News of the Week for Apr. 22^nd, 2018

• Gun Rights
• Hide the Decline
• Obamacare
• War & Terror
• National News
• Economy & Taxes
• International News
• Opinion

 

Gun Rights

 

Wells Fargo CFO says government, not banks, should set gun policy
The No. 3 U.S. lender has been talking to customers who legally manufacture firearms, but is “not currently setting policy in our extension of credit,” Chief Financial Officer John Shrewsberry said during a call with reporters.

Teen gets banished to “the cubicle” for defying ban on gun shirts. He comes out swinging.
A Wisconsin high school student who was sent to “the cubicle” for defying a ban on wearing his gun T-shirts is now fighting back.

Vermont: NRA Takes on Republican Governor “Flip-Flop Phil” Scott Over Latest Gun Laws
“It’s now time to start working to make sure Gov. Scott becomes a full-time stock car driver”

Deputies: 30 rounds fired from AR-15 in deadly Florida home invasion
Incident stemmed from ongoing feud between two groups, investigators say

In the wake of a gun ban, Venezuela sees rising homicide rate
Since April 2017, at least 163 pro-democracy protesters in Venezuela have been murdered by the Maduro dictatorship. Venezuela serves as an example of how gun prohibition can sometimes encourage gun crime.

Far left protesters target NRA lobbyists’ home
The Washington Post has a story today about a handful of far-left gun control activists looking to up the ante by making their protests more personal. They’re doing that by protesting at the home of NRA lobbyist Chris Cox and also by targeting his wife’s interior design business.

Home Invasion Victims Use AR–15 To Defend Themselves Against Five Armed Intruders
Three men were asleep inside their Glen St. Mary, Fla., mobile home when five young intruders claiming to be police broke down the front door at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

A sanctuary county… for gun owners
Out in Illinois, the state legislature has been attempting to seize on the supposed momentum for new firearms restrictions and begun passing a raft of new gun control measures. Governor Bruce Rauner has been using his veto powers in some cases, but that hasn’t slowed down the Democrats seeking new restrictions. In response to this flurry of legislative activity, the residents and elected officials of one Illinois county have come up with what some are seeing as at least a partial solution. They’ve voted to declare themselves a “sanctuary county” for gun owners if the new control measures all go into effect.

 

Hide the Decline

Environment &
“Green Energy”

 

Remember that “unprecedented” Arctic heating event in February 2018? Never mind.
In Feburary 2018, the temperature in the Arctic region went up considerably, prompting the usual caterwauling from climate alarmists worldwide. It looked like this at Vox, they saw red, and the caption is theirs.

 

Obamacare

Government in Healthcare

 

Tort reform, MVNHS©-style?
As previously noted, government-run health care schemes like the Much Vaunted National Health System© have never really managed to rein in health care costs.

 

War & Terror

 

North and South Korea reportedly set to announce official end to war
Ahead of a summit next week between North Korean premier Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In, lawmakers from the neighboring states were thought to be negotiating the details of a joint statement that could outline an end to the military conflict between the two countries.

The Navy’s F-35 Has a New Weapon (To Strike Deep Into Enemy Territory)
The United States Navy and the Raytheon have completed integrating the AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) onto the Lockheed Martin F-35C Joint Strike Fighter. The addition of the 70-nautical mile standoff range JSOW paired with the stealthy F-35C will afford the Navy the ability to strike targets deep inside even the toughest enemy air defenses.

The Sneaky Way Russia Could Win a War Against Great Britain
As with landlines, breaks in underwater cables are not uncommon, especially close to shore. But as the New York Times noted in 2015, “what worries Pentagon planners most is that the Russians appear to be looking for vulnerabilities at much greater depths, where the cables are hard to monitor and breaks are hard to find and repair.” If anything, the danger is only likely to increase. The proliferation of unmanned underwater vehicles—sea drones—has opened a new horizon of robots that can stealthily and cheaply destroy or eavesdrop on underwater cables.

 

National

 

Jim Jordan for speaker next year? He wants GOP focused on THIS year
“Who’s gonna be the speaker next year? … What are Republicans gonna do THIS year?”

Two Supreme Court Shortlisters Nominated to Federal Courts
Trump elevates Wyrick, Grant to appellate level

Senate Republican midterm alarm over ‘white hot’ Democrat fundraising
Money doesn’t equal happiness, at least not for Senate Republicans.

Michael Cohen lawyers: Feds seized materials beyond Search Warrant scope, more than dozen electronic devices
“If the government can obtain a search warrant for particular items but then seize and review everything in an attorney’s office, the protections of the Fourth Amendment are meaningless.”

Reince Priebus: GOP will revert to old ways after Trump
While hugely popular with his base, President Trump is a “unique” politician who is unlikely to have a lasting impact on the Republican Party, according to former GOP Chairman and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.

California Legislature Surprised as Non-Union Workers Pack Committee Hearings
Why Are Union-Free Workers Showing Up at California Legislative Hearings? Is This Even Allowed?

Barbara Bush, former first lady, dead at 92
With her cloud of snow-white hair, signature three strand pearls and compelling presence, Barbara Bush’s image was what she laughingly called “everybody’s grandmother.” But the feisty, outspoken Bush was also a tireless advocate for literacy , an author, experienced campaigner and both wife and mother of a U.S. president.

