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COVID Stimulus ‘Phase 2’ Announced With Surprising Changes

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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Saturday said the next phase of the Wuhan coronavirus relief package is ready to be rolled out on Monday. Republicans are expected to announce a $1 trillion proposal which would include another round of stimulus checks.

According to Mnuchin, Americans can anticipate a $1,200 stimulus check sometime in August. The same stipulations will take place as the first round of stimulus payments. Individuals making $75,000 or less will receive $1,200. Those making more than $75,000 will receive some type of stimulus but it won’t be the full amount. Those making $100,000 or more per year will not qualify.

“We’re prepared to move quickly,” he told the Los Angeles Times.

Republicans in the House and Senate, along with President Donald Trump, are all working together on this proposal. Mnuchin reportedly called Democratic Leadership – including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) – before negotiations begin next week.

“The president has been very clear. He wants to make sure that the American people have what they need during this unprecedented time,” Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows said. The president wants “to make sure not only the money is there but the programs.”

The one area in question is unemployment. The White House reportedly wanted to drop the weekly rate by $100, from $600 per week to $500 per week. Republicans, on the other hand, wanted to see the weekly rate drop by $200, from $600 per week to $400 per week. The idea is that cutting back unemployment benefits will encourage Americans to get back to work.

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: Mnuchin Reveals What the Next Coronavirus Relief Package Will Look Like

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VIDEO: Officer Accused In George Floyd Killing Confronted At Grocery Store

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One of the former Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd – J. Alexander Keung – was confronted while grocery shopping at the Cub Foods in Plymouth, Minnesota. The woman filming the confrontation wanted to know why Keung was “comfortably shopping” instead of behind bars.

“What’s your name?” she asked, clearly recognizing him.

“Oh, yeah. That’s me,” he said, realizing the woman recognized him.

“It is you,” she said.

He nodded in agreement.

“So, you’re out of prison, and you’re comfortable shopping in Cub Foods as if you didn’t do anything?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t call it comfortably,” he explained. “I would just say getting necessities or helping.”

“I don’t think you should have that right. I don’t even think you should be out on bail,” she said.

“I can understand that,” Keung replied.

“How does it feel?” she asked.

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” he said before walking away.

“No, you’re not sorry. You’re literally outside here comfortably as if you didn’t kill that man,” she said. “Did you think that people weren’t going to recognize you? Honestly, did you? You don’t have the right to be here. You killed someone in cold blood. You do not have the right to be here.”

“I understand. I’ll pay for my stuff and get out of here,” Keung said, pointing to the Oreos and milk in his hand.

“No, we don’t want you to get your stuff. We want you to be locked up,” she said, following him. “You’re honestly in Cub Foods comfortably shopping, out of prison? Honestly, do you feel any remorse for what you did? Do you?”

Keung told the woman he was going to pay for his stuff and go. The lady then proceeded to tell everyone in the vicinity that he “was the officer let out of jail today for shooting George Floyd – err, I’m sorry, suffocating him.”

The woman told Keung he wouldn’t be able to go about his life in Minnesota without people recognizing him and knowing who he is.

“You’re not going to be able to live comfortably in Minnesota after this – or anywhere,” she said. “And you will be going back to jail. Trust. Trust.”

She then asked Keung how he posted bail.

“How’d you get the money?” she asked. “And you’re lucky they don’t have your address.”

According to WCCO-TV, Keung’s bail was set at $750,000. Hennepin County Jail’s roster said Keung was released around 7 p.m. Friday night.

The officer who actually pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck – Derek Chauvin – has been charged with second- and third-degree murder and third-degree manslaughter. The other officers – Tou Thao and Thomas Lane and Keung – have been charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: One of the Officers Accused in George Floyd’s Killing Went Grocery Shopping. Here’s How People Responded.

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WH Economic Adviser Gives Startling Update On American Economy

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The Wuhan coronavirus has left millions of Americans furloughed, laid off and relying on unemployment and food stamps to make it through this pandemic. Although things look bleak right now, White House Senior Economic Adviser Steve Hassett said good things are on the horizon.

“I think that what we’re going to see is more bad data because the data tends to be in the rearview mirror, but if you look at things like employment, small businesses or the percentage of businesses that are open or even the credit card data which we get a peek at, then you can see things pretty much inflected in early May,” Hassett told CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday. “And so, my expectation is since there’s still initial claims for unemployment insurance in May that the unemployment rate will be higher in June than in May but then after that it should start to trend down.”

While we’re not there yet, Hassett believes the U.S. is close to an “inflection point,” at least on the economic front, of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

He warned that unemployment numbers will be higher, especially for the months of May and June, but things are expected to rebound.

