01:24 AM PDT  A consumer rights group said on Wednesday it had filed civil lawsuits against the Austrian government over a coronavirus outbreak at the ski resort of Ischgl last winter, but it held off on a class-action suit for the time being. The outbreak at Ischgl, known as the "Ibiza of the Alps", was Austria's biggest and helped spread the virus across Europe. Hundreds of Austrians were infected and thousands of foreign tourists say they were too as the virus found a breeding ground in crowded apres-ski bars.
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| Bolton allegedly tried to share details of Trump's Ukraine dealings during impeachment, but the White House stopped him Posted: 23 Sep 2020 06:54 AM PDT  Former National Security Adviser John Bolton reportedly tried to do his part during President Trump's impeachment hearings.Bolton famously refused to testify during Trump's impeachment trial regarding the president's alleged quid pro quo with Ukraine, only confirming the deal months after the fact. But Bolton apparently did try to divulge some details from his book regarding Trump's Ukraine dealings — the White House just wouldn't let him, an official overseeing Bolton's book's prepublication review said in a Wednesday court filing.Ellen Knight, a career federal official formerly overseeing the National Security Council's records, was tasked with reviewing Bolton's book and making sure it didn't contain classified information, The New York Times describes via the filing from Knight's lawyer. During that process, Bolton requested a speedier review of a part of his book regarding Trump and Ukraine so he could release it during the impeachment trial. Knight's lawyer said at that point, Bolton's memoir The Room Where it Happened didn't have any classified information and Knight was "prepared to clear the manuscript," but White House aides still denied his request.Through her lawyer, Knight alleged that the "apolitical process" of prepublication review was "commandeered by political appointees for a seemingly political purpose." Bolton's book was the only time Knight had been asked to take several "unusual" steps within the review process, and she hadn't heard of predecessors having to do so either, her lawyer said.The court filing comes a week after the Justice Department opened a criminal inquiry into Bolton's book to determine whether it shared classified information. The White House tried to shut down the publication of Bolton's book even after copies of it were already in the hands of journalists.More stories from theweek.com America needs to hear the bad news first A mild defense of Republican hypocrisy on the Supreme Court Trump is the only one being honest about the Supreme Court fight
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| College freshmen moved into dorms with hopes of having a 'normal' semester. 3 students told us why they quickly moved back home. Posted: 22 Sep 2020 09:32 AM PDT  Students at the University of Alabama, University of Missouri, and the University of Michigan told Insider why they decided to move out of their dorms.
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| A man didn’t like being arrested, so he fought back — through a Florida deputy’s pants Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:51 AM PDT  Ouch. Pass the Neosporin.
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| Why the case of a maid who battled a millionaire has gripped Singapore Posted: 23 Sep 2020 05:41 PM PDT  The case described by some as a "David versus Goliath battle" has stirred up debate in Singapore.
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| Missouri governor, opponent of mandatory masks, has COVID-19 Posted: 23 Sep 2020 11:40 AM PDT  Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican who has steadfastly refused to require residents to wear masks, tested positive for the coronavirus, his office said Wednesday. Parson was tested after his wife, Teresa, tested positive earlier in the day. Teresa Parson had experienced mild symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion, spokeswoman Kelli Jones said.
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| 'Placed intentionally to cause harm': Michigan city closes playgrounds after discovery of 41 razor blades Posted: 22 Sep 2020 08:13 PM PDT  The Eaton Rapids Police Department found razor blades at two playgrounds, prompting the city to temporarily close all parks to ensure safety.
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| Elizabeth Warren, AOC blast Wells Fargo CEO for blaming 'very limited pool of Black talent' for the bank's trouble hitting its diversity-hiring goals Posted: 23 Sep 2020 01:12 PM PDT  "Its CEO has an unfathomable blind spot," Warren said, adding Wells Fargo is "part of a financial system that scams Black families disproportionately."
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| McCarthy threatens long-shot bid to oust Pelosi if Dems impeach over SCOTUS Posted: 23 Sep 2020 09:36 AM PDT  "She may think she has a quiver. We do too," he says.
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| Iran compares George Floyd’s death to 'the feet of arrogance on the neck of independent nations’ Posted: 22 Sep 2020 01:09 PM PDT  'The footage broadcast to the world concerning the treatment of an African American by the US police is reminiscent of our own experience'
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| Letters to the Editor: The right has been calling liberals 'baby killers' for years. No wonder QAnon took hold Posted: 23 Sep 2020 03:00 AM PDT  Trump says the governor of Virginia favors executing babies. A GOP lawmaker blamed RBG for 30 million child murders. The right was primed for QAnon.
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| Map: State-by-state breakdown of coronavirus travel restrictions Posted: 22 Sep 2020 02:10 PM PDT  U.S. states and territories are making new rules for travelers. Find which ones across the United States have implemented travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.
