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Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/06/19/claudette-threatens-gulf-coast-floods-tornadoes/7753045002/

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Sunday accused the Biden administration of being “in bed with Big Tech,” making the argument that comments made by White House press secretary Jen Psaki last week have only strengthened former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit accusing Facebook and Twitter of censorship. 

“I kind of wonder if Jen Psaki is on the payroll of Donald Trump because her press conference strengthened President Trump’s lawsuit against Big Tech,” Cruz said in an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” “It makes clear that everything we thought about the Biden administration – about their willingness to trample on free speech, to trample on the Constitution, to use government power to silence you, everything we feared they might do, they are doing and worse. And I think that President Trump’s lawsuit got much, much stronger this week.” 

As coronavirus cases are on the rise and vaccination rates have slowed in the U.S., the White House launched an effort to crack down on misinformation, starting with a warning from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy that bogus information about coronavirus is an “urgent threat” to public health. 

The surgeon general’s office issued a new report titled, “Confronting Health Misinformation,” that makes recommendations for social media platforms to “impose clear consequences for accounts that repeatedly violate platform policies.”

WHITE HOUSE DOUBLES DOWN ON ITS HARSH CRITICISM OF FACEBOOK FOLLOWING BIDEN’S ‘KILLING’ REMARKS 

Psaki doubled down on the administration’s relationship with Facebook on Friday and said it is “making sure social media platforms are aware of the latest narratives,” and even added that if a user is banned from one platform “for providing misinformation” that user should be banned from all others. 

“We don’t take anything down. We don’t block anything, Facebook, and any private sector company makes decisions about what information should be on their platform,” Psaki said in defense of the relationship and reported this week that 12 people are to blame for 65% of anti-vaccine misinformation on social media platforms.

Speaking with host Maria Bartiromo, Cruz posed a hypothetical situation, suggesting that what Biden is doing now to pressure Facebook to act would strike a more serious chord if, for example, the White House directed a private paramilitary organization to seize Americans’ guns – then signed a law granting that paramilitary group freedom from any civil liability for its actions. 

Cruz explained that First Amendment protection apply to government censorship, but comments from the White House illustrate how private companies with a monopoly could also stamp out free speech. 

“The Supreme Court has long recognized a line of cases when government uses a private company as a tool, as an arm to implement a government policy – in this instance, when government explicitly asks a private monopoly ‘censor the following speech we disagree with,’ that that private company can be treated as a state actor,” Cruz said. 

President Joe Biden accused the tech companies of “killing people” by allowing misinformation to remain on their platforms, comments which drew a quick rebuke from Facebook. 

“The White House is looking for scapegoats for missing their vaccine goals,” a Facebook spokesperson told NBC’s Dylan Byers.

Appearing on Fox News before his speech at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit, Cruz further accused both the Democratic Party and Big Tech of being “in bed” with the Chinese Communist Party. 

“Big Tech is in bed with the Chinese communists,” Cruz said. “Among the biggest funders of the Democratic Party are the giant corporations. And many of the giant corporations, the Fortune 50 and the Fortune 500, are in bed with the Chinese communists.” 

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His examples included Biden nominating Linda Thomas-Greenfield as his United Nations ambassador despite her making a speech at a Chinese-funded Confucius Institute event, the State Department reversing its policy to ban Taiwanese flags on U.S. government property to appease the Chinese government and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee rejecting a Green New Deal amendment that would have banned the purchase of electric cars from the region in China where the Uyghurs are being held in concentration camps. 

Fox News’ Emma Colton, Marisa Schultz and Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report. 

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cruz-biden-big-tech-in-bed-vaccine-controversy

“Nos declaramos en legítima rebeldía”, el video del capitán Caguaripano que se rebeló contra el gobierno de Maduro en Venezuela

Las autoridades de Venezuela buscan a 10 hombres que habrían participado en un ataque perpetrado la madrugada de este domingo contra una base del Ejército en Valencia, Carabobo, un estado del centro norte del país, fugándose con el armamento adquirido allí.

Así lo informó por televisión el presidente Nicolás Maduro, quien felicitó a la Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana (FANB) por haber retomado el control del Fuerte de Paramacay.

Maduro aseguró que el asalto, que comenzó a las 3:50 hora local, había sido obra de “20 mercenarios”.

Además, dijo que se saldó con dos asaltantes muertos, uno herido y siete detenidos, quienes según los medios locales fueron trasladados a Caracas.

“Entre las 5:00 y las 8:00 hubo combates internos (…) Hubo dos abatidos por el fuego leal a la patria, uno está herido. De estos 10 que quedaron, nueve son civiles y uno es un teniente desertor desde hace varios meses que ha sido capturado y está colaborando activamente”, explicó el mandatario.

Derechos de autor de la imagen
Twitter

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El ministro de Comunicaciones venezolano publicó esta foto en su Twitter.

Horas antes, el almirante Remigio Ceballos, jefe del Estado Mayor conjunto del Comando Estratégico Operacional de la Fuerza Armada, describió el incidente como “un ataque terrorista delictivo paramilitar”.

Por su parte, la FANB informó que la acción “fue ejecutada por un grupo de delincuentes civiles portando prendas militares y un primer teniente en situación de deserción”.

Pese a las detenciones, “parte del grupo logró sustraer algunas armas y está bajo intensa búsqueda“, en la que participa al menos un helicóptero. Además, varios vehículos militares están patrullando las calles de Valencia.

Derechos de autor de la imagen
AFP

Image caption

Al menos un helicóptero participa en la operación de búsqueda de los huidos tras el ataque.

En un principio hubo manifestaciones en la ciudad en apoyo al incidente, pero fueron dispersadas con gas lacrimógeno, según contaron varios testigos.

“Legítima rebeldía”

Mientras, un video que circuló en las redes sociales mostraba a un grupo de hombres vestidos con uniformes militares que afirmaban haber lanzado un levantamiento “para restaurar la democracia” en Venezuela.