“It’s going to be quite a bit higher. There were some technical things they kinda messed up. In an economic lecture we’d go into them. But it could be, if they fix them, fix the numbers and fix the things that they mischaracterized last time, that you’ll end up with a number north of 20 percent in May,” Hassett said.

“North of 20 percent?” Bash asked. “Wow.”

Although that number is high, businesses are opening up across the country. One of the challenges will be consumer confidence. The number of cases the U.S. has over the summer will dictate whether or not Americans decide to go shopping and visit restaurants.

“If you look at the Congressional Budget Office outlook for GDP, which I think is about what we should expect, they’ve got about the worst ever quarter in the second quarter in U.S. history, or the worst quarter ever in U.S. history, but then the best in the third quarter,” he explained. “So, what’s going to happen, in all likelihood, is that you’re going to see the second-quarter drop a lot and the third quarter skyrocket. And then the question is when you skyrocket do you get back to where you were when you started and the CBO doesn’t quite think so.”

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: WH Economic Adviser Explains What Is Likely to Happen with Unemployment Numbers

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Take Note, Anti-Gunners: Trump Administration Declares Gun Dealers and Manufacturers ‘Essential Businesses’

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Saturday declared firearm manufacturers, distributors, ranges and retail stores as “essential businesses” that should remain open during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

The following two lines were added to the DHS’ memo about critical infrastructure, which serves as a guide for state governors and local leaders:

  • Workers supporting the manufacturing of safety equipment and uniforms for law enforcement, public safety personnel, and first responder.
  • Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges.

Pro-gun organizations applauded the decision, especially as state and local governments across the nation attempt to hider peoples’ ability to practice their Second Amendment rights. The city of Champaign, Illinois banned the sale of firearms and ammunition. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva ordered gun stores to shut down but the National Rifle Association (NRA), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), the California Gun Rights Foundation (CGF), and the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the move.

“We are deeply appreciative to the Trump Administration and Department of Homeland Security for recognizing the vital role our industry fulfills in our nation,” Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) said in a statement. “We have seen over the past week hundreds of thousands, even millions of Americans choosing to exercise their right to keep and bear arms to ensure their safety and the safety of loved ones during these uncertain times. Americans must not be denied the ability to exercise that right to lawfully purchase and acquire firearms during times of emergency. This guidance from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is crucial to governors and local officials as they craft the orders to preserve public health.”

“Every freedom-loving American owes President Donald Trump and his administration a very big thank you for protecting our Second Amendment rights. This is another Trump promise made and promise kept,” Second Amendment Foundation founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb said in a statement. “A lot of people have done incredible work this week to make it happen,” he confirmed. “A number of people, including governors and even mayors and at least one California sheriff appear to have let their personal politics get in the way of common sense public policy. During a time of crisis, we can think of no more essential endeavor outside of health care and emergency services than businesses that enable citizens to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms.”

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: Take Note, Anti-Gunners: Trump Administration Declares Gun Dealers and Manufacturers ‘Essential Businesses’

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Fox News Hosts Shreds Joe Biden Staffer Over Politicizing Wuhan Virus

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For whatever reason, the Democrats are harping on the fact that President Donald Trump referred to the Wuhan coronavirus as the “Chinese virus.” They claim that it’s racist to point out the fact that the virus originated in China.

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s Senior Adviser, Symone Sanders, reiterated that point of view during an interview on Wednesday with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum. “It’s something that’s offensive to Chinese Americans,” Sanders claimed.

“What President Trump announced today — it’s a tough job but it has to be done – on some of what he said today was good but the reality is he also stood at the podium and called the coronavirus COVID-19, what I would suggest is a racial slur,” Sanders explained.

According to the Biden campaign surrogate, what President Trump said is “offensive to many Americans.” She said that “instead of namecalling, instead of pointing fingers, talking about poll numbers–”

“The MERS virus is M-E-R-U-S. Do you know why it’s called MERS?” MacCallum asked.

“You tell me, Martha. You brought it up,” Sanders said.

“It’s called the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome because that’s where it originated,” MacCallum explained. “This rabbit hole of getting into this whole issue of racism, I think is so counterproductive to what we are trying to do here. I talked to an amazing scholar on China moments ago who said absolutely China, at the leadership level, has tried to obfuscate and be everything but transparent since the very beginning. They lied and lied and lied about this situation. Why is it not okay to recognize where it originated?”

Sanders said this had nothing to do with China being “forthright,” something the Fox News host completely disagreed with.

“Yes, it is. That’s exactly what it is,” MacCallum clapped back.

