Amarillo

Jaime Harrison enlists Common in bid to defeat Lindsey Graham in South Carolina

Democrat Jaime Harrison enlisted the help of Grammy Award-winning rapper Common at a Monday rally in Columbia, S.C., as polls continue to show a closer race between Harrison and Sen. Lindsey Graham than many had expected.

Bobulinski Claims Documents Prove Joe Biden ‘Lying’ about Lack of Involvement in Hunter’s Influence Peddling

Tony Bobulinski, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, has accused Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden of "lying" about whether he was directly involved in his son's foreign business dealings."When he states that, that is a blatant lie," Bobulinski said in an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson that was aired Tuesday.The former U.S. Navy lieutenant and corporate investor added that he almost walked out of the second presidential debate, which he attended as President Trump's guest, when the former vice president claimed again that he had no knowledge of his son's business dealings and was not involved in them."In that debate, he made a specific statement around questions around this from the president," Bobulinski said. "And I'll be honest with you, I almost stood up and screamed 'liar' and walked out because I was shocked that after four days or five days that they prep for this, that the Biden family is taking that position to the world."Bobulinski was the former CEO of SinoHawk Holdings, which he said was a partnership between the CEFC China Energy conglomerate and the Biden family. He was the recipient of a May 13, 2017 email that discussed a plan to have 10 percent in their related joint venture, Oneida Holdings, “held by H for the big guy?” The "big guy" was Joe Biden, and "H" was Hunter, Bobulinski confirmed.Bobulinski also slammed Democratic efforts to discredit his claims about the Bidens' business dealings by dismissing it as Russian disinformation, singling out for particular criticism Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, who said on television that this "smear" of Biden "comes from the Kremlin.""To have a congressman out there speaking about Russian disinformation or Joe Biden at a public debate referencing Russian disinformation when he knows he sat face to face with me, that I was traveled around the world with his son and his brother, to say that and associate that with my name is absolutely disgusting to me," Bobulinski said.Bobulinski told Carlson that Schiff's baseless disinformation claim motivated him to come forward with what he knew of Biden family corruption.The former business associate of the Bidens also said he was warned by former partner Rob Walker that going public with information about the Bidens would "bury all of us."In a recording of a phone call between Bobulinski and Walker, which Carlson aired, he told Walker that if the elder Biden "doesn't come out on record, I am providing the facts.""Don't say this Tony, you're just gonna bury all of us, man," Walker responds in the recording."Throughout 2015 and 2016 while Joe was still the sitting vice president of the United States, these guys had been doing extensive work around the world," Bobulinski said, adding that "the only qualification they had was the Biden name.""They're able to set up meetings and get people to jump through hoops in an interest to garner favor with the sitting vice president, Joe Biden," he said.The American people "can form their own conclusion" about the Biden family's business dealings, Bobulinski added.

'Anonymous' WH official who wrote about officials thwarting Trump reveals himself

Miles Taylor, the former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security, revealed himself Wednesday as the author of an anonymous 2018 New York Times op-ed that depicted President Trump as a danger to the nation.

Cause of Southern California fire that forced thousands to evacuate may be 'lashing wire'

The fast-moving Silverado Fire has burned more than 11,000 acres and forced tens of thousands to flee the Irvine area.

Woman injured in police shooting says cops let boyfriend die

A woman who was shot by police last week in suburban Chicago said Tuesday that officers did nothing more than cover her boyfriend with a blanket after he was shot and left him on the ground to die. Tafara Williams, 20, spoke to reporters during a Zoom call from her hospital bed as she described the Oct. 20 shooting in Waukegan that killed 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette. "They allowed him to die,” Williams said.

‘It’s Not Looting. It’s a Rebellion’: Protests Rock Philly for Second Night After Police Killing