En el video del supuesto grupo alzado quien habla se identifica como capitán Juan Caguaripano, y dice ser el comandante de la Brigada 41 en Valencia, Carabobo.

Derechos de autor de la imagen
Youtube

Image caption

Caguaripano difundió un video en 2014 en el que protestó contra el gobierno de Maduro.

Afirma declararse en “legítima rebeldía (…) para desconocer la tiranía asesina de Nicolás Maduro”.

“Aclaramos que esto no es un golpe de Estado, es una acción cívica y militar para restablecer el orden constitucional, pero más aún para salvar al país de la destrucción total”.

En 2014, Caguaripano ya hizo un video en el que llamaba a los uniformados a “salvar el país”.

La FANB dijo en el comunicado que un “oficial subalterno” detenido en la operación fue separado del cargo hace tres años “por traición a la patria y rebelión”, por lo que huyó y recibió protección en Miami.

Según el comunicado, los detenidos confesaron haber sido contratados “por activistas de la extrema derecha venezolana en conexión con gobiernos extranjeros”.

Derechos de autor de la imagen
AFP

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El hecho ocurre un día después de que la nueva Asamblea Constituyente retiró de su cargo a la fiscal Luisa Ortega.

El gobierno acusa a la oposición de estar conspirando para que se produzca una intervención extranjera en un país, que está bajo una grave crisis económica y política.

En el comunicado de la Fuerza Armada se califica el ataque de este domingo como un “show propagandístico, una entelequia, un paso desesperado que forma parte de los planes desestabilizadores”.

Derechos de autor de la imagen
Reuters

Image caption

Durante la jornada en Valencia se produjeron enfrentamientos entre manifestantes y fuerzas de seguridad.

Desde las 4:00 de la madrugada

El ataque que denunciaron las autoridades llega un día después de la primera sesión de la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente, el cuerpo con poderes absolutos controlado por el oficialismo y que la oposición y varios países extranjeros no reconocen, y tras más de cuatro meses de protestas antigubernamentales que han dejado más de 120 muertos.

La periodista Tibisay Romero, presente cerca del fuerte Paramacay, contó a BBC Mundo cómo estaba la situación a las afueras del complejo militar horas después del ataque.

Derechos de autor de la imagen
Getty Images

Image caption

Los enfrentamientos se produjeron después del ataque a la base militar.

“Una tanqueta de la Guardia Nacional y detrás de ella un pelotón de guardias llegaron y dispararon gases lacrimógenos para dispersar a la gente que estaba concentrada y que gritaba ‘libertad'”, afirmó sobre un grupo de simpatizantes que se acercó al fuerte.

“Desde las 4:00 de la mañana están tirando tiros”, dijo a Romero una vecina del lugar que pidió no ser identificada. La señora afirmó que por su casa pasaron “muchas ambulancias” hacia el cercano complejo militar.

Durante la jornada en Valencia se produjeron enfrentamientos entre manifestantes y fuerzas de seguridad.

Derechos de autor de la imagen
AFP

Image caption

El agente de policía Óscar Pérez aún sigue huido tras su ataque con un helicóptero en el centro de Caracas el 28 de junio.

No es el primer ataque de este tipo en Venezuela. El 28 de junio, Oscar Pérez, agente del Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas, Penales y Criminalísticas (CICPC), robó un helicóptero y realizó un ataque contra las sedes del Ministerio del Interior y del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (TSJ) y desde entonces está en paradero desconocido.

Source Article from http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-40844011

The change was caused, in part, by another strained trade relationship that developed under the Trump administration. The Port of Los Angeles’s top trading country is China, and the ongoing trade war between the two nations contributed to a 3 percent decline in trade through the California port in the first four months of 2019.

But some here worry that Mexico could eventually lose patience with the Trump administration’s trade tactics, souring the relationship.

The need for trade with Mexico is readily apparent to Ruben Norton, 36, who runs a sporting goods store with his father just blocks from the border checkpoint. Their business, first opened in 1947, is dependent on that cross-border commerce.

“Without Mexico, this place and Laredo is a ghost town,” Norton said, gesturing around his store. “With everything we’re doing, at what point do we jab them enough that Mexico just gives us the middle finger?”

The end of the tariff threat?

Friday’s announcement did not necessarily indicate the end of tensions.

The U.S.-Mexico Joint Declaration states that the two countries would “continue their discussions on the terms of additional understandings to address irregular migrant flows and asylum issues, to be completed and announced within 90 days, if necessary.”

The New York Times reported Saturday that the two neighbors had come to this agreement months ago, leading to allegations the president had manufactured both the crisis and its conclusion.

The president denied the Times report Sunday morning on Twitter.

A White House official confirmed to NBC News that Mexico had already agreed to send troops to its southern border and take U.S. asylum seekers as they wait for their legal cases in the U.S. to proceed, as The Times had reported. In the latest declaration, Mexico will send 600 more soldiers to its southern border and speed up its timeline for other portions of the agreement.

The official noted the White House planned to take a wait-and-see approach, leaving enough room to force another negotiation if the president finds Mexico’s actions ineffective.

The possibility of more negotiations and Trump’s tweet on Sunday that the United States “can always go back to our previous, very profitable, position of Tariffs,” offers little comfort to the people of Laredo, where a level of fear and uncertainty continues to linger despite the relief some felt Friday night after the announcement.

“It’s great we don’t have them starting Monday. That’s awesome,” Gonzalez said. “No one has to worry about Monday. I don’t have to worry about Tuesday and Mexico retaliating. But what happens in 90 days? As we get closer, this administration seems to like to do things at the last minute. Every administration likes to do things different, but how do businesses plan for that? It causes chaos.”

This business community has already felt the squeeze of the Trump administration’s tariffs.

Source Article from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-border-town-feels-stress-trump-tariff-threat-against-mexico-n1015551

Image copyright
Reuters

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Las diferencias entre Estados Unidos y Cuba en torno a los derechos humanos afloraron rápidamente en la conferencia de prensa.

“Dame la lista ahora mismo de los presos políticos para soltarlos. Menciónala ahora”.

