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January 1, The 2020 Race Tightens

This Day in History | 1782
General George Washington creates the “Badge for Military Merit,” a decoration consisting of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk, edged with a narrow binding of silver, with the word Merit stitched across the face in silver.
Good morning middle Americans,
One thing that most people, whether they like him or not, can agree on is that Donald Trump knows how to attract attention. And he’s always bragged about his ratings. But lets be honest, as of late his tv ratings have been better than his approval ratings. The important right track / wrong track metric is definitely trending in the wrong direction. And while he’s still 13 points behind former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 race, the gap seems to be closing. At least the last couple of days. Trump’s newly elevated campaign chief Bill Stepien seems to think it’s all because of these daily Coronavirus briefings that have resumed. What do you think? We think it has more to Joe Biden being Joe Biden. As bad as things seem for the president right now, he’s the president and has the incumbent’s massive advantage.
That said, the president is definitely going to lose to the teen vote. Lol. There’s no teen vote. But if there were, they would be mad at him for banning Tik Tok and We Chat, two Chinese social media apps that are really just data gathering tools for the CCP. Here’s a reminder to all the app developers and foreign social media companies out there. You can have a good lobbyist, but when your users can’t vote, don’t expect your platform to have much clout in Washington D.C..
Also today we have stories about New York’s Attorney General Letitia James announcing that the state is seeking to dissolve the National Rifle Association. James filed a lawsuit that accuses the leadership of diverting millions of dollars for their own personal use. The NRA calls the lawsuit “baseless”. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation on Thursday that would levy a 60 percent tax on billionaires. And finally today – A Florida grandmother is suing Walt Disney World claiming she was “was wrongfully arrested and taken into custody at the Orlando theme park for possessing federally legal CBD oil” in 2019.
Read all about it.
-Fraser Dixon
Trump Campaign Chief Sees Bounce After Virus Briefings Revived
(Bloomberg) – Donald Trump’s new campaign manager credited the revival of the president’s daily briefings with narrowing the gap between him and Democratic nominee Joe Biden, saying that when the president speaks “it’s a needle mover.”
Bill Stepien took over as the president’s campaign manager in mid-July after Brad Parscale was demoted. At the time, the Trump re-election effort staggered under the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed about 158,000 Americans, and crashed the economy.
Since Stepien stepped in, Trump has changed his public approach to the virus. He now calls wearing protective equipment an act of “patriotism” after dismissing the value for months. While he still downplays the virus’s effect and argues with scientists about it, he also sometimes takes a more somber tone.
Most notably, he has revived the daily late-afternoon briefings in which he reads positive updates about the pandemic, encourages states and schools to reopen and takes questions from reporters.
Find out more here
Trump Bans Dealings with Chinese Owners of TikTok, WeChat
(AP) – President Donald Trump has ordered a sweeping but vague ban on dealings with the Chinese owners of social media apps TikTok and WeChat on security grounds, a move China’s government criticized as “political manipulation.”
The twin executive orders issued Thursday — one for each app — add to growing U.S.-Chinese conflict over technology and security. They take effect in 45 days and could bar the popular apps from the Apple and Google app stores, effectively removing them from U.S. distribution.
China’s foreign ministry expressed opposition but gave no indication whether Beijing might retaliate.
Earlier, Trump threatened a deadline of Sept. 15 to “close down” TikTok in the United States unless Microsoft Corp. or another company acquires it.
TikTok, owned by Beijing-headquartered ByteDance Ltd., is popular for its short, catchy videos. The company says it has 100 million users in the United States and hundreds of millions worldwide.
The Trump administration has expressed concern Chinese social media services could provide American users’ personal information to Chinese authorities, though it has given no evidence TikTok did that.
Read more here
New York AG Seeks to Dissolve NRA in Lawsuit Accusing Leaders of Self-Dealing, Causing $64 Million in Losses
(CNBC) – New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday announced that the state is seeking to dissolve the National Rifle Association in a lawsuit that accuses the leadership of the flagging nonprofit of diverting millions of dollars for their own personal use.
According to the lawsuit, the senior leadership of the NRA squandered millions in donations on personal trips, private jets and expensive meals. The failure to lawfully manage the organization’s funds contributed to losses of $64 million over three years, the suit says.
The suit was filed in New York county in the New York State Supreme Court. At a press conference announcing the suit, James said the NRA was “a breeding ground for greed, abuse, and brazen illegality.”
NRA president Carolyn Meadows said in a statement that the suit is “a baseless, premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend.”
Get the latest here
Bernie Sanders Proposes 60% Tax on Billionaires’ Pandemic Gains
(Newsweek) – Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation on Thursday that would levy a 60 percent tax on billionaires. Money generated by the tax would purportedly go towards covering all out-of-pocket health care expenses for every American for one year.
Known as the Make Billionaires Pay Act, the tax would be effective until the end of the calendar year. If adopted, the proposal would tax the wealth gains made by 467 U.S. billionaires from March 18 to August 5. During that time span, closures initiated by the coronavirus pandemic caused 50 million Americans to apply for unemployment benefits.
According to a statement released by Sanders, 5.4 Americans lost health insurance benefits during that time. The act would allegedly raise $421.7 billion, which would be enough to allow Medicare to pay for such out-of-pocket health expenses, including prescription drugs.
Get more info here
Grandmother Sues Disney After She Was Arrested with CBD Oil in Her Purse
(CNN) – Attorney Ben Crump has filed a civil lawsuit against several entities including, The Walt Disney Co. and the Orange County Sheriff, on behalf of Hester Burkhalter, a 69-year-old White woman from Hickory, North Carolina, and her family.
Crump said she “was wrongfully arrested and taken into custody at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for possessing federally legal CBD oil” in 2019.
CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory derived from the cannabis plant.
According to Crump and a July 29 complaint, a lawsuit has been filed in the Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange County against The Walt Disney Company and a number of its executives as well as the Orange County Sheriff and a number of its deputies alleging illegal detention, false arrest and violation of civil rights. The suit requests $6 million in compensatory damages and $12 million in punitive damages for Burkhalter, as well as millions of additional dollars for her family, according to the complaint.
Read more here