PHILADELPHIA—Hundreds gathered in West Philadelphia on Tuesday to protest the fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr, a 27-year-old Black man, hours after ferocious unrest in response to the incident sent a chunk of the city into chaos.It didn’t take all that long for things to get ugly again.In video captured by an eyewitness and posted to social media, police on Monday afternoon fired several shots at Wallace Jr., who was seen approaching the officers with a knife—and whose mother was on hand, pleading for de-escalation. Two officers, whose names have not been released, each fired about seven times, police announced at a Tuesday press conference. According to Wallace Jr.’s family’s attorney, Shaka Johnson, they contacted emergency services for assistance with an ongoing mental health crisis, and the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that officers had visited the home twice that day before the shooting.Wallace Jr., who reportedly had seven children and whose wife was expecting, was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Within hours of the shooting, protests kicked off, and while they began peacefully, tensions surged, with social media footage showing police beating protesters and protesters throwing objects—including bricks—at cops. Looting was also reported at stores hit during previous racial-justice protests this spring.The difference from a wave of local unrest after the police killing of George Floyd in May: a hotly-contested presidential election centering in no small part on law-and-order was now in its final days.Video Exposes Proud Boys and ‘Extra-Friendly’ Philly Cops“I hope there’s no looting or rioting because that’s not what this is about. This isn’t about taking away from the community or the people of West Philly,” Brittany Meyers. 28, of West Philadelphia, told The Daily Beast as protests began again Tuesday evening. “But I will defend my home against these cops. And whoever gets in office next has to address this racism.”At the peak of the mayhem late Monday and early Tuesday, a local news van was damaged and at least one police car was set on fire. By the end of the evening, according to the most recent release from the Philadelphia Police Department, 91 people were arrested and 30 officers were injured, including one officer who was hit by a car at 52nd and Walnut Streets.On Tuesday, the National Guard was activated. And while protests began without incident that evening, by 9 p.m. looting had again been reported in some parts of the city. Still, protesters were leery of a president who has repeatedly singled out their polling places for scrutiny from his rabid fans, tweeting on Tuesday, “Philadelpiha [sic] MUST HAVE POLLWATCHERS!”“Philadelphia is sick and tired of being sick and tired,” J.T. Hall, 30, told The Daily Beast. “And it doesn’t help that we have a president that says, you know, ‘Bad things happen in Philadelphia.’ It needs to stop.”Around 9:30 at the intersection of 52nd and Market Streets, a line of no more than 20 officers were surrounded by dozens protesters chanting, “Who killed Walter Wallace?” Within minutes, several carloads of back-up officers arrived on the scene and trash was thrown from within the crowd of protesters. A few officers began to attempt to push the line of the crowd away from them, resulting in a protester being knocked over. Chaos ensued and officers drew their batons, beating protesters, and using pepper spray on those standing nearby.Neither major-party presidential nominee was popular on the street Tuesday. In fact, several signs designed to bolster get out the vote efforts in Philadelphia were torn off street posts and set on fire in the middle of Chestnut Street between 48th and 47th streets. First responders arrived on the scene within minutes to put out the flames. A few small fires (most of which were contained to trash cans) peppered the street. For his part, Hall said he turned out to protest after watching what he described as “the rebellion” play out Monday.“It’s not looting. It’s a rebellion,” he said. “You want to take our lives? We’ll hit you in your pockets.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet 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.

Passenger hanging out van window falls and dies after killing bicyclist, Vegas cops say

“There’s no reason behind this that I can tell you why it occurred, other than complete stupidity.”

Charlie Hebdo sparks Turkish fury with cartoon of Erdogan

Turkey on Tuesday accused French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo of "cultural racism" over a front-page cartoon for its latest edition that mocks President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

‘White racist cops got my own dad’: Walter Wallace’s young son speaks out

An investigation has been opened into the police shooting of Walter Wallace who died in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon

Hillary Clinton joins Electoral College 4 years after it cost her the presidency: 'Pretty sure I'll get to vote for Joe'

Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, is one of 29 Democratic electors for New York state in 2020.

US Air Force F-16s intercepted an unauthorized aircraft flying in a restricted area over a Trump rally

When President Donald Trump saw the F-16 deploy signal flares, he told a crowd that they were putting on a display for him.

