Cut to the News
Cut through the clutter to today's top news
August 19, 2020
Good morning
Welcome to today's top news.
Leading the News . . .
Democrats officially nominate Joe Biden . . . Democrats formally nominated Joe Biden for president on Tuesday, vowing his election would repair a pandemic-battered America and put an end to the chaos that has defined Republican President Donald Trump’s administration. The second night of the party’s four-night national convention, under the theme “Leadership Matters,” featured elder statesmen like former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter,
rising stars of the Democratic Party as well as prominent Republicans, who made the case that Biden would return integrity to the White House and normalcy to American lives. Reuters
Biden may return something to the White House, but it won't be integrity or normalcy.
Bill Clinton neck massaged by Epstein victim in photo . . . Bill Clinton, who spoke Tuesday and the Democratic National Convention, grins with pleasure as he enjoys an intimate neck massage with a young Jeffrey Epstein victim in never-before-seen photographs. The troubling pictures are an ill-timed reminder of Clinton's links to Epstein as the former President, 72, prepares to endorse Joe Biden tonight at the Democratic
Convention. Clinton traveled numerous times on the dead pedophile’s private Jet, the Lolita Express, socialized with his alleged Madame, Ghislaine Maxwell, and faced a slew of sexual misconduct accusations himself during his years in public life. Yet the 42nd President of the United States is still revered in progressive circles despite the renewed focus on Epstein's crimes and the predatory behavior of rich, powerful men laid bare by the #MeToo movement. Daily Mail
Jill Biden recalls family struggles in endorsement of husband . . . Longtime teacher Jill Biden was back in the classroom Tuesday night to vouch for her husband’s ability to lead the nation in a speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Speaking from Brandywine High School
in Wilmington, Del., where she worked as an English teacher in the 1990s, Jill, 69, gave a deeply personal endorsement of Joe Biden as she offered a glimpse into their family’s struggle. “I fell in love with a man and two little boys standing in the wreckage of unthinkable loss,” she said, recalling the 1972 car crash that killed her husband’s first wife and his daughter. New York Post
Viewership way down from four years ago . . . The first night of the Democratic National Convention drew about a quarter fewer viewers on major broadcast and cable news networks, as the virtual event proved a tougher sell than the traditional live gathering four years ago. About
19.7 million people tuned in to Monday night’s coverage, a decline from 25.9 million four years ago, the media-monitoring company Nielsen said Monday. Bloomberg
Left outraged at AOC bit role at convention . . . Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had less time to speak at the Democratic National Convention than a former Republican governor, a George W. Bush cabinet official, and the party's unsuccessful 2004 nominee. "AOC is the personification of the future of the party, but the traditional Dems have always struggled to keep up, motivate, and inspire," said Natalia Salgado, the chief of civic engagement at
The Center for Popular Democracy. "If they understood what they need to do to turn out our communities, they would have had AOC front and center." Politico
Oh, they understand that she's the future. That's why they only gave her 90 seconds.
Biden condemns accused anti-Semite Linda Sarsour after she appears at convention . . . Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden condemned Linda Sarsour Tuesday after she appeared at a Democratic National Convention council meeting. Sarsour, a Muslim activist who has been critical of Israel and accused of anti-semitism, spoke at the DNC’s “Muslim Delegates and Allies Assembly” on Tuesday. Sarsour endorsed Biden after he
announced Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate Aug. 11. “Joe Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel and a vehement opponent of anti-Semitism his entire life, and he obviously condemns her views and opposes BDS, as does the Democratic platform,” Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said. Daily Caller
Harris faces crucial test with biggest speech of her career . . .