Así respondió el presidente de Cuba, Raúl Castro, a una pregunta que le formuló un periodista durante la conferencia de prensa conjunta que ofreció este lunes en La Habana con el presidente Barack Obama, quien se encuentra realizando una histórica visita a la isla.

Castro, quien no suele hablar con la prensa nacional o internacional, lució visiblemente irritado por la sugerencia del reportero de la cadena CNN Jim Acosta de que en Cuba existen presos políticos.

“Si hay esos presos políticos, antes de que llegue la noche van a estar sueltos”, afirmó el mandatario.

Previamente, el propio Obama había respondido a una pregunta de Acosta, asegurando que él se había reunido en el pasado con cubanos que habían estado sujetos a detenciones arbitrarias.

¿Hay o no presos políticos?

Las declaraciones de Raúl Castro apuntan a uno de los principales temas en disputa entre Cuba y Estados Unidos: las supuestas violaciones de los derechos humanos que se dan en la isla y que denuncian Washington y relevantes organizaciones internacionales.

“Nos oponemos al doble rasero sobre los derechos humanos. Cuba tiene mucho que decir y mostrar en esta materia”, dijo Castro durante su declaración a la prensa, y afirmó que su gobierno defiende los derechos humanos y que “los derechos civiles, políticos, económicos, sociales y culturales son indivisibles, interdependientes y universales”.

Image copyright
AP

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Es algo inédito que Raúl Castro responda preguntas de la prensa en Cuba.

El gobierno cubano insiste en que las personas que organizaciones de derechos humanos consideran presos de conciencia son “espías, terroristas o delincuentes comunes“, y muchas veces los llaman asalariados de Estados Unidos.

Mientras, organizaciones internacionales como Amnistía Internacional (AI) sostienen que el gobierno de La Habana se ampara en términos ambiguos para castigar a los disidentes.

Image copyright
EPA

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Integrantes de la organización opositora Damas de Blanco fueron arrestadas el domingo, horas antes de la llegada de Obama.

“Las leyes que tipificaban los ‘desórdenes públicos’, el ‘desacato’, la ‘falta de respeto’, la ‘peligrosidad’ y la ‘agresión’ se utilizaban para procesar o amenazar con procesar, por motivos políticos a opositores al gobierno”, indicó AI en un reciente informe sobre Cuba.

“Las personas críticas con el gobierno seguían siendo objeto de hostigamiento, ‘actos de repudio’ (manifestaciones encabezadas por simpatizantes del gobierno en las que participaban agentes de los servicios de seguridad del Estado)”, se señalaba.

Otro organismo supervisor de los derechos humanos, Human Rights Watch, denunció que entre enero y octubre de 2015 se produjeron 6.200 detenciones arbitrarias, o sea, arrestos breves fundamentalmente encaminados a impedir que los opositores se reúnan y organicen protestas.

La lista de presos

Después de la conferencia de prensa de Obama y Castro de este lunes, Ben Rhodes, asesor de seguridad nacional de la Casa Blanca, dijo que Estados Unidos ha compartido con las autoridades cubanas varias listas de presos políticos en los últimos dos años y medio.

Pero según Rhodes, las autoridades de la isla responden que los prisioneros se encuentran detenidos por otros delitos.

Image copyright
Getty

Image caption

Elizardo Sánchez compila listas de presos políticos desde 1987 y están avalada por Human Rights Watch.

Elizardo Sánchez, presidente de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliación Nacional, un organismo cubano de supervisión independiente que funciona desde hace décadas, ha compilado una lista de 89 personas presas actualmente por motivos políticos.

Entre ellas hay 11 de los condenados durante la llamada “Primavera Negra” de 2003, que hoy se encuentran bajo licencia extrapenal, pero sobre quienes pesan largas condenas.

En conversación con BBC Mundo, Sánchez mencionó también siete casos de personas residentes en el extranjero y condenadas a más de 20 años de cárcel sin derecho a libertad condicional por llegar a Cuba armados y con planes subversivos. En ninguno de los casos llevaron a cabo sus planes.

“Quizás este es un momento propicio para que el presidente Obama pida la liberación de los prisioneros”, aseguró Sánchez, quien está invitado este martes a una reunión con Obama.

Denuncian arrestos

Image copyright
Getty

Image caption

Rodiles, de 44 años, creó un grupo de debate llamado Estado de Sats.

Poco después de la conferencia de prensa, Antonio Rodiles, líder del grupo disidente cubano Estado de Sats, era arrestado en La Habana.

“Mi madre me contó que lo arrestaron violentamente hoy de nuevo alrededor de las 2:45 de la tarde, frente al hotel Copacabana, junto a su compañera Ailer González”, le dijo a BBC Mundo su hermana, Gladys Rodiles-Haney, quien reside en Estados Unidos.

Rodiles había sido arrestado brevemente el domingo luego de participar en una protesta pacífica en la calle y fue liberado en la noche.

“Está en marcha una verdadera oleada de represión política desde hace varios días”, aseguró Sánchez.

“Sólo esta tarde han sido detenidas una veintena de personas”, entre ellas Berta Soler, líder del grupo opositor Damas de Blanco y su esposo, Ángel Moya, quien pasó un tiempo preso.

“Obama debe hacer un mejor trabajo”

Image copyright
AP

Image caption

Obama tiene previsto reunirse con disidentes el martes en La Habana. Algunos de los invitados estaban detenidos este martes.

Aunque la reacción de Castro a la pregunta sobre los derechos humanos atrapó la atención general, algunos observadores consideraron que el presidente Obama debió reaccionar más enérgicamente.

“Cuando el presidente de Estados Unidos Barack Obama le hable al pueblo cubano mañana, debe hacer un mejor trabajo para abordar los derechos humanos de lo que hizo en la conferencia de prensa de hoy”, comentó José Manuel Vivanco, director para el hemisferio occidental de la organización Human Rights Watch.