Toomey: Get ready to feel the power of our fully functional Congressional Review Act
When this session of Congress started in January 2017, Republicans rushed to make more use of the Congressional Review Act than at any time since its enactment in 1996. Congress passed numerous resolutions invalidating regulations imposed in the final months of Barack Obama’s presidency, and Donald Trump signed them all. It gave Trump and the GOP bragging rights about their efforts to roll back regulations. Unfortunately, the window on those opportunities – sixty legislative days since implementation of a regulation or rule – quickly passed.

Lawmakers Make Criminal Referral on Clinton, Comey, Lynch to DOJ on Steele Dossier
Obama officials and FBI embattled agents also targeted for possible violations of federal law

California Democrats Seek To Ban Books, Speech That Violate LGBT Priorities
This week, the assembly in the state of California could vote on a bill that would legitimately ban books, shut down churches, and close psychiatric offices all over the state. What, pray tell, is the purpose of the bill? To prevent anyone from being confronted with material that could advocate changing sexual behavior or gender expression.

Black Woman Brags About Giving White Students Lower Grades On Papers
Every student wins if you have a black teacher; blacks get to see their own in a position of power and whites get to learn more about how oppressive they are as white people. Sounds great right? But what if the social justice warriors are wrong, what if not everybody wins? What would you say if you found out that some black teachers were purposely giving bad grades to white students?

Leaked Photos Show Antifa Will Debut in Ta-Nehisi Coates’ New Captain America Story
Ta-Nehisi Coates announced in February that he would be taking over duties on Marvel Comics’ Captain America title as part of Marvel’s Fresh Start Initiative that promised “new fresh ideas, new creators.”

McConnell looks at longer workweeks for Senate to keep Dems from campaigning: report
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is reportedly looking to hold longer workweeks as a way to keep vulnerable Democratic senators off the campaign trail.

Someone hung a “White Male Privilege Is A Myth” poster next to the “Dismantle Whiteness” mural. Guess what happened next.
Someone hung a “White Male Privilege Is A Myth” poster next to the “Dismantle Whiteness” art exhibit recently installed at the University of Southern California.

Cuomo grants parolees the right to vote
Appealing to his left flank, Gov. Cuomo announced Wednesday that he’s signed an executive order to give convicted felons on parole the right to vote.

Some doubt McCarthy or Scalise will ever lead House GOP
Here’s a twist: Some congressional Republicans say it’s possible neither Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) nor Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) will be serving in House leadership after the November midterm elections.

California Bill Would Force Businesses To Submit Data on Pay and Gender
A bill introduced this week in California (where else?) would force businesses to submit payroll data to the state, so it can police whether or not men and women receive equal pay.

Justice Department watchdog sends criminal referral on Andrew McCabe to US attorney
The Department of Justice’s inspector general sent its conclusion that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe misled investigators who were looking into leaks to the media to a US attorney to decide whether the ousted FBI official should face criminal charges, according to reports.

A Republican Caucus’s Convention at a Notorious Mosque
At least half a dozen known terrorists have attended Dar al-Farooq in recent years.

Planned Parenthood Instructor Has Mother Arrested for Trying to Audit Pornographic Sex Ed Class
Planned Parenthood is willing to go to extreme lengths to keep parents from knowing what kind of sex education they offer kids. St. Mary’s County Library in Maryland contracted a Planned Parenthood certified instructor to put on a pornographic sex workshop for teens—no parents allowed. When mother Kathleen Crank tried to enter the class, she was arrested for trespassing. It all began when local parents heard about the class and began researching the instructor. What they found was the exact opposite of the type of person they wanted teaching their kids about sex.

DNC Files Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit Over 2016 Election
The Democratic National Committee has pulled the trigger and filed a massive lawsuit alleging that Russia, WikiLeaks, and the Donald Trump campaign all conspired to disrupt the 2016 election and cause Donald Trump to become the President of the United States.

Duke Students Who Hijacked Alumni Event: Punishing Us Would Hurt Us Mentally
Activists who stormed the stage were shocked when alumni in the audience dared to heckle them.

Twitter Censors Mainstream Conservatism
I tweet pretty regularly, almost always my own Power Line posts, but I never actually go on Twitter, in part because Twitter is a cesspool. Profane language is common, I often read about calls by liberals for conservatives to be murdered, and outrageous hate speech like the tweets I wrote about here is common. If you are on the Left, anything goes.

State Department: Abortion “is not a human right”
Abortion “is not a human right” under international law, a U.S. diplomat emphasized Friday as he explained why the State Department human rights report doesn’t monitor “restrictions” on abortion around the world.

1 Comment on Conservative Article Costs Iowan Government Appointment
You don’t have to be a Trump nominee to face the Christian inquisition. Just ask Iowa conservatives. The bad blood that’s turned the hearings of Mike Pompeo, Russell Vought, and Amy Barrett into anti-faith slugfests seems to be spilling over into state politics, too. And at least one military wife is out of a job because of it.

Meadows: Documents Show “Concerning Level of Coordination” Between FBI, DOJ During Hillary Investigation
The documents “demonstrate the FBI officials conducting the investigation realized the appearance of impropriety created by the public’s perception of coordination with DOJ.”

Conservative Street Artist Sabo Banned from Twitter Permanently
Sabo, the conservative street artist who has given us so much entertainment, has been deplatformed from Twitter. Sabo is most known for his street posters that pop up in California whenever he feels inspired by the news. PJM reached out to Sabo for an interview.

“Forest bathing” takes tree hugging to new extremes
There’s a revolutionary new way to walk through the forest. V-e-r-y