Cut to the News
Cut through the clutter to today's top news
August 18, 2020
Good morning
Welcome to today's top news.
Leading the News . . .
Michelle Obama "goes low" against Trump on first night of Democratic convention . . . Former first lady Michelle Obama on Monday launched a direct attack on President Trump character and record in the White House during a virtual address to the Democratic National Convention
that opened and closed with a forceful call to vote. "Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country," Obama said, wearing a gold necklace with word "vote" spelled out. "He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is." Obama's speech, capping off the first night of the virtual Democratic
National Convention, was a remarkable rebuke from a former first lady of a sitting U.S. president. "Sadly, this is the America that is on display for the next generation," Obama said. "A nation that’s underperforming not simply on matters of policy but on matters of character." The Hill
Convention panelist: What we want to do, is, we want to destroy capitalism . . . This is not just some lunatic. This is from an officially sanctioned Democratic National Convention event. “This future that we all want, that we’re all trying to build really is about the destruction of colonization, white supremacy,” and capitalism said Democratic National Convention panelist Ashley McCray at the DNC Caucus Youth Council meeting. White House Dossier
Kasich and three other "Republicans" back Biden . . . Four former top Republicans formally backed Joe Biden at Monday night's virtual Democratic National Convention festivites, with 2016 GOP hopeful John Kasich promising his fellow party members that the Democrat wouldn't become too liberal. 'I'm sure there are Republicans and independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat, they fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them
behind. I don't believe that,' Kasich said. 'Because I know the measure of the man - reasonable, faithful, respectful and you know, no one pushes Joe around.' Kasich was preceded in the program by former GOP New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former New York Rep. Susan Molinari and former GOP California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard who now runs Quibi. Daily Mail
Kasich and AOC get into it . . . John Kasich and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez engaged in a war of words on Monday evening, hours before the Republican former governor was due to address the Democratic National Convention. Asked why he - as a
Republican - was asked to speak, he said he thinks the U.S. is 'moderate', and that 'extreme' politicians - like Ocasio-Cortez - receive 'outsized publicity.' Ocasio-Cortez, who backed Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary, fired back in a tweet, accusing Kasich of 'fighting against women's rights.' Daily Mail
Trump assails Cuomo over speech . . . President Trump lashed out at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) after his Monday speech at the Democratic National Convention, saying the governor does not have “a very good memory” about the coronavirus pandemic. The president criticized Cuomo by retweeting a video posted by his campaign showing Cuomo praising the Trump administration for its assistance during the pandemic in different clips.
“Cuomo, just like his brother Fredo, has not got a very good memory!” he posted, referencing CNN’s Chris Cuomo who he has called Fredo after “The Godfather” character. The Hill
One of two main speakers at the Democratic convention was a socialist . . . A socialist who honeymooned in the Soviet Union. Is there, honestly a lot more that you need to know about the Democratic Party than that Bernie Sanders is its star and will get things off to a roaring start Monday might? Bernie will have lots of help, because this is the new base of the Democratic Party. It is about revolutionary change, done violently if necessary.
Because remember, there is no such thing as “democratic socialist.” It’s a contradiction in terms. White House Dossier
Tuesday night is the Jill and Bill show . . . Democrats will highlight the party’s future leaders and turn to a political powerhouse from the past, former President Bill Clinton, to make the case for U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden at their national convention on Tuesday. Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, one of his closest political advisers, will deliver the main speech for the second night of the Democratic National Convention, after an opening
night that featured a scathing attack on President Donald Trump from former first lady Michelle Obama. Reuters
Major university opens and then switches to online after a week . . . The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Monday backtracked plans to reopen its campus for in-person learning, saying that it will shift to remote learning amid a surge of coronavirus cases among students. The announcement came just one week after the university – one of the largest in the country to resume in-person
learning – began classes for the fall semester. The university said Monday that it has recorded a more than 10% jump in coronavirus cases among 954 students tested. Fox News
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Left prepares to put the squeeze on Biden once he's president . . . The Democratic Party’s left flank is firmly united with moderate Democrats behind the goal of ousting Trump, with former Bernie Sanders aides and allies creating super PACs and promising to spend millions to elect Biden in a way they never did for Clinton. But progressives, who are emboldened after successfully ousting several entrenched Democrats in recent primaries, are also
clear: Unlike with Obama, there will be no honeymoon for Biden. Politico
Joe Biden, home wrecker? . . . Joe Biden and his wife Jill have lied to the world for more than 40 years about how they started dating — they actually had an affair that broke up her first marriage, her first husband claims. And the whole story the Bidens tell about how the presidential candidate fell in love with Jill after a blind date is completely made up, Bill Stevenson told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. Now Stevenson is
about to publish a book that he says will blow the lid off the sham story. Daily Mail
Biden advisor said Mao Zedong one of her "favorite political philosophers" . . . Anita Dunn, a senior advisor to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign said Chinese dictator Mao Zedong was one of her “favorite political philosophers” during a speech to graduating high schoolers in 2009. “In 1947, when Mao Zedong was being challenged within his own party on his plan to basically take China over … the nationalist Chinese held the cities, they had the
army, they had the air force, they had everything on their side,” Dunn told the audience. “And people said how could you win? How could you do this?”