Duchess of Sussex seeks to avoid trial over Mail on Sunday privacy claim

The Duchess of Sussex has applied to have her privacy and copyright claims against the Mail on Sunday decided by a judge now, avoiding the need for a trial. Her legal team will on Thursday ask for summary judgment to be handed down in lieu of the trial, which is scheduled to begin in January, arguing that the newspaper has no chance of success. It is also considering an application to strike out the defence for the privacy aspect of the case. The application will be heard by Justice Warby at the High Court. If successful, it would mean the Duchess, 39, would no longer have to give evidence, or face her father, Thomas Markle, in court. The Duchess is suing Associated Newspapers, owners of the Mail on Sunday, Daily Mail and MailOnline for publication of a story featuring extracts of a "private and confidential" letter she sent her father, Thomas Markle, in 2018. She claims the article was a breach of privacy and copyright. A summary judgment and strike out application can be brought when one party believes it has an overwhelmingly strong case. The Duchess’s legal team has said it does not believe that the Mail on Sunday’s case has a chance of succeeding and therefore, that there is no “compelling reason” for trial. “We are confident in our case and therefore believe it should be determined on a summary basis,” a source said. If the judge rules that some or all of the claims should proceed to a trial then the Duchess will apply to adjourn the case. She will also appeal against the ruling that Finding Freedom, a tell-all biography about the Sussexes, can be used as evidence by the newspaper. The 350-page book was thrust to the heart of the case after its publication in August due to its startling level of detail about the couple’s innermost thoughts and feelings. The Mail on Sunday successfully argued that it should be allowed to include details from the biography in its defence, suggesting it was proof that the Duchess permitted details of her life to be shared with authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand. A source close to the Duchess said the application to adjourn the case was due to the volume of work required now that the biography had been included. “It is a massive expansion of the case,” the source said. “The volume of additional evidence, disclosures and research required could not meet the original timetable.” Francesca Kaye, a Master of the Chancery Division, ruled in September: "Meghan says she had nothing to do with the information in the public domain, including the book, either directly or indirectly. "She says, 'It was not me and had nothing to do with me', which is a simple case. If it's a house of cards, then it will fall down quickly at trial. But I'm satisfied it is arguable." The Duchess has denied cooperating with them.

Trump: 'Seven days from now, we’re going to win Nebraska'

“Seven days from now, we’re going to win Nebraska,” President Trump said in Omaha, the largest city in the state which resides in the 2nd District, and added, “You know we have to win both Nebraskas, you’re two, you’re cut.”

Chicago sisters accused of stabbing employee 27 times after being asked to wear a mask

Two sisters entered a small shop in Chicago on Sunday when they were approached by a worker who asked them to wear a mask and to use hand sanitizer to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 according to Karie James who is a police spokesperson, the Chicago Sun Times reported. The argument escalated and the women Jessica Hill, 21, and Jayla Hill, 18, are accused of attacking the man. Jessica pulled a knife out of her back pocket and began stabbing the 32-year-old man.

Tony Chung: Hong Kong activist detained near US embassy charged

Tony Chung was detained as he reportedly planned to claim asylum at the US consulate.

A US embassy staffer drugged and sexually abused at least 23 women and kept the evidence on his iCloud account, prosecutors say

Brian Jeffrey Raymond had more than 400 photos and videos that showed the scope of his abuse, according to prosecutors.

Biden campaigns in Atlanta, notes how remarkable it is that Democrats are competitive in Georgia

Speaking at a drive-in campaign rally in Atlanta on Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden said that there weren’t a lot of pundits in 2016 who would have guessed that the “Democratic candidate for president in 2020 would be campaigning in Georgia” in the final week of the election.

Trump rushes struggling GOP senator at rally: 'You got one minute, they don't want to hear this'

President hurried Arizona Senator Martha McSally before calling up three politicians from other states - plus Nigel Farage - to address the crowd

Hackers breach Trump campaign website, threaten to release 'evidence' of crimes

The Trump campaign's website was briefly hacked late Tuesday, with the culprits posting a typo-riddled message on the site threatening to release "evidence" of the president's "criminal involvement" in a supposed scheme to sway next week's election. The hackers, whose identity was not immediately known, only managed to crack into the Trump website's "about" page. The rest of the website ...

'A big win for justice!': Texas officials scrap rule that would allow social workers to deny LGBTQ, disabled clients

After backlash, Texas officials have reversed a rule that would have allowed social workers to turn away clients who are LGBTQ or have a disability.

Jack Dorsey says the New York Post Twitter account will remain locked until it deletes the original tweet featuring its Hunter Biden story

Dorsey spoke during a committee hearing on Section 230, the law that states tech firms cannot be held liable for content published on their platforms.

Pilot killed as Taiwan fighter jet crashes into sea

A Taiwanese pilot was killed Thursday after his fighter jet crashed off the island's eastern coast during routine training, the air force said, in the second fatal air crash in three months.