“Not in terms of what the President of the United States is referring to this virus from the podium. The reality is yes, the Chinese government refused to let American scientists in to research to see what was going on. That’s the stark difference from what happened in the Ebola crisis when the United States government demanded to come in to African countries. That is something we should have and continue to push for. My only point is is they have noted it is offensive to them and in times of strife, particularly when we are dealing with pandemic currently affected with people that has had no contact with people overseas —”

“No one is suggesting American Chinese people are responsible. Every thinking human being who looks at this understand that the reference is to the origin of the virus and also the leadership in terms of how that virus was handled in the country of origin,” MacCallum said. “I’m going to leave it there.”

We can call it the coronavirus, the Wuhan coronavirus, COVID-19, or whatever new term that’s going to be developed tomorrow. Who cares what we call it? What matters right now is that our leaders are taking appropriate actions to protect the lives of Americans across the nation. Period. End of story.

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: ‘Let’s Be Serious’: Martha MacCallum Shreds a Joe Biden Surrogate Over Politicizing the Wuhan Coronavirus

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IG Report: FBI Had Evidence That Could Have Prevented Six Terrorist Attacks on American Soil

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The Department of Justice’s Inspector General, Michael Horowitz, last week released a new report detailing at least six terrorist attacks on American soil that the FBI could have prevented between November 2009 and January 2017 under former FBI Director James Comey’s supervision.

According to Horowitz, the FBI was made aware of six homegrown violent extremists (HVE), but because of the agency’s rush to close terrorism cases, threats were not adequately assessed and vetted.

The FBI established the HVE policy after the September 11th attacks to prevent future terrorist threats.

Following these attacks, the FBI conducted reviews and determined there were weaknesses in its HVE assessment processes. However, we found that the FBI has not taken sufficient action to address these weaknesses. Additionally, in 2017, the FBI conducted an enterprise-wide review and identified potential terrorist threats that may not have been adequately assessed during calendar years (CY) 2014 through 2016, which amounted to 6 percent of the total assessments reviewed. We found that the FBI did not take adequate action on nearly 40 percent of these assessments for 18 months. After we inquired about the lack of action, the FBI reexamined these assessments and, in some instances, the reexamination resulted in the opening of an investigation. We further found that the FBI has experienced a substantial influx of reports of suspicious incidents, but has not developed comprehensive strategies for addressing the challenges associated with the potential cross-over between terrorist threats and other categories of threats, for example, those posed by individuals with mental health issues and criminal threats to life.

Specifically, the FBI had information on the following incidents:

  • Ft. Hood attack carried out by Nidal Hasan on November 5, 2009. Thirteen people died and more than 30 others were wounded.The FBI opened a counterterrorism investigation into Hasan on January 1, 2009. The investigation was closed on June 17, 2009. The FBI determined he posed no threat.
  • Boston Marathon attack carried out by Tamerian and Dzhokhar Tsarvaev on April 15, 2013. Three people died as a result of the attack and more than 260 were injured. In March of 2011, the FBI opened a Guardian assessment on Tamerian. It was closed June 24, 2013, when the FBI determined he posed no risk to national security.
  • Garland, Texas attack carried out by Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi on April 30, 2015. Both gunmen were killed and one other person was injured. The FBI opened an investigation into Simpson on August 1, 2006 and closed it on November 7, 2014. Between February 4, 2015 and February 24, 2015, there were numerous Guardian assessments opened on Simpson. On March 3, 2015, the FBI reopens its investigation into Simpson.
  • Pulse Nightclub shooting carried out by Omar Marteen on June 12, 2016. Forty-nine people died and more than 50 were injured. The FBI opened a case into Marteen on May 20, 2013, based on statements “indicative of radicalized ideology.”
  • New York and New Jersey bombings carried out by Ahmad Rahami between September 15th and September 17th, 2016. Although 30 were injured, thankfully, there were no fatalities. The FBI opened a Guardian assessment on August 27, 2014. The case was closed on September 19, 2014, as “No Nexus to Terrorism could be determined.”
  • Ft. Lauderdale Airport shooting carried out by Esteban Santiago on January 6, 2017. Five people were killed and more than 40 were injured. The FBI opened a Guardian assessment on November 8, 2016. The case was closed on November 30, 2016, when he was determined not to be a national security threat. He was also taken to a psychiatric institute for evaluation.
  • The report highlighted issues in how the FBI failed to handle information. One of the recommendations Horowitz made was for the FBI to develop “formal policies on the assignment and completion of routine counterterrorism assessments to address issues of timeliness and to encourage prioritization of counterterrorism assessments. In addition, this review identified concerns about the assignment of Task Force Officers as the lead investigators on certain assessments and investigations, and the need for increased training for counterterrorism Task Force Officers.”
  • According to the report, FBI agents were quick to close terrorism cases. Those quick closures meant the FBI failed to assess potential threats adequately.