“And Mao Zedong said, ‘You fight your war and I’ll fight mine,'” Dunn said. “Think about that for a second. You don’t have to accept the definition of how to do things, and you don’t have to follow other people’s choices and paths." Daily Caller
And then he killed tens of millions of people in China. Because he did things his way.
NY Gov. Cuomo writing book about his Covid-19 response . . . New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has gained a national following through his management of the coronavirus pandemic, is writing a book that looks back on his experiences, and includes leadership advice and a close look at his relationship with the administration of President Donald Trump. Crown announced Tuesday that Cuomo's “American Crisis” will be released Oct. 13, three weeks
before Election Day, when Trump is expected to face presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Politico
The actual title will be, "How to kill lots of people in nursing homes: A guide for beginners."
Report finds tech giants favor Biden . . . A new report indicates that presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has received preferential treatment from tech giants, but Donald Trump Jr. plans to make sure Republicans don’t allow the “seemingly coordinated campaign” against his father to continue. The Media Research Center unveiled its latest TechWatch Report on Tuesday, which found
that “more than 260 conservative users on Facebook and Twitter had their posts about Biden scrubbed from the social media platforms” in the months leading up to the Democratic National Convention. Fox News
St. Louis couple who defended home against protestors to appear at GOP convention . . . The white couple from St. Louis who waved guns at Black Lives Matter demonstrators in a video that went viral will participate at the Republican National Convention next week.
The Trump campaign on Monday said Mark and Patricia McCloskey would endorse the president for reelection during an appearance in the virtual program. They were previously featured in a Trump campaign virtual event. The Hill
Nick Sandmann to speak at Republican convention . . . Covington Catholic high school student Nick Sandmann, who was viciously smeared by the establishment media and has won settlements from the Washington Post and CNN, will speak at the Republican National Convention. When
Sandmann—donning a red “Make America Great Again” hat—was with his classmates at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, a Native American activist, Nathan Phillips, began banging a drum in his face. Media coverage originally framed it as Sandmann being confrontational with Phillips, but full video of the incident that emerged later proved the opposite to be true. Breitbart
Election poised to become most litigated in history . . . The November presidential election is poised to become the most litigated vote in recent U.S. history. “The 2020 election might be Bush v. Gore on steroids,” said Michael Toner, a former chairman of the Federal Election
Commission. President Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden’s campaigns have enlisted armies of volunteer lawyers in battleground states and swing districts to fight out close calls on Election Day. Both sides have already filed multiple lawsuits. Washington Times
Trump to hold funeral service for brother at White House . . . President Trump Monday said he is likely to hold a small funeral service for his brother Robert Friday at the White House. Robert, who was 71, died Saturday. The cause of death is believed to have been a bleed in the brain. "We may do just a
small service right here at the White House for my brother," Trump said. "That would be I think a great honor to him. I think he would be greatly honored. He loved our country." White House Dossier
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Trump plane nearly hit be a drone . . . President Donald Trump’s jet was nearly hit by what appeared to be a small drone as it approached an air base near Washington Sunday night, according to several people aboard Air Force One. The device, which was yellow and black and shaped like a cross, was off the right side of the plane. It was seen by several passengers on the jet, shortly before it touched down at 5:54 p.m. at Joint
Base Andrews in Maryland. Bloomberg
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Germany records highest number of infections in four months . . . Germany recorded the highest number of new coronavirus cases in nearly four months, fueling fears about a resurgence of infections across Europe. Officials are already tightening restrictions on movement again in an effort to prevent summer partying and travel from spreading the disease. Spain and Italy have shut nightclubs and Greece limited hours for bars