Megyn Kelly slams Sunny Hostin over SCOTUS comments: ‘More intentionally dishonest than stupid’

Megyn Kelly is no stranger to controversy and being called out on social media, but this week she was the one taking the offensive against Sunny Hostin for what she believes to be “intentionally dishonest” rhetoric. Hostin, who serves as a co-host and political analyst on The View, slammed the Republican Party on Tuesday for stealing seats from the Democrats and pushing through right-wing judges in their place. “We all know the Republican Party has been packing the Supreme Court for decades,” Hostin said.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe told to pack bag for prison over new charge

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been summoned to court in Iran and told to pack a bag for prison, as her family called on the British government to urgently change its strategy in securing her release. Richard Ratcliffe, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband, said she had been told to face an Iranian judge in court next Monday to face a new charge brought against her and that she would be returned to the country's notorious Evin prison. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who holds dual British and Iranian nationality, was detained in Iran in 2016 while visiting her family and convicted on dubious spying charges, as part of an apparent attempt by Iran to use her as a hostage in negotiations with Britain. “Yesterday Nazanin was suddenly told that she will be facing Judge Salavati in Court on Monday November 2. She was told to pack a bag for prison and bring it with her when the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] pick her up, since that is where she will be going after court,” Mr Ratcliffe said in a statement on Wednesday. She had been due to attend a trial in September to face new charges against her, but that hearing was postponed. Mr Ratcliffe added that he recently discussed her case with Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, who is said to have reassured him that diplomatic efforts to free his wife were “ongoing.”

FBI arrests five in U.S. accused of trying to coerce political dissenters to return to China

A note left on the door of one victim read, "If you are willing to go back to mainland and spend 10 years in prison, your wife and children will be all right."

Venezuela's Maduro says Amuay refinery was hit by a 'terrorist attack'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday said the country's Amuay oil refinery was victim of a terrorist attack on Tuesday that involved a "powerful weapon", but said the country had gasoline reserves equivalent to 20 days of consumption. An explosion hit a distillation unit at the 645,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) plant on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter said, though there were no reports of injuries. "Yesterday, the Amuay refinery - one of the most important refineries in Venezuela and Latin America - was attacked with a long, powerful weapon," Maduro said at a press conference, adding that the government was seeking to determine what kind of weapon was involved.

AOC claps back at Trump for mocking her education

‘Plenty of people without college degrees could run this country better than Trump ever has’ says AOC

Florida man charged with changing governor's voting address

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis couldn't initially cast his ballot this week because someone illegally changed his address online, a complication that resulted in a suspect's arrest on felony charges and raised questions about the security of the state’s online registration system. DeSantis went to an early voting site in Tallahassee on Monday to cast his ballot, but was told his address had been changed from the governor's mansion to 2185 Pretty Lane, a small apartment complex in West Palm Beach, 420 miles (675 kilometers) away. The problem was quickly fixed and the Republican governor and close ally of President Donald Trump was allowed to vote.

'One step closer': Virginia judge rules Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond can be removed pending possible appeal

An attorney for the plaintiffs says his clients will appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. Four other statues have already come down.

Republican Sen. Mike Lee said fact-checking is a form of censorship

The comment was made during a Senate hearing in which Republicans said Twitter, Facebook, and Google are discriminating against conservatives views.

US says 'very real' risk of Turkey sanctions over Russian arms

A US official warned Wednesday that NATO ally Turkey faced a risk of sanctions after it defiantly tested Russia's S-400 air defense system.

Hurricane Zeta makes landfall in Louisiana as Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Hurricane Zeta, which has been increasing in intensity and speed all day, is making landfall in southeast Louisiana as a Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds, according to the 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Zeta, which is traveling at a brisk 24 mph, is almost a Category 3 hurricane, which is considered a major hurricane. A Category 3 hurricane has ...

Mother’s body decayed for years in home she shared with her adult children, TN cops say

Police found her skeleton buried under a pile of clothes on a bed

Chicago sisters accused of stabbing store security guard 27 times after he asked them to wear a mask

The incident occurred at a shoe store in Chicago.

Lab experiment suggests flu shots could help fight off coronavirus infections

Flu shots are already considered an important factor in combating the coronavirus pandemic, since widespread inoculations will hopefully help prevent medical facilities from becoming overwhelmed by dual diseases. But new research suggests flu shots may also play some role in preventing COVID-19 infections in the first place, The Scientific American reports.A study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that workers at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands who received a flu shot during the 2019-20 season were 39 percent less likely than their colleagues to test positive for the coronavirus as of June 1, 2020. Non-vaccinated employees contracted the virus at a 2.23 percent rate, compared to only 1.33 percent of those who were vaccinated.The preliminary research would certainly require further clinical trials — though the author of the study noted it would be unethical to compel a control group of subjects to be denied a flu shot — and there could be several reasons why the vaccinated group staved off infection more easily, including the possibility that they are generally more health conscious and took more COVID-19 precautions.Still, there have been other studies that hint at a possible link between flu shots (and other vaccines, for that matter) and lower COVID-19 risk. Additionally, the Radboud research team conducted a laboratory experiment in which they took blood cells from healthy individuals, purified them, and exposed some of them to a flu vaccine. After allowing the cells to grow for a few days, the researchers exposed them to the coronavirus. A day later they found that the vaccinated cells produced more of several kinds of immune molecules that fight off pathogens than those that were initially left alone. Read more at The Scientific American.More stories from theweek.com How to make an election crisis 64 things President Trump has said about women Republicans are on the verge of a spectacular upside-down achievement