“Es hora de ir más allá de los principios abstractos y los específicos de conversación: las detenciones arbitrarias, los sitios web bloqueados, y las leyes utilizadas para castigar la disidencia”, agregó.

Tras las detenciones del martes, la presencia de algunos opositores en la reunión prevista con Obama el martes está en duda.

Source Article from http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2016/03/160321_cuba_castro_obama_derechos_humanos_ilm

Noticias Telemundo’s “Inmigración, Trump y los Hispanos” (Immigration, Trump and the Hispanic Community) Town Hall broadcast on Sunday, February 12 at 7PM/6 C, ranked # 1 in Spanish-language TV in primetime across all key demographics, averaging 1.57 million total viewers, 708,000 adults 18 to 49 and 325,000 adults 18 to 34, according to Nielsen. The news special moderated by Noticias Telemundo News Anchor José Díaz-Balart also positioned Telemundo as the #1 Spanish-language network during the entire primetime on Sunday, across all key demos.

“Noticias Telemundo is empowering millions of Latinos with reliable and TRANSPARENT information at a time of change,” said José Díaz-Balart. “Viewers trust us because they know our only commitment is to present the facts the way they are, with professionalism and a total commitment to our community.”

“Immigration, Trump and the Hispanic Community” also reached 1.6 million viewers on Facebook, generating 23,000 global actions on the social network.

The Town Hall answered viewers’ questions about the impact of President Trump’s immigration policy on the Hispanic community. The news special featured a panel of experts, including immigration lawyer and Telemundo contributor Alma Rosa Nieto; Telemundo conservative political analyst Ana Navarro; the Deputy Vice President of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), Clarissa Martínez, and CHIRLA’s Executive Director, Angélica Salas. In addition, “El Poder en Ti”, Telemundo’s robust community initiative, launched an Internet site for Hispanics looking for information, tools and resources on immigration in parallel to the Town Hall.

“Inmigración, Trump y los Hispanos” is part of a series of Noticias Telemundo specials, including “Trump en la Casa Blanca,” produced the day after the elections, and “Trump y los Latinos,” which aired on Inauguration Day. All of these programs share an emphasis on allowing audiences to express their views and empower them by giving them access to trustworthy, rigorous and relevant information presented under Noticias Telemundo’s banner “Telling It Like It Is” (“Las Cosas Como Son” in Spanish).

Noticias Telemundo is the information unit of Telemundo Network and a leader provider in news serving the US Hispanics across all broadcast and digital platforms. Its award-winning television news broadcasts include the daily newscast “Noticias Telemundo,” the Sunday current affairs show “Enfoque con José Díaz-Balart” and the daily news and entertainment magazine “Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste.” The rapidly-growing “Noticias Telemundo Digital Team” provides continuous content to US Hispanics wherever they are, whenever they want it. Noticias Telemundo also produces award winning news specials, documentaries and news event such as political debates, forums and town halls.

Source: Nielsen L+SD IMP, 2/12/17. TEL #1 SLTV (vs UNI, UMA, AZA, ETV). Shareablee, 2/6/17-2/12/17.

Image courtesy of Telemundo.

Source Article from http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Noticias-Telemundos-IMMIGRATION-TRUMP-AND-THE-HISPANIC-COMMUNITY-Ranks-1-IN-Spanish-Language-TV-Sunday-212-20170214

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After a massive fire tore across the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, France thousands have reached out to help rebuild the iconic landmark.
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Multiple French billionaires joined an international effort this week to raise funds to rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire partially destroyed the beloved historic building.

But the speed and scale of those donations has sparked a debate about income inequality and the worthiness of the cause.

The criticism comes after Francois Henri Pinault and Bernard Arnault — both billionaires — each pledged more than $100 million to the restoration efforts. The rivals have a history of one-upmanship.

Other big French donors: Cosmetics company L’Oréal, along with The Bettencourt Meyers family and the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation.

Soon, international press coverage — including articles published by The Washington Post, Forbes and CNN — spotlighted negative reactions, often accompanied by a general sympathy for the rebuilding cause.

A common position among critics: The mega-donations prove social problems could be quickly addressed if the wealthy were motivated to do so.

Class tensions in France have recently been on display in protests tied to the “Yellow Jacket” movement. French President Emmanuel Macron has been a target of protesters who claim his government does not care about ordinary people or France’s growing social inequalities. 

So when wealthy Frenchmen quickly pledged massive donations, some associated with the movement balked. “If they can give tens of millions to rebuild Notre Dame, then they should stop telling us there is no money to help with the social emergency,” The Washington Post quotes Philippe Martinez, head of the CGT trade union.

It’s easy to find similar sentiment on social media.

“With a click of their fingers, TWO French billionaires have given €300million to restore Notre Dame. Just imagine if billionaires cared as much about uhhhh human people,” tweeted Carl Kinsella

Kinsella also wrote a widely-shared piece on the topic for Dublin-based Joe.ie. The post highlighted French poverty statistics and suggested the wealthy could solve such problems if they chose to.

And while critics have received widespread coverage, such negativity could backfire, Forbes contributor Oliver Williams wrote. As wealthy donors face scrutiny for their charitable donations, some may be hesitant to donate in the future.

The effort to rebuild, championed by Macron, has received international and high-profile support. American companies including Apple and Disney have pledged donations for the now well-funded cause.

The outpouring of support for Notre Dame has also been used by some U.S. politicians to successfully highlight other causes, such as rebuilding efforts for historically black churches in Louisiana that burned in recent arsons.

Some critics have also suggested France’s big donors stand to benefit from tax breaks for their charity, but those claims have been dismissed by multiple donors, Reuters and the Washington Post reported.

Macron has said he wants Notre Dame rebuilt in five years. But architects say the repairs could take decades.

Notre Dame, the most famous Gothic cathedral from the Middle Ages, was built over a nearly 200-year span beginning in 1163 under King Louis VII. A tourist destination known for its spectacular stained-glass windows, the church has survived the French Revolution, World War I and the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. 

Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/04/18/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-billionaires-donations-spark-backlash/3514968002/

DENVER (KDVR) — A strong, record-breaking storm system has impacted most of the western U.S. over the past 48 hours. This same storm system will move into Colorado on Tuesday bringing mountain snow, gusty winds and cooler temperatures.

As of Monday evening, 412 storm reports were issued as a result of this low-pressure system. Most of those reports were for high winds, flooding and heavy rain.

The rainfall totals from this storm have been impressive, especially in Northern California, where several areas picked up more than half a foot of rainfall.

Not only did the rainfall bring flooding concerns to California, but it brought heavy rain on wildfire burn scars that led to mudslides and debris flow.

Below is a look at some of the Sunday and Monday rainfall totals from the Bay Area. Places like Napa and Oakland saw over 4 inches of rainfall. Luckily, rainfall is pushing east of California Monday night.

As the system moves east, it will reach Colorado on Tuesday. The mountains are expected to pick up 2 to 10 inches of snowfall with wind gusts across the state up to 40mph.

Temperatures in Denver will drop to the low 50s behind the cold front on Wednesday.

Source Article from https://kdvr.com/news/local/strong-storm-system-bringing-flooding-mudslides-to-california-to-impact-colorado-tuesday/

Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/31/portland-protest-shooting-kenosha-whats-patriot-prayer-trump-visit/5677539002/

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in California surpassed 500,000 on Friday, a troubling milestone that caps months of surging outbreaks across the state.

COVID-19 cases have been spiking since late May as California reopened the economy and people got back to old routines. Deaths and hospitalizations have also risen, prompting officials to roll back some reopening measures in hopes of slowing the spread.

Once considered a coronavirus success story, California — the nation’s most populous state — now leads the United States in the number of confirmed cases. More than 9,100 people in California have died. But that is still far below the death toll in New York, which has reported more than 32,000 fatalities.

Officials announced Friday that a teenager in the Central Valley had died of causes related to COVID-19, becoming the first juvenile death from the disease in California.

Officials said the teen had underlying health conditions but declined to provide additional information about age or county of residence, citing patient privacy concerns.

“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of this young person whose death is a tragic and powerful reminder of how serious COVID-19 can be,” Dr. Sonia Angell, the state public health officer, said in a news release.

No deal on a COVID-19 economic aid package after days of closed-door negotiations between House and Senate leaders and the Trump administration.

The teen died earlier this week at Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, the hospital said in a statement.

“The death of this patient reaffirms that children … are not immune from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement said.

No other COVID-19-related death of a person under 18 has been confirmed by the state since the pandemic began. In March, Los Angeles County public health officials announced that a 17-year-old was believed to have died of causes related to the coronavirus but later said more investigation was needed.

The news comes as the Central Valley has emerged as a hot spot for new cases in California, accounting for all of the five counties with the highest number of new cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times’ statewide coronavirus tracker.

Kern County topped the list, reporting 1,283.3 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days, compared with 132 cases per 100,000 residents roughly a month ago. The county recorded 924 new cases Friday and one death, bringing its total to 19,335 cases and 140 deaths.

Local officials attribute the rapid rise in part to an increase in testing. Some testing sites saw a sustained fourfold increase over the past several weeks, Michelle Corson, public relations officer for Kern County Public Health, said in an email. That caused some labs to report supply shortages, which in turn delayed the turnaround time for test results, she said.

“This surge in testing and the delayed results have recently resulted in a large number of lab results currently being received at Public Health,” Corson said.

Still, a relatively high percentage of the tests performed in Kern County are coming back positive — an average of 27.5% each day over the past two weeks, compared with a statewide average of 7.2%, according to the state department of public health. That indicates an increase in community transmission of the virus.

Kern County is followed by Colusa County, with 768.7 cases per 100,000 residents; Merced, with 651.1; Kings, with 599.6; and Tulare, also with 599.6. State guidelines say counties should aim for no more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period.

State officials had already identified the agricultural Central Valley region as an area of concern, saying the spread of the virus there underscores the inequities of the pandemic in California. The virus has infected Black and Latino communities and poorer regions at much higher rates than more affluent and white ones.

Black and Latino communities tend to have higher concentrations of essential workers who can’t stay home for financial reasons and are more likely to live and work in close quarters. Farmworkers are particularly vulnerable, because they tend to have fewer workplace protections when it comes to ensuring their safety or the ability to speak out about their conditions, experts say.

Earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would send “strike teams” to Kern, Merced, Kings, Tulare and four other counties in the San Joaquin Valley while asking the California Legislature to approve $52 million to improve testing, tracing and isolation protocols in those areas.

By comparison to the high infection rates in the Central Valley, Los Angeles County reported 379.5 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks, and Orange County recorded 248.8.

L.A. County added 2,488 cases Friday and 63 deaths, bringing its total to 188,524 cases and 4,622 deaths. Officials noted that the number of fatalities marked an increase, comparing it with an average of 38 deaths a day the previous week.

“As we are seeing increases these past few days in the numbers of people dying from COVID-19, the reality of the devastation cannot be ignored,” Barbara Ferrer, the county health director, said in a statement.

The department of public health said in a news release that deaths “are a lagging indicator” that reflect exposures from weeks earlier.

Orange County reported 418 new coronavirus cases and 14 deaths Friday, its second-highest daily death toll since the pandemic began. Five of the deaths were among people who lived in skilled nursing facilities, and four were among residents of assisted living facilities, officials said.

The county previously reported a one-day high of 15 deaths on June 24 and again July 28.

Orange County now accounts for the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the state, having recorded a total of 36,196 cases and 618 deaths.

Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II, Melody Gutierrez and Anita Chabria contributed to this report.

Source Article from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-31/california-reports-first-teen-death-related-from-coronavirus

The man who was fatally shot on Saturday night during a skirmish with counterprotesters in Portland, Oregon, was a supporter of a far-right group that participated in a pro-Trump caravan, the group said Monday.