Kamala Harris faces a crucial challenge this week at the Democratic convention in convincing parts of the party to enthusiastically support a Biden-Harris ticket despite a record on crime and justice that many associate with mass incarceration and racial inequality. Harris’s elevation is intended to bolster Biden with young
voters and people of color. The California senator, 55, is the first woman of color on a major party’s presidential ticket, and her background, age and gender all contrast with the top of the Democratic ticket. The Hill
Cindy McCain speaks but doesn't endorse . . . Cindy McCain, widow of Sen. John McCain, lent her voice to a video during Tuesday's second night of the Democratic Convention that highlighted her late husband's close friendship with presidential nominee Joe Biden. She
explains that her husband and Biden got to know each other in the 1970s, when McCain -- newly home from service in the Navy -- was assigned to be a military aide for Biden and they logged thousands of miles together on overseas trips. Fox News
Only 44 percent of Americans say they will get coronavirus vaccine . . . Less than half of Americans say they will get a coronavirus vaccine when one becomes available, a new survey reveals. Low rates of willingness to get a potential COVID-19-blocking shot is of concern to public health experts as the US continues to push to reopen, despite more than 30,000 cases being diagnosed a day. Top US infectious disease
expert Dr Anthony Fauci has warned: 'We have our work cut out for us,' during an American Society for Microbiology meeting. Daily Mail
Bill Gates: US fumbled coronavirus response because US believes in freedom . . . Microsoft founder Bill Gates on Tuesday said the United States fumbled its coronavirus response in part because "we believe in freedom." The billionaire's comments were in regard to questions about
some Americans' seemingly politicized aversion to wearing masks and the country's slow initial response to COVID-19 in an interview with The Economist. "We believe in freedom, individual freedom. We optimize for individual rights," Gates said. Fox News
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Trump at border says 300 mils of wall nearly complete . . . In his second trip to the U.S.-Mexico border in two months, President Trump touted to supporters that his administration has completed nearly 300 miles of border fence since he took office. Trump announced at an outdoor rally in Yuma Tuesday afternoon that his administration would pass 300 miles of fencing in a matter of weeks. He told the crowd packed inside an
airport hangar on a 110-degree day that builders are "setting records" with the sudden surge in the rate they are installing 18- to 30-foot-tall steel bollard beams across the four states that line the southern border. Washington Examiner
Trump hits back at Michelle . . . President Trump Tuesday responded sharply the Michelle Obama’s Monday evening Democratic convention speech, in which she questioned Trump’s character and said he had brought the United States to a horrible place. "Somebody please explain to @MichelleObama
that Donald J. Trump would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it weren’t for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama. Biden was merely an afterthought, a good reason for that very late & unenthusiastic endorsement," Trump tweeted. White House Dossier
Postal chief fails to quell uproar by suspending changes . . . President Donald Trump’s Postal Service chief tried to neutralize complaints by suspending his operational changes, but he failed to silence accusations that he is hampering the agency’s ability to handle voting by mail. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s retreat followed mounting pressure from Democrats, including an Aug. 5 exchange with top lawmakers that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
described as “heated.” Congress scheduled two hearings with DeJoy in the coming days and the House plans to vote on a postal funding measure on Saturday. Bloomberg
Trump praises accused anti-Muslim Laura Loomer on GOP primary win . . . In a tweet shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Trump said that Laura Loomer has "a great chance against a Pelosi puppet" in November, referring to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Loomer's Democratic opponent, Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), is favored to win the district. Loomer was banned from ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft
in 2017 after a public tweet threat in which she told the companies that she "never want[s] to support another Islamic immigrant driver," along with others calling for "someone... to create a non Islamic form of @uber or @lyft." The Hill
Senate panel finds no evidence of collusion between Russia and Trump campaign . . . The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence found no evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election, but campaign members’ frequent contact with people linked to the Kremlin raised counterintelligence concerns, according to a bipartisan report released Tuesday. Washington Times
De Blasio's wife slammed for having staff of 14 . . . Bill de Blasio's unelected wife has been branded a 'disgrace' for having a staff of 14 costing New York City $2 million, including a $70,000 videographer who filmed her baking cookies - while crime soars amid NYPD budget cuts, trash is left to pile up on the streets and 22,000 city workers face job losses. Chirlane McCray, who is mulling a run for Brooklyn