Blame Game Begins After Trump’s Nebraska Rally Sh*tshow

President Donald Trump went to Omaha, Nebraska Tuesday night hoping to boost his chances of winning the area’s competitive electoral college vote.But he left a logistical mess in his wake at Eppley Airfield as scores of people were left trying to get back to their vehicles via buses from the large-scale event in the midst of a raging pandemic.Trump’s rallies during the pandemic have already worried health experts because, even when they’re outdoors, the large events feature little in the way of social distancing and lax mask-wearing from the audience. But the logistical issues in Omaha likely only compound the existing anxieties over holding such big events and gathering so many people together at a time when health experts are still sounding the alarm over the deadly coronavirus.No Lockdown, No Problem, Says Nebraska GOP Guv as Cases RiseThe Omaha World-Herald reported there were hundreds left stranded for “up to three hours in freezing temperatures,” as they attempted to leave the event via chartered buses.A spokesperson for the Omaha Police Department said in an email that “buses loaded and hauled approximately 25,000 people to the event site over a 10 hour period of time,” from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the start of the event. But estimates about how many people headed to the airfield have varied, and the spokesperson noted the numbers were preliminary.Officer Michael Pecha, a public information officer with the Omaha Police Department, said that six people were taken to area hospitals with a variety of medical conditions. “Those needing medical attention were contacted by medics over the duration of the event, not just at the end,” he said in the email. > Thousands of people left out in the cold and stranded in Omaha, Nebraska after a Trump rally. I’m told the shuttles aren’t operating & there aren’t enough busses. Police didn’t seem to know what to do. Some walked. I saw at least one woman getting medical attention. pic.twitter.com/oIkmixaZt0> > — Jeff Paul (@Jeff_Paul) October 28, 2020Those in the crowd “flooded to the waiting buses” around the time the rally ended at about 9 p.m., according to the Omaha Police Department. As a result, a large number of people decided to walk to their cars, OPD said, even though the closest parking lot was about 2.5 miles away.Those on foot snarled traffic “and delayed bus trips considerably,” Pecha said in the email, noting that law enforcement worked to help as best they could. “Many people underestimated the distance from the event back to the parking lot on foot. The last person was loaded into a bus from the rally site at about 11:50 p.m.,” Pecha said.Derek Oden, executive director of the Douglas County Republican Party, said in an email that the rally “had 3 times the expected number” of attendees. He raved about “an amazing atmosphere; tailgating, positive, flags, vendors everywhere” but, post-event, he said the “real problem was the 40 shuttle buses (cap. 54/each) were getting trapped in the unload parking lot and unable to make returns quickly.”“A lot of police driving back and forth along the hike and stopping for folks having trouble with the hike,” Oden said in the email. “Overall, it was a lot of fun.”A spokesperson for the Trump campaign responded to the aftermath of the event in an email saying, “President Trump loves his supporters and was thrilled to visit Omaha last night,” while also touting that “despite the cold, tens of thousands of people showed up for his rally.”Samantha Zager, the Trump campaign’s deputy national press secretary, blamed “local road closures and resulting congestion” for the delays but added that “at the guest departure location, we had tents, heaters, generators, hot cocoa, and handwarmers available for guests.”“We always strive to provide the best guest experience at our events and we care about their safety,” Zager said.On the campaign trail, the scene was criticized by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who said that “hundreds of people including older Americans and children” had been “stranded” following the event.“It’s an image that captured President Trump’s whole approach to this crisis,” Biden said, referring to the pandemic.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.