Aaron “Jay” Danielson, left, with Joey Gibson, right, of Patriot Prayer on Aug. 29, 2020 in Portland, Ore.Courtesy Joey Gibson

Joey Gibson, founder of the group, which is called Patriot Prayer, said the shooting victim was a resident of Portland and was part of the motorcade that clashed with crowds of Black Lives Matter demonstrators and other protesters on city streets.

The Portland Police Bureau identified him Monday as Aaron “Jay” Danielson, 39. An autopsy listed his cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest, the department said.

“Jay’s one of the nicest guys that you’ll ever meet,” Gibson said of the shooting victim, who was photographed in a Patriot Prayer hat at the scene of the shooting. “Anyone that knows him … no one would ever want to hurt this guy.”

In an interview near his home in Vancouver, Washington, Gibson added that he has regrets about Danielson’s shooting.

“Jay was in his hometown walking around and he got attacked,” he said. “So I don’t know what else we could have done differently.”

A caravan of Trump supporters drives into Portland, Ore., on Aug. 29, 2020.Nathan Howard / Getty Images

A caravan of hundreds of vehicles — many flying flags in support of President Donald Trump — began Saturday night in Clackamas, a suburb of Portland, a city that’s been a hub of anti-police brutality protests for weeks since the death of George Floyd.

Gibson said the planned route, as organized by local police, was to drive around Portland — but that a key off-ramp was mistakenly blocked off, forcing the fleet of trucks and cars on to city streets. Chief Chuck Lovell said Sunday that Portland police attempted to take “precautionary measures” to prevent the caravan from reaching downtown, but were unsuccessful.

“All the trucks, no one knew where to go so everyone was just going into random places,” Gibson said. “They split us up into small groups, which actually put more people in danger.”

Asked if anyone in the caravan fired pepper spray or paintballs into crowds of counterprotesters, Gibson said there were instances of self-defense.

“I think they had a right to defend themselves,” Gibson said. “You should have the right to be able to drive through the city of Portland and you should have the right to defend yourself also.”

There were more protests on Sunday night and at least 29 people were arrested, Portland police said Monday.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on Sunday denounced the violence and blamed Trump for creating the “hate and the division” that led to the unrest. Wheeler also called on those who might “seek retribution” to stay out of the city.

The president on Monday continued to seize on the turmoil in Portland, offering to send federal forces into the city.

“Portland is a mess, and it has been for many years,” Trump tweeted. “If this joke of a mayor doesn’t clean it up, we will go in and do it for them!”

The Southern Poverty Law Center says Patriot Prayer is a “far-right” group that has been an active force in the Pacific Northwest for at least three years.

Gibson cast Patriot Prayer as a faith-based grassroots group that’s particularly focused on First and Second Amendment protections. He denied the group engages in “hate speech,” saying he’ll pay anyone $3,000 if they can find an example of him saying “racist things.”

“What we do is promote freedom and God,” Gibson said.

While warning about the perils of government overreach, Gibson also backed efforts by Trump to pressure local leaders to bring in federal forces.

“I also think it’s smart that he’s forcing Ted Wheeler to ask him to bring him in help instead of forcing it in the city,” he said.

Last year, Gibson and five other men were charged with rioting outside a Portland bar on May Day.

The case against Gibson is still pending, and he’s scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing on Oct. 23, a spokesperson for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.

Source Article from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/far-right-patriot-prayer-group-says-fatal-shooting-victim-portland-n1238867

Corea del Norte envió un “mensaje estratégico” a Estados Unidos  a horas de asunción de Trump

Hwang Kyo-ahn,  el presidente en funciones y primer ministro de Corea del Sur dijo este jueves que hay muchas posibilidades de que Corea del Norte realice diversas provocaciones militares para interrumpir las fuertes sanciones internacionales dirigidas en su contra y testear el estado de preparación del Gobierno surcoreano.

Corea del Norte presuntamente construyó dos misiles balísticos intercontinentales (ICBM, según sus siglas en inglés) y parece haberlos dispuesto en lanzadores móviles para probar su lanzamiento en un futuro próximo, dijeron este jueves oficiales militares de acuerdo a la agencia surcoreana Yonhap.

Corea del Norte, a pedido de su líder Kim Jong-un parece haber filtrado intencionalmente la información sobre los nuevos misiles, a fin de enviar un “mensaje estratégico” y una provocación a la entrante Administración Donald Trump, cuya investidura presidencial tendrá lugar este viernes.

Reportan decenas de desaparecidos por avalancha causada por sismos en Italia

Al menos unas 30 personas se encuentran desaparecidas por una avalancha que sepultó un hotel y fue provocada por los sismos que este miércoles se registraron en el centro de Italia, informaron hoy los servicios de socorro.

“Hay muchos muertos” declaró a los medios Antonio Crocetta, jefe del socorro alpino de la central región de Abruzzo, en la localidad de Farindola, provincia de Pescara.

Crocetta dijo que la avalancha se desprendió de la montaña muy probablemente a causa de la serie de sismos, cuatro de los cuales superaron los 5 grados Richter, ocurridos este miércoles.

Aparentemente una parte del hotel se derrumbó y otra quedó sepultada por la nieve, mientras dos personas que estaban afuera fueron rescatadas con vida, una de ellas en estado de hipotermia a causa del frío.

Según personal del propio hotel, habría por lo menos 30 personas desaparecidas.

Las condiciones metereológicas dificultaban el arribo de las escuadras de socorro y varias ambulancias estaban bloqueadas por la nieve a unos nueve kilómetros del albergue.

(Foto: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoy comienzan los eventos por investidura de Donald Trump

A pocas horas de la investidura de Donald Trumpel comité inaugural publicó una larga lista de eventos y celebraciones oficiales y semioficiales que acompañarán su juramento como el presidente N° 45 de Estados Unidos. Los eventos comenzarían hoy y finalizarían el sábado, un día después de la toma de posesión del cargo.

A las 3 pm Donald Trump y el vicepresidente electo Mike Pence pondrán una corona en honor a los veteranos de la nación.