borough president, enjoys a core team of eight full-time staff who cost the city a combined $1.1 million in annual salaries, according to her office. Daily Mail
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DOJ arrests former CIA officer for Chinese espionage . . . The Department of Justice on Monday announced the arrest of a former CIA officer on charges of leaking sensitive information to Chinese intelligence officials. Court documents revealed that Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, who served as a CIA officer during the 1980s on a top-secret clearance basis, allegedly met with Chinese officials in a series of 2001 meetings
in Hong Kong, where he agreed to exchange sensitive information about CIA operations for money. Washington Free Beacon
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Britain to begin mass testing to curb Covid-19 spread . . . Britain plans to bring in regular, population-wide testing for COVID-19 so it can suppress the spread of the virus and ease restrictions that have crippled its economy without triggering a second wave in one of the worst-hit countries in the world. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government was trialling a range of new, faster tests that can give instant
results and hoped to roll them out towards the end of the year. Reuters
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Working from home reduces productivity . . . Those working from home during the coronavirus pandemic lose up to 15 minutes of productive time per day, new research shows. Productivity levels across Australia will fall by as much as three per cent, economic modelling by Philip Adams and Janine Dixon, from Victoria University, suggests. The findings come amid concerns strict COVID-19 rules are dragging down
economic growth and wages. Daily Mail
Target Corp. sales growth hits record . . . Target Corp. comparable sales rose a record 24.3% in the three months through June as customers loaded up on electronics, home goods and food and essentials, taking advantage of same-day services while riding out the COVID-19 pandemic from home. The Minneapolis-based big-box retailer reported second-quarter profit rose 80% year-over-year to $1.69 billion, or an adjusted
$3.38 per share. Revenue increased 25% from a year earlier to $23 billion. Fox Business
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Big Tech fuels cancel culture . . . Algorithms developed by big tech companies have become the gasoline on the flames, bringing the complaints of a few to the attention of millions, often with the help of media coverage. Susan Campbell, a lecturer at the University of New Haven, says savvy social media users can easily create a firestorm with memes and "pithy hashtags." "It mostly starts with social media influencers taking up a
cause. If I'm angry at, say, American Airlines, I, a savvy user of social media with shockingly few followers/friends on Twitter/Instagram/TikTok/Facebook will find someone more established who can spread the word, and then I will sit back and hope it takes off," she said. Fox News
Parole approved for one of the men convicted of killing Michael Jordan's dad . . . One of the men convicted of killing Michael Jordan's father has been given approval to be released from prison in 2023. James Jordan was killed on July 23, 1993. He was on his way home from a funeral when he stopped on the side of Highway 74 south of Lumberton to take a nap. Larry Demery and Daniel Green came upon Jordan napping in his car. They killed
him and stole his car. ABC 11
Honey beats drugs for curing colds . . . Researchers reviewed studies which compared the effectiveness of honey against cough suppressants, antihistamines and painkillers when treating upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms – which include a cough and cold. Overall, honey was found to be ‘superior’ at relieving coughs, sore throats and congestion – and unlike other medications it had no harmful side effects. Honey was on average 36 per
cent more effective at reducing cough frequency than common medications and it cut cough severity by 44 per cent more. This is firstly because it contains hydrogen peroxide which gives it anti-microbial properties. Due to this, it has been used in traditional medicine as a topical antibiotic for centuries. And secondly, because it is thick and sticky, honey has a soothing effect on the throat that can reduce irritation and help relieve a dry, tickly cough. There was also evidence honey
reduces the time it takes to recover from URTIs by up to two days. Daily Mail
Please tell me Ring Dings cure cancer.
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Elizabeth Warren included in convention Native American meeting . . . Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is one of the participants included in Tuesday’s Native American Caucus at the Democratic National Convention. Warren came under fire in the past for claiming to be Native American, a statement that
she has since apologized for. The senator removed DNA test results from her website that showed she was between 1/64 and 1/1024 Native American. Daily Mail
She truly thinks she is Native American.
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Keith Koffler
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