The Left Doesn’t Fear Amy Coney Barrett, It Fears the Constitution

Nothing threatens the progressive project more than the existence of a Supreme Court that adheres to the Constitution. It’s really that simple.That’s what the tantrum over Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation is all about. The notion that the same Democrats who shelved the judicial filibuster and now threaten to destroy the separation of powers with a Court-packing revenge scheme -- the same people, incidentally, so fond of smear-drenched confirmation hearings -- are sticklers for process or decorum is simply ludicrous.For one thing, no norms have been undone by the confirmation of Barrett. If Democrats won a Senate majority in 2016, Merrick Garland would already be ensconced in the Supreme Court, election or no election. Many of the same Democrats now feigning outrage over Barrett’s confirmation, including Joe Biden, argued back then that it was the constitutional duty of the Senate to take up a vote. Our living constitution apparently offers contradicting directions from one election to the next.If Trump had nominated Garland to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Democrats wouldn’t have any problem placing him on the Court -- not even on November 2. Liberals act as if they are imbued with a theological right to dictate not only the terms, but also the nominees, of confirmation hearings whether they win or lose elections.And when you’re under the impression that the system exists solely to facilitate your partisan agenda, something will seem “broken” every time you lose. When Barack Obama was unable to pass his agenda after 2010, the system suffered from “dysfunction.” How many times did we hear that term? But now that Democrats are in the Senate minority, employing the very same tools to slow the president, we must “fix” the Electoral College, the Senate, and, most recently, the Supreme Court. If Democrats win back the presidency in 2020, the opposition will no longer be “resisting,” it will be “obstructing.” The filibuster will need fixing again. The media will again obsess over the problem of “gridlock.” History’s trajectory arcs left, and everything else is just an impediment.The Left has been relying on the same brand of fearmongering over Republican-appointed judges for nearly 40 years. The only difference is that the hysteria has been ratcheted up to stratospheric levels. Yesterday, MSNBC's Chris Hayes declared that Judge Barrett’s confirmation had “led to the deaths of probably 100,000 Americans.” (I do appreciate that the host slipped in the word “probably,” as if he were seriously calculating the death tolls, rather than saying something utterly insane.)He wasn’t alone. Ahead of the Barrett vote, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer claimed this “will go down as one of the darkest days in the 231-year history of the United States Senate.” For contemporary Democrats, the day the GOP confirmed a wholly capable and highly accomplished woman to the highest Court in the land -- using the process prescribed under which every justice in history has been confirmed -- is as infamous as the filibuster of the Civil Rights Act or the caning of Charles Sumner.To be fair, Schumer argued that a resolution against Trump’s removal earlier this year was also “one of the darker moments in Senate history” and also that passage of the watered-down Republican tax-reform passage was “one of the darkest . . . days in the long history of this Senate.” So, basically, any time Chuck Schumer loses is the new darkest day in history.Once Barrett’s confirmation became a reality, however, Democrats began turning to the real problem. Originalism is the stick in the spoke of progressivism. This crusade has the demagogues leading the idiots. The former are people such as Massachusetts senator Ed Markey, who alleges that “originalism is racist. Originalism is sexist. Originalism is homophobic. Originalism is just a fancy word for discrimination.” The latter are the minions who regurgitate this kind of vacuous talking point because they lack a basic comprehension of legal philosophies or civic education that includes an explainer on “amendments.”None of which is to say the radicalized contemporary Left has nothing to fear. Yesterday, Schumer warned: “A warming planet. Workers falling behind. Dark money flooding politics. The curtailing of the right to choose. The limiting of voting rights. Those are the consequences of this nomination.”What he means, of course, is that an originalist-majority Court may slow progressive environmentalist policies that undermine personal freedom and local sovereignty. He means that the Court may make it more difficult for Democrats to adopt policies that compel workers to join and fund unions and chip away at the Janus decision. He means lawmakers may not be able continue gnawing at Citizens United and weakening First Amendment protections. He means that unlimited third-trimester abortions on demand and funded by the state might be in trouble, that attacks on religious freedom might be blunted, and that states may be obligated to follow their own laws on Election Day rather than concoct rules as they go along.Now, I have little doubt that a textualist court will let down partisan Republicans as well. Originalists disagree with one another quite often. But it is unlikely to overturn the traditional role of the state in American life. None of which means that liberals have to lose, only that to win, they’ll have to do so on the Constitution’s terms. The problem is that many would rather destroy it than do so. That’s what this debate is about. The rest is just noise.

Jeff Bezos may be considering purchase of CNN, according to bankers

Rumours of the purchase stem from investment bankers discussing the potential sale

Jeff Van Drew, congressman who ditched Democrats for Trump, struggling in reelection race

A congressman who switched from the Democratic Party to join Republican ranks is struggling in his ace for reelection.

Azerbaijan says 21 dead in Armenia missile attack

Azerbaijan accused Armenia of killing 21 people and wounding dozens in a missile strike near Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday, the deadliest reported attack on civilians in a month of fighting over the disputed region.