Latest News
Federal Judge Overrules Ban on Drag Queens

A federal judge in Texas has handed down a ruling, stating the new law restricting public drag performances is a violation of constitutional speech rights. This ruling has resulted in the permanent discontinuation of the law’s enforcement.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner wrote in his decision, “Not all people will like or condone certain performances,” drawing a parallel between the varying preferences for performances to differing tastes in music or comedy, and emphasizing that these differences do not negate First Amendment protections.
This law is not a standalone case, with Texas being one of over a dozen states that have attempted to implement restrictions on drag shows, a move seen as part of broader Republican initiatives to regulate LGBT behaviors. Similar laws have been enacted in three other states.
Judge Hittner labeled the Texas law as discriminatory and vague, specifying that drag performances are not obscenely intrinsic and are a form of expressive speech, thus protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, drag performers, and Pride march organizers united in a legal battle, filing a lawsuit in Houston’s federal court to challenge this law. They argue modern drag, a form of expressive musical and dance performance, has its roots in LGBT venues.
The office of the Texas attorney general defended the law, which, among other things, banned the display of exaggerated male or female sexual characteristics in public or where minors could see, asserting it is essential for protecting children from “sexually explicit” content. Those found violating could face fines and up to one year in jail.
However, critics of the law believe it has been written so broadly that it could potentially criminalize performances by pop stars and cheerleaders and is directly targeting LGBT performers.
In alignment with this ruling, other federal judges in states like Tennessee, Florida, and Montana have also struck down similar drag restrictions, citing them as free-speech violations.
As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.
Featured
Michelle Obama Earns $750,000 for One-Hour Speech