and restaurants to try to avoid more drastic measures after the holiday season winds down. Bloomberg
South Korea bans worship service, large gatherings . . . South Korea imposed its strictest social distancing measures since May as the nation globally lauded for its virus containment strategy faces one of its worst resurgences yet. From midnight tonight, worship services and large gatherings are banned in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, and high-risk facilities like bars and clubs will be closed, said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun in a
hastily scheduled press conference on Tuesday. Gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors are also forbidden. Bloomberg
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Home Depot shares rise as demand for DIY products surges . . . Home Depot reported it biggest rise in quarterly same-store sales in at least two decades on Tuesday as demand for paint, tools and other home improvement products surged from consumers stuck indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shares of the Dow component rose more than 3% in premarket trading after the company said its same-store sales jumped 23.4% in the second
quarter, surging past analysts’ average estimate of a 10.5% rise. Reuters
The whole economy seems to be retooling . . . Sorry.
Elon Musk becomes world's fourth-richest person . . . Elon Musk’s financial upswing shows no signs of slowing. The outspoken entrepreneur is now the world’s fourth-richest person after Tesla Inc. shares surged 11% on Monday, closing at a record high and boosting Musk’s net worth by $7.8 billion. The rise vaulted the Tesla co-founder past French luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault, the wealthiest non-American on the Bloomberg Billionaires
Index. Musk’s $84.8 billion fortune puts him within $15 billion of Mark Zuckerberg, No. 3 on the ranking of the world’s 500 richest people. Bloomberg
Okay, but it's gotta kind of suck to be that rich and not even win, place, or show.
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Chicago police officers retiring at twice the normal rate . . . Chicago police officers have been retiring at double the normal rate recently, raising concerns that the number of new hires won’t keep pace with the number leaving. Michael Lappe, vice president of the board of trustees for the Policemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, said 59 police officers are retiring in August, with another 51 retirements set for next
month. “That’s unheard of,” Lappe said. “We’re seeing double the average number of retirees each month. The average is about 24 a month.” Chicago Sun-Times
Portland BLM mob beats white man unconscious . . . A series of clips on social media shows the victim being surrounded in his white Ford truck at 10.30 p.m. Sunday as others attacked a woman he was with, who was punched and even tackled to the ground during the violent melee. “He didn’t do nothing!” someone could be heard calling. The unidentified driver eventually sped off, with the mob chasing him — with some heard loudly laughing when he crashed
into a tree and then a building, according to the clips. He was dragged from the truck and tackled to the ground as he begged for help — getting repeatedly punched as he tried to call his wife while pleading with his attackers as he sat on the ground, the videos show. New York Post
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Half of those in 20s and 30s won't date someone who doesn't recycle . . . If you’re a Millennial or Gen Z'er who doesn’t recycle, there is a chance you may be hurting your chances at finding love, according to a new survey from Decluttr – an online
marketplace for selling unwanted CDs, DVDs, games, books and tech items. In a sample of 1,332 people, Decluttr found that 47% of young Americans would not want to be in a romantic relationship with someone who doesn’t recycle. Another 45% said they wouldn’t date someone who used an excessive amount of single-use plastic. Fox News
Man walking dog knocked out by cat . . . A Chinese dog owner likely prefers pooches even more now, after he was knocked out cold by a falling cat, as seen in a viral video from Aug. 14. In the 45-second CCTV footage, which currently
has more than 120,000 views on YouTube, a man named Gao can be seen going for a stroll with his golden retriever in Harbin, Heilongjiang. Then, out of nowhere, a black and white cat drops out of the sky and hits him on the head, causing him to collapse to the sidewalk unconscious. According to reports, the kitty belonged to his elderly neighbor and had fallen from his balcony. Fox News
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Keith
Keith Koffler
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