A mutated coronavirus strain causes most new COVID-19 infections in Europe and was spread within the continent by tourists, scientists say

The coronavirus variant, known as 20A.EU1, has been identified in 12 European countries as well as in Hong Kong and New Zealand, scientists said.

Nevada dad accused of throwing newborn baby off balcony during argument

Clarence Martin, Jr. allegedly suffered from “mental issues.” A newborn was allegedly thrown from the second-floor balcony by her father on Saturday around 4 a.m. in  Las Vegas. Clarence Martin, Jr. was arguing with the infant’s mother, Nicole Poole, when he snatched her away to the balcony of their apartment and didn’t return with her moments later, according to People.

Two men, company that ran Pennsylvania hotels convicted of sex, drug trafficking

Two Bartonsville men and a company that ran hotels in Stroudsburg and Bartonsville have been convicted of sex and drug trafficking crimes in a precedent setting case.

Tourist, 12, and guide lose limbs in shark attack at Sharm El-Sheikh

A young Ukrainian tourist lost an arm and an Egyptian tour guide lost a leg in a rare shark attack over the weekend off Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, officials said on Tuesday. The attack took place on Sunday when two tourists - a mother and her son - and their tour guide were snorkelling in Ras Mohammed national park, the Environment Ministry said. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital and an initial investigation showed that the attack involved a 2m-long (6-foot) Oceanic Whitetip shark. The ministry did not release details of the injuries, but a statement by Ukraine's State Agency for the Development of Tourism said that the 12-year-old boy was in intensive care, and that surgery had failed to save his arm. An Egyptian health official said that the family's guide had lost a leg, and the mother suffered light injuries. The health official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media. Officials have closed the area of Ras Mohammed National Park where the attack took place. Shark attacks have been rare in the Red Sea coastal region of Egypt in recent years. But in 2010, a spate of shark attacks killed one European tourist and maimed several others off Sharm el-Sheikh. Sharm el-Sheikh resort at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula is one of Egypt's major tourist destinations that offers European tourists a warm and quick escape from frigid winter temperatures on the continent. Divers are drawn by the steep drop-offs of coral reefs just offshore that offer a rich and colourful sea life. Authorities have in recent years sought to revive the vital tourism sector battered by years of instability and, more recently, the coronavirus pandemic.

Asked if it's safe to hold rally amid surging COVID-19 infections, White House spokesperson notes Pence has 'the best doctors'

White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley really missed the point of this question.On Wednesday, CNN's Alisyn Camerota questioned Gidley on Vice President Mike Pence's upcoming rally in Wisconsin, where COVID-19 is spreading rampantly. "Hospitals in Wisconsin are near capacity," Camerota noted, asking if that gave Gidley or Pence "any pause about going there and holding a big rally."The implication of Camerota's question was the safety of rallygoers, who would likely pack in to see Pence and potentially spread the coronavirus even more. But Gidley didn't catch that, saying "the vice president has the best doctors in the world around him," and they've "come to the conclusion it's fine for him to be out on the campaign trail."> CNN's @AlisynCamerota: "Hospitals in WI are near capacity. Does that give you any pause about going there and holding a big rally?"> > Trump 2020 Press Sec. Hogan Gidley: "No, it doesn't … the VP has the best doctors in the world around him." pic.twitter.com/aBRe6IYgCF> > -- The Recount (@therecount) October 28, 2020Joe Walsh, the Republican who challenged President Trump in this year's presidential primary, had an R-rated interpretation of what Gidley meant. > .@JHoganGidley, translated: "Fuck all the people coming to our rally. We don't care about THEIR health. The Vice President will be safe. That's all that matters." https://t.co/emudll3NfK> > -- Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 28, 2020More stories from theweek.com How to make an election crisis 64 things President Trump has said about women Republicans are on the verge of a spectacular upside-down achievement