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| Sen. Manchin reacts to Democrats vowing to ‘pack the court’: 'I want to work in a bipartisan way' Posted: 23 Sep 2020 04:15 AM PDT  West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin weighs in on the political impact of the Supreme Court vacancy on 'Fox & Friends.'
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| He couldn’t get a drink on Duval Street. Then he waved a gun, Key West police said Posted: 22 Sep 2020 02:25 PM PDT  Two men visiting Key West found out what happens when you wave a gun out of a car window on Duval Street, according to police.
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| Seoul: Missing South Korean official may be in North Korea Posted: 23 Sep 2020 12:05 AM PDT  A South Korean official who disappeared off a government ship near the disputed sea boundary with North Korea this week may be in North Korea, South Korea's Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The Defense Ministry said in a statement it had information that the missing official was on North Korean shores on Tuesday afternoon. The ministry said officials will contact North Korea to ask about the missing official and take other steps to find more details.
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| Sailing stopped as killer whales attack yachts off Spanish coast Posted: 23 Sep 2020 12:43 PM PDT  A mysterious spate of attacks by orca whales on boats off Spain's coast has prompted authorities to ban people setting sail from the country's northwestern tip. The unprecedented attacks have crippled vessels and terrified crew members, and created a slew of theories as to what could have angered the whales. Spain's Merchant Marine agency has decreed an approximately 60-mile stretch of Atlantic coastline between Ferrol and the Estaca de Bares cape in Galicia out of bounds for small boats in response to the destructive ramming raids. "I never expected to have to ban sailing in an area due to orca attacks," Benito Núñez, Merchant Marine director, told local media. Mr Núñez says the thinking behind the sailing ban is so that "the orcas stop seeing boats they find attractive in the area, and move on". The agency says that it has registered 29 orca attacks, most of which are on fibreglass yachts, in the same area near Spain's northwestern tip, with several leading to damage to rudders and crews begging for help to return to shore. Mr Núñez wants to prevent conflict between people and orcas, whose apparent sense of fun could put sailors in danger.
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| Delta has now banned some 350 passengers for refusing to wear masks during flights — and it's adding 100 people a month to its no-fly list Posted: 22 Sep 2020 11:38 AM PDT  CEO Ed Bastian said that Delta has banned about 350 people from its flights, for refusing to wear masks on board during the pandemic.
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| Indonesia president warns over super-power tensions in U.N. address Posted: 22 Sep 2020 08:41 PM PDT  Indonesia's President Joko Widodo used his first address to the United Nations General Assembly to warn on Wednesday that global stability and peace could be "destroyed" if growing geo-political rivalries persist. Earlier this month, Indonesia's government protested when a Chinese coast guard vessel entered the portion of the South China Sea it claims.
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| ‘Bald face lie’: Pence aide turned Covid-whistleblower fires back after White House attack Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:35 AM PDT  Olivia Troye has come out in support of Joe Biden
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| Trump ally Pam Bondi calls Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, 'a little boy' trying to protect community Posted: 23 Sep 2020 01:30 PM PDT  Bondi's comments drew fire on social media from critics who said she was fanning Trump's rhetoric about lawlessness in cities.
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| 'Zombie' storm Paulette regains some strength, adding to weird 2020 weather Posted: 22 Sep 2020 01:42 PM PDT  NOAA's National Hurricane Center issued an advisory late Monday saying Tropical Storm Paulette had re-formed southeast of the Azores islands.
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| My generation is being raised to hate America — it’s time to stand up for our history Posted: 23 Sep 2020 04:00 AM PDT  You can't love what you don't know. When young Americans say they aren't proud of their country, it proves our education system has failed them.
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| Four in 10 Miami-Dade households have not filled out the census. That’s going to hurt us | Opinion Posted: 23 Sep 2020 04:56 PM PDT  The 2020 U.S. Census could fall short of its intended constitutional purpose: counting all the people living within our borders. We may currently have more uncounted households at this stage than in any previous census. These circumstances are made even more critical by the accelerated deadline, which gives experts less time than ever before to check the data.
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| Declaration of UN's 75th anniversary urges global unity Posted: 21 Sep 2020 07:38 PM PDT  The world's often-divided nations united Monday to adopt a declaration commemorating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, saying the urgency for all countries to come together "has rarely been greater" amid global challenges ranging from the coronavirus pandemic to climate change and violent extremism. The declaration, approved by 193 member nations at the mainly virtual commemoration, praises the United Nations as the only global organization with the power to bring countries together and give "hope to so many people for a better world and ... deliver the future we want." Born out of the horrors of World War II, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war — words enshrined in the U.N. Charter.
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