De 14 a 18 horas habrá dos celebraciones musicales abiertas al público. El primer evento llamado “Voces del pueblo” es gratuito y será transmitido en todos los canales de TV y redes de streaming en EEUU. Aquí actuarán principalmente bandas de escuelas de secundaria y bandas militares.

El segundo fue bautizado como “Make America Great Again Concert” -en recuerdo del lema de la campaña presidencial republicana- y contará con “un grupo diverso de artistas”, entre los que figuran Toby Keith, Jon Voight, The Piano Guys, Lee Greenwood, RaviDrums, 3 Doors Down y The Frontmen of Country. Al concierto le siguen intervenciones de Trump y Pence.

Los artistas country Big & Rich y Cowboy Troy encabezarán una Gala de Inauguración presentada por la Great America Alliance. Aunque en esta oportunidad se desconoce si Trump estará presente, entre los oradores del baile estarán el ex-alcalde de Nueva York, Rudy Giuliani, el actor Jon Voight y el Sheriff David Clarke.

Maduro no hablaba en serio sobre la liberación de Leopoldo López

Según afirmó el miércoles durante una rueda de prensa en el palacio de gobierno, su propuesta de liberar al líder opositor venezolano Leopoldo López a cambio de que Barack Obama conmutara la pena del activista independentista puertorriqueño Óscar López Rivera, no fue más que un “comentario jocoso” y que su caso está en manos de la justicia venezolana.

La declaración de Maduro se produjo un día después que la Casa Blanca anunciara la decisión de Obama de liberar al puertorriqueño el 17 de mayo tras 35 años preso por su participación en un movimiento independentista.

Ante los medios, Maduro señaló que no hay punto de comparación entre ambos. Según Maduro, el primero es “un gran patriota”, que por “justicia merecía libertad”, mientras que el segundo “es simplemente un agente de la CIA” que fue preparado para desestabilizar el gobierno de su predecesor Hugo Chávez y el suyo con el fin de derrocarlos.

Hospitalizan al ex-presidente de EEUU George H.W. Bush y a su esposa

El ex-presidente estadounidense George H.W. Bush fue hospitalizado en Houston, Texas anunció este miércoles su portavoz, que informó que su esposa Barbara también fue ingresada con tos.

El ex-mandatario de 92 años, que gobernó de 1989 a 1993 y que ha sufrido varios problemas de salud recientemente, “fue ingresado en la unidad de cuidados intensivos del Houston Methodist Hospital por un problema respiratorio agudo relacionado con una neumonía”, indicó el portavoz  Jim McGrath en un comunicado.

“Los médicos realizaron un procedimiento para proteger y liberar sus vías respiratorias, lo que ha requerido sedación. El presidente Bush está en estado estable y se recupera cómodamente en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, donde permanecerá para observación”, detalló el comunicado.

El portavoz dijo además que la esposa del ex-presidente, Barbara, de 91 años fue igualmente hospitalizada el miércoles por la mañana “por precaución después de mostrar fatiga y tos”.

(Foto: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

La Gran Época también recomienda: ¿China continúa siendo comunista?

Source Article from http://www.lagranepoca.com/internacionales/110836-noticias-internacionales-hoy-19-enero.html

Facebook hace nuevos ajustes al News Feed para dar más visibilidad a artículos y publicaciones auténticas.


Juan Garzón/CNET

Si todavía te frustra no entender bien si lo que estás leyendo en Facebook es una publicación con información verdadera o falsa, la red social intenta está redoblando esfuerzos para calmar tu angustia.

Este martes Facebook anunció nuevos cambios a la cronología de sus usuarios para dar prioridad en el News Feed al contenido auténtico y oportuno. Según la red social, su algoritmo ya toma en cuenta tus relaciones en Facebook a la hora de mostrarte publicaciones de tus seres queridos, amigos y familiares más cercanos. Ahora también tomará en consideración en qué página de Facebook se originó el artículo.

Si, por ejemplo, una Página publica y comparte información falsa y otros usuarios de Facebook comienzan a reportarla como spam o a esconderla, Facebook comenzará a bajar la importancia de dicha Página. Esto, potencialmente, disminuiría la diseminación de información engañosa en la red social, según los ingenieros que presentaron los cambios en una entrada en el blog de la compañía. Por contraste, si tus amigos y familiares continúan comentando y compartiendo una publicación, Facebook te dejará verla.

Este es el más reciente esfuerzo de Facebook por combatir las críticas que ha recibido por permitir la amplia distribución de noticias falsas. La semana pasada, Facebook hizo cambios a su sección de “Trending Topics” y un poco antes lanzó un proyecto periodístico.

Source Article from https://www.cnet.com/es/noticias/facebook-redobla-esfuerzos-para-destacar-noticias-verdaderas/

TEMAS RELACIONADOS

Sydney (EFE).- La búsqueda en el océano Índico del avión malasio desaparecido con 239 personas a bordo entró hoy en su trigesimosexto día, sin que la operación internacional haya captado señales acústicas en más de 24 horas.

“No hemos captado sonidos acústicos en las pasadas 24 horas (…) Aviones y barcos informaron ayer que avistaron objetos, pero solo se pudo recuperar un pequeño número. Ninguno provenía del (vuelo) MH370“, dijo en un comunicado el Centro de Coordinación de Agencias Conjuntas, creado por Australia para coordinar esta misión.

Source Article from http://www.lavanguardia.com/internacional/20140412/54404956990/la-busqueda-del-avion-malasio-desaparecido-sigue-sin-noticias.html

President Trump spent early Tuesday morning tweeting his grievances against the media.

He targeted The New York Times, referring to the outlet as the enemy of the people and saying the publication will “have to get down on their knees [and] beg for forgiveness” from him, inaccurately claiming the paper apologized to him in 2016 for its coverage during the election.

He attacked New York Times opinion columnist Paul Krugman as “stupid,” accusing the economist of writing “false and highly inaccurate” things about him — without specifying what he objected to.

The president also accused the mainstream media of ignoring how well the economy is doing during his presidency.