Lindsey Graham Is Being Boosted by a Tea Party Group That Has Always Hated Him

It’s no secret that Sen. Lindsey Graham is in the fight of his political life in the closing days of his campaign to win reelection to the U.S. Senate.“I’m getting overwhelmed,” Graham begged on-air with Fox News’ Sean Hannity last month, as his Democratic rival Jaime Harrison brought in a record-shattering $57 million in donations to unseat him. “Help me—they’re killing me money-wise. Help me.”But with ersatz ally President Donald Trump nowhere to be seen, a group that once despised Graham—and whose most prominent members have spent months propping up bizarre conspiracy theories, posting wildly racist content on social media, and undermining confidence public health guidelines in the midst of the pandemic—are coming to the rescue.The question is, does Graham want their help?“This is not a time for us to be squabbling over differences of opinion,” Pressley Stutts, chair of the Greenville Tea Party, said at an event on Wednesday afternoon, before introducing nearly a dozen grassroots conservative leaders “to stand tall” with Graham.“Sen. Graham is in the race of his life,” said Stutts, introducing conservative activists who lambasted Harrison—or “Harris,” as several of them called him—for being a “Marxist-Leninist” who would impose socialism on South Carolina.Sam Manley, a conservative podcaster, put the stakes of the race directly: “If you ever vote your way into socialism, you’ll have to shoot your way out.”This ringing endorsement for Graham’s re-election—which included Michael LaPierre, who tried to primary Graham this year—amounts to a cease-fire between the Palmetto State’s most well-known elected official and a coterie of some of his most dedicated trolls. During the Tea Party wave in 2010, Graham—once seen as one of the most mainstream members of the Republican Party—became one of the movement’s most loathed “RINOs,” or Republicans In Name Only. Leaders of the state’s Tea Party chapters attempted to recruit then-Gov. Mark Sanford to primary Graham after he voted to confirm Justice Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, and one speaker at a Greenville Tea Party rally that year made accused Graham of “trying to sell out your own countrymen” to avoid being outed.For his part, Graham once relished his battles with the state’s most conservative activists, calling the inter-party skirmishes “more fun than any time I’ve been in politics,” but with polls showing Graham in a statistical dead heat with Harrison, the senator is scrambling to resolve those well-documented problems with voters who have largely moved from the Tea Party to Team MAGA—even though the group’s brand of politics couldn’t be less in sync with Graham’s own.Stutts, the group’s chair, is a longtime critic of vaccinations, and has publicly discouraged people from wearing face masks during the coronavirus pandemic and spread the conspiracy theory that billionaire Bill Gates is working to reduce the human population.Why Hasn’t Trump Come to Lindsey Graham’s Rescue?Stutts has even claimed in an April interview that a potential vaccine for COVID-19 could possibly “contain a microchip” for the government to track its citizens.“Even if it doesn’t contain a microchip, I could foresee the day, because right now you have to show your ID or your passport and here in South Carolina, we have to get that real ID just to fly commercially,” Stutts said on a conservative YouTube vlog at the time. “And I can see the point where they're going to say, okay, show me your vaccination papers next.”At one Greenville Tea Party event in 2018, Stutts even hosted a talk with Jennifer Smith, who described herself as a “naturopath,” who referenced the baseless theory that vaccines cause autism and said that she did not get her newborn son vaccinated for Hepatitus B because he was “not a promiscuous homosexual” or an IV drug user.Among the group’s other featured speakers at recent events include John Guandolo, the leader of a Dallas-based anti-Muslim group who was forced last year to pay $600,000 in a civil lawsuit for assaulting a county sheriff after the man confronted him about passing around hate literature at a meeting of the National Sheriffs’ Association.The group has also held protests against social distancing rules in South Carolina, which Graham has said are critical to stopping the spread of the virus, despite rising rates of infection in the state.“Tired of putting up with an onerous and inept government?” the group posted on Facebook in September. “Join us September 15th and let your voice be heard, too. Our legislators need to know that we've had enough! Show up. Stand up. Speak up! It's your family that has been negatively affected… ThugArmy mount up!!”Greenville Tea Party members and business partners have made even more extreme claims. Dan Harvell, a taxpayer advocate who spoke at Wednesday’s event and said that he was supporting Graham for the sake of “the traditional American values that we will have for our children,” has posted memes claiming that Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for vice president, slept her way to becoming San Francisco’s district attorney, and has called former first lady Michelle Obama a “race-baiter.”The Graham campaign did not respond to a request for comment about whether he disavowed the support of the Greenville Tea Party and its members, and neither did the group. But state Democrats called the dynamic of Graham playing along with a group he once despised the latest in a long arc of allowances the senator has made under Trump.“This is yet another demonstration of the extreme lengths Sen. Graham is going to in order to save his flailing campaign,” said Manuel Bonder, coordinated campaign spokesperson for the South Carolina Democratic Party. “Instead of scrambling to consolidate his support amongst fringe conspiracy theorists who know he is a hypocrite, Sen. Graham should focus on leading South Carolina through this crisis and delivering the relief working families and businesses desperately need.”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.

Body of missing hip-hop artist found in trunk after Miami car crash

Robert Deupree Avery Coltrain was arrested and charged with illegal transport of human remains and second-degree murder in the death of Brian Trotter.