Since September 11, 2001, HVEs have carried out over 20 attacks in the United States, some of which occurred after the FBI closed a counterterrorism investigation or assessment on the individual. Following these attacks, the FBI conducted reviews and determined there were weaknesses in its HVE assessment processes.

However, we found that the FBI has not taken sufficient action to address these weaknesses.

Additionally, in 2017, the FBI conducted an enterprise-wide review and identified potential terrorist threats that may not have been adequately assessed during calendar years (CY) 2014 through 2016, which amounted to 6 percent of the total assessments reviewed. We found that the FBI did not take adequate action on nearly 40 percent of these assessments for 18 months. After we inquired about the lack of action, the FBI reexamined these assessments and, in some instances, the reexamination resulted in the opening of an investigation.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) slammed former FBI Director James Comey’s leadership for not taking responsibility for the agency’s failure to protect innocent Americans, specifically those who were at Pulse Night Club.

Below is the full report:

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: IG Report: FBI Had Evidence That Could Have Prevented Six Terrorist Attacks on American Soil

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WATCH: Bloomberg Attempts to School People on Gun Laws. There’s Just One Problem.

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Those who hate the Second Amendment and firearms will do anything and everything in their power to advocate for gun control legislation. They will flat out lie about shootings and gun laws that are on the books as a means of creating mass hysteria to further their agenda.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg did just that during his town hall with CNN on Wednesday night. He instantly jumped to assumptions about the shooting at Molson Coors in Milwaukee, even though authorities have yet to release detailed information about the gunman.

What we know so far is that the gunman was a former Molson Coors employee that was fired earlier in the day. He left, retrieved a firearm, came back and opened fire on his former coworkers.

According to the former New York City mayor, universal background checks should be passed in all 50 states, but “it’d be much easier if we could do it at a federal level.”

“I noticed when I was backstage, watching the president, he said ‘our prayers should be with the families,’ and I’m sympathetic with that, but what he should have said is, ‘We’re going to do something to have background checks to stop guns being sold to people that shouldn’t buy them,'” Bloomberg explained as the audience cheered.

He went on to remind the audience that the Second Amendment exists but the Supreme Court has ruled “reasonable restrictions” can be placed on Americans’ right to keep and bear arms.

“The reasonable privileges include things like background checks, so you don’t sell guns to minors, people with physiatric problems, or people with criminal records,” the billionaire said. “And if you did just that and took just 24 hours to go through the background check, you would make a very big difference in this country.”

It’s interesting that Bloomberg is telling us how to “fix” things to prevent shootings, like the one in Milwaukee, yet we don’t know very much about the gunman. All we know is that he was a disgruntled employee and this seems to be an act of revenge. We don’t know how he obtained his firearm. We don’t even know what type of firearm was used, how many rounds were fired or if there were multiple guns. Making the assumption that this guy was a prohibited possessor who bought his firearm on the black market is irresponsible.

It’s irresponsible for anyone to jump to conclusions and say, definitively, that some kind of gun control law would have prevented this tragedy. Law enforcement needs to carry out their investigation before gun control zealots harp on Second Amendment advocates and our current laws. Let’s get the facts first. But then again, that would make too much sense.

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: WATCH: Bloomberg Attempts to School People on Gun Laws. There’s Just One Problem.

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Pelosi Spins Her ‘Impromptu’ SOTU Shredding and Places Blame on… the Media?

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) made waves when she shredded President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address earlier this month. The next day we learned that she planned to make a scene, as evidenced by video footage. She confirmed her desire for attention during an exclusive interview with CNN on Saturday.

“Are you giving a signal that the Democrats will fight back hard, that you will not be constrained by what you believe to be insurgent behavior on the other side, and that this is, you know, a time to go mano a mano?” CNN’s Christiane Amanpour asked.

“Let me say this: I had no intention of doing that when we went to the State of the Union. In fact, I was well into past the first third of it. I’m a speed reader so I was reading ahead so I knew what was there. I got past about a third of it and I thought, ‘This is terrible,'” Pelosi explained.

According to the speaker, she decided to put little tears in the areas of pages she wanted to remember. Except each page had something she thought was “rememberable.”

“I made a niche on a couple of pages thinking, ‘You ought to remember what was on this page, this page,’ then I realized most every page had something in it that was objectionable. So it wasn’t a planned thing, but it was —” she rolled her tongue in her mouth, clearly looking for words, before she changed the subject.