Trump did offer praise to one corner of the media — to Fox News, the cable news network he promotes almost daily on his own Twitter feed — before resuming the attacks.

Teeing off on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” he called co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski “angry,” “dumb,” “sick,” and “psycho.”

The president ended by mocking CNN anchor Chris Cuomo as being a “massive failure.”

When Trump finished the diatribe, he returned to live-tweeting Fox News.

[Related: Trump taunts CNN over low ratings]

Source Article from https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-new-york-times-will-have-to-get-down-on-knees-and-beg-for-forgiveness-from-me

Days after Alabama passed the nation’s strictest anti-abortion laws, President Donald Trump said he supports pro-life measures that include exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

In a series of tweets, Trump said his abortion policies are similar to those of late Republican President Ronald Reagan.

“As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions – Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother – the same position taken by Ronald Reagan,” Trump tweeted.

He went on to urge the GOP to stick together on the issue.

“If we are foolish and do not stay united as one, all of our hard fought gains for life can, and will, rapidly disappear!,” Trump tweeted.

Trump’s tweets are his first since the passage of the controversial Alabama law, one of several around the country designed to push the Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Alabama’s law would make it a felony for a doctor to perform or attempt to perform an abortion and does not contain an exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

The only exception in the Alabama law is abortions performed to protect the life of the mother.

Source Article from https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/alabama-abortion-law-trump-says-he-support-anti-abortion-laws-with-exceptions-for-rape-incest.html

Odds are that the erstwhile Republican party comrades of Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming will soon vote to purge her from the ranks of their leadership. Cheney, who occupies the third-highest position in the House Republican Conference and is the daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney, survived a similar removal effort in early February, after she was one of only 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former president Donald Trump. At the time, House Republicans decided to retain Cheney as conference chair by a 145-61 margin, while the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, told reporters that “Liz has a right to vote her conscience.”

But that was three months ago, when even Republican leaders like McCarthy and Senator Mitch McConnell acknowledged that Trump was “practically and morally responsible” (in McConnell’s words) for provoking the mob that stormed the Capitol on 6 Januaryin an attempt to overturn the election. Since then, however, the Republican base has continued to uphold Trump’s false claim that the election was stolen from him and have pushed to remove any party officeholders who say otherwise. A recent CNN poll confirmed that 70% of Republicans say Biden did not win enough votes to be president and half believe (without evidence) that solid proof of Trump’s victory exists.

So congressional Republicans, always reluctant to stand up against Trump and his supporters, are edging toward the view that Cheney must go. Her crime, as they see it, is that unlike McConnell and McCarthy she did not fall silent about Trump in the aftermath of impeachment and publicly declared that she would not support him if he were to run for the presidency again in 2024. As Trump has howled for Cheney’s political demise, internal Republican criticism of her has mounted. McCarthy has openly withdrawn his support for her. She has responded with a defiant op-ed in the Washington Post calling on Republicans to “steer away from the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality” and support the creation of a bipartisan, fact-finding commission to investigate the 6 January attack on the Capitol.

Republican critics of Cheney aren’t wrong, exactly, when they say she’s being divisive. Focusing on the Biden administration’s overreach, rather than waging an intra-party debate over Trump, would give the Republican party a better chance of retaking the House majority in 2022.

But unity on those terms would amount to putting party over country in the worst possible way. Cheney was absolutely correct when she told the former House speaker Paul Ryan, at a recent conservative conference, that Republicans can’t embrace the view that the election was stolen: “It’s a poison in the bloodstream of our democracy. We can’t whitewash what happened on January 6 or perpetuate Trump’s Big Lie … What he did on January 6 is a line that cannot be crossed.”

Trump’s fraudulent claim of a stolen election, and his continuing efforts to undermine the legitimacy of his successor, is an intense and very real danger to American democracy. In the recent observation of Michael Gerson, the former chief speechwriter for ex-president George W Bush, “the lie of a stolen election is the foundational falsehood of a political worldview”, one that makes facts and evidence irrelevant and encourages “distrust of every source of social authority opposed to the leader’s shifting will”.

Republican hopes that this anti-democratic movement within their ranks can be ignored or will somehow go away are futile. It will have to be confronted sooner or later, and the plausible outcomes become more ominous the longer the confrontation is deferred. If Cheney’s Republican colleagues resent that her resolve makes them look like cowards by contrast, voting to retain her in her leadership post would be a small step in the direction of integrity.

Even Republicans who prefer to place party over country should consider that under these circumstances purging Cheney inevitably will amount to choosing Trump and his lies over what Cheney called “critical elements of our constitutional structure that make democracy work – confidence in the result of elections and the rule of law”. How will that look to the college-educated middle-class voters whose revulsion from Trump in 2018 and 2020 gave Democrats control of both houses of Congress and the White House? For that matter, how will defenestrating the sole woman in the party’s congressional leadership help Republicans shore up their declining support among female voters?

Many Democrats in the grip of their own version of party-over-country consider Cheney’s likely downfall a form of karmic retribution. It’s true that Liz Cheney is as deeply conservative as her father, the former vice-president under George W Bush. It’s also true that both Cheneys, in different ways, played a role in marginalizing the Republican party’s once-robust moderate wing, and that the party’s resulting monolithic ideological rigidity made it ripe for Trump’s authoritarian-populist takeover.

But in this moment of national crisis, the critical factor on which a politician must be judged is his or her commitment to liberal democracy. It’s irrelevant that the leading candidate to replace Cheney as conference chair, Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, once had a reputation for moderation and bipartisanship. She now endorses Trump’s massive lie of a stolen election, and that negates anything else she has ever stood for. I hope that Americans from both sides of our widening partisan divide who share a common interest in preserving democracy can come to see the necessity of uniting around that principle, at least, before it’s too late.

  • Geoffrey Kabaservice is the director of political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington, as well as the author of Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party

Source Article from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/08/republicans-want-to-purge-liz-cheney-for-refusing-to-kiss-the-ring-of-trumpism