Former First Lady Michelle Obama recently commanded a staggering $750,000 for delivering a one-hour speech at a tech fair in Munich. This lucrative speaking engagement was held on the sidelines of the annual Oktoberfest beer festival.
Mrs. Obama addressed around 5,000 attendees, discussing pushing past self-doubt and emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and diversity.
According to sources close to the conference organizers, the former First Lady “topped the list” of desired participants “year after year,” prompting the organizers to “pull out all the stops” to secure her presence.
This massive sum is nearly double the annual earnings of the current President, Joe Biden, illuminating the high demand and esteem for Mrs. Obama in the international speaking circuit.
The event, named ‘Bits and Pretzels’, is a three-day gathering focused on entrepreneurial endeavors and features speakers who share their success stories. It brings together founders of national and international companies and has hosted other notable figures, including former German soccer star turned entrepreneur, Oliver Kahn. Michelle Obama’s fellow speakers at the event revered her presence, noting it as a significant highlight.
Senator Ted Cruz has been vocal about his speculations regarding Mrs. Obama’s political future, especially considering her enduring popularity and high approval ratings.
He stated on his podcast, “In August of 2024, the Democrat kingmakers [may] jettison Joe Biden and parachute in Michelle Obama.”
This statement comes amidst the circulating concerns about President Biden’s age and cognitive abilities, making the possibility of Mrs. Obama’s candidacy a tantalizing scenario for many.
Michelle Obama’s enduring appeal is evident from her consistent high approval ratings during her White House years and beyond. A recent YouGov poll highlighted that 77 percent of people still have a favorable opinion of her, compared to a mere 15 percent unfavorable.
This wide support stems from her initiatives and engagements during her tenure as the First Lady and her ongoing work promoting inclusivity and diversity.
Since leaving the White House, the Obamas have engaged in numerous lucrative speaking engagements and signed a $65 million publishing deal with Penguin for their memoirs. They have also ventured into production with their company ‘Higher Ground’, signing a significant contract with Netflix.
Michelle Obama continues to influence and inspire through her work, and her high-profile appearances are eagerly anticipated and well-compensated, as demonstrated by her recent engagement in Munich.
While the former First Lady has denied any intentions to run for office, her widespread popularity and the high demand for her insights keep the rumors alive.
The considerable fee for her recent speaking engagement underscores her enduring influence and the significant impact she continues to have on discussions about diversity and inclusivity globally.
Despite her high earnings and popularity, Michelle Obama and her family continue to receive Secret Service protection, a provision reinstated by President Obama in 2013. The law ensures lifetime protection for former presidential spouses and their family members, reversing a 1994 statute that capped such protection at ten years.
Michelle Obama remains a figure of immense influence and respect, commanding significant attention and compensation for her appearances. Her ongoing work and the discussions around her possible future political endeavors keep her at the forefront of national and global conversations.
As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.
Latest News
Tragic Discovery: Deadly Trap Door Found in Bronx Day Care

A heart-wrenching scene unfolded in a Bronx day care. A 1-year-old lost his life, and three others were injured. Investigators believe the exposure to fentanyl is to blame.
Investigators executed a search warrant, revealing a trap door in the play area of the day care apartment. Hidden inside were large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics.
Authorities unveiled that a kilo of fentanyl was stored on playmats. A device to press drugs into bricks was also discovered, painting a grim picture of the day care’s dual life.
Owner Grei Mendez and her tenant Carlisto Acevedo Brito are currently facing murder charges. They’re in federal custody, held without bail, connected to horrifying federal drug trafficking charges.
A grand jury in the Bronx has returned an indictment related to the tragic events. However, the specific charges remain sealed pending arraignment.
District Attorney Darcel Clark passionately voiced her commitment to seek justice. “Every single person in this county feels what they feel, that they entrusted day care center to take care of their children,” she said.
Mayor Eric Adams was visibly upset about the horrifying incident. “This is total madness that we lost a child to this dangerous substance,” he exclaimed, calling for a full national assault on this drug.
The day care, catering to children between 6 weeks and 12 years old, had passed a city inspection just last week. Despite this, a secret life of drug conspiracy thrived behind closed doors.
Mendez’s attorney claims her only crime was renting a room to someone who had a kilo of fentanyl. However, the presence of drug paraphernalia raises haunting questions.
Officials remain vigilant and are conducting thorough investigations. It’s crucial to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children who are victims of this tragic incident.
What We Think
This is just downright heartbreaking and maddening. Little kids, innocent lives, and then there’s this poison, this fentanyl, in their safe space. The trust parents put in day cares, completely shattered. It makes one question, how many more places are like this, running dual lives?
These revelations, they just bring forth the need for stricter, much stricter, oversights and regulations. Folks ought to be able to trust that their kids are safe, that they are cared for when they’re away.
And to the folks responsible, if they’re guilty, they better face the full force of the law. The safety of our little ones should never be compromised, never.
As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.
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