She then changed her narrative, saying it’s the presses fault that she had to resort to such actions.

“One of my disappointments is the fact that all we have done legislatively, whether it’s equal pay for equal work, raising the minimum wage, gun violence protection, issues that relate to our children, the list goes on, climate action now, we have very little press on it,” Pelosi stated. “And it seems if you want to get press you have to get attention. So I thought, ‘Well, let’s get attention on the fact that what he said here today was not true.'”

We all knew this was premeditated. It was obvious Nancy was doing this for attention. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have ripped the speech up in sections. She wouldn’t have continually turned as she ripped the papers so that every camera saw her.

If her actions are because of a lack of press, what newspapers is she reading? What news stations is she watching? Because leftist media continually covers climate change and minimum wage proposals. And “gun violence prevention” is something that’s covered widely across the board. The left covers it as a national health crisis. Those of us on the right point to the policies and continually talk about the Second Amendment infringements.

Nice attempt at spinning, Nancy, but we see through your BS.

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: Pelosi Spins Her ‘Impromptu’ SOTU Shredding and Places Blame on… the Media?

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Trump Supporters Were Registering People to Vote… Until Someone Attempted to Maul Them

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On Saturday, six Trump campaign volunteers in Jacksonville, Florida were working to register voters. At approximately 2:45 p.m., a golden-colored van attempted intentionally ran through their booths with the intention of mauling volunteers. Thankfully, no one was injured.

After driving through the tent, knocking over tables and chairs, the man stopped, took a video and flipped the Republican volunteers off. The driver sped off but was later apprehended.

Police arrested 27-year-old Gregory William Loel Timm. He was “charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a person over 65 years old, criminal mischief and driving without a license,” News Jax 4 reported.

Lt. Larry Gayle told News Jax 4 that police are monitoring social media to see if Timm’s video will pop up.

“We don’t know if this is politically motivated,” Gayle said. “We’ve got detectives coming out. We’re following up on information and trying to determine if we can identify this person right now.”

Multiple people condemned the attack as politically motivated, including Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, President Donald Trump, Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: Trump Supporters Were Registering People to Vote… Until Someone Attempted to Maul Them

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WATCH: Omar Trashes the U.S. for Not Living Up to Her ‘American Dream’

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Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is in Iowa doing last-minute campaigning on behalf of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). During an event in Clive Iowa, Omar explained how her idea of the “American Dream” were shattered once she came to America.

“When I first came to the United States, I remember one of the first things that I saw was homeless people sleeping on the sides of Manhattan when we arrived in New York. And I remember turning to my father and saying, ‘This doesn’t look like the America you promised.’ And my father looked at me and said, ‘Hush, child, we are going to get to our America,'” Omar recounted. “Because the America we were shown in the orientation tapes when we were coming here from the refugee camp in Kenya had beautiful homes with white picket fences, happy families eating a full meal in their beautiful living rooms. It had happy children getting on the bus to go to their beautiful schools. It had pictures of amazing malls, megamalls, and had pictures of beautifully built bridges and highways. It was a picture of abundance. Now that is the ideal.”

“That is the America we all know we deserve but our reality is full of homeless people. Our reality is full of families who have moms and dads who are going without dinner or lunch or breakfast just so that they can have enough for their children,” she explained. “Our reality is full of kids who are showing up to schools that are full of mold and leaking rooftops. Our reality has children who are facing drills every single day to learn about how they can escape being shot in our schools.”

Omar seems to forget that the areas that are being overrun with homeless people – like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City – are all cities under Democratic mayors and legislators. Homelessness isn’t a new phenomenon. L.A. has always had “Skid Row,” an area in downtown that has become infamous because of its condensed homeless population. Democrats continually cite areas like Skid Row or even Downtown San Francisco as an area they want to “clean up” and “fix.” What do they do? Throw our taxpayer dollars at the problem but they never get to the root cause of the issue and why people are homeless to begin with. Is it because people fell on hard times and couldn’t afford a house or an apartment? Did someone get involved in drugs and they’re living on the streets so the money they’d spend on housing can go towards their drug habit? Does mental illness play a role in a person’s instable living conditions?

In fact, Dr. Drew Pinsky has repeatedly said the people on Los Angeles’ streets are people who are “chronically mentally ill” and they fail to receive treatment. That’s a place for Democrats to start instead of launching poop patrols like San Francisco did.

Instead of coming to America and blaming the country for not living up to her fantasy, Omar should be looking at her party for failing to give her and her family the “American Dream” they were promised.

Author: Beth Baumann

Source: Town Hall: WATCH: Omar Trashes the U.S. for Not Living Up to Her ‘American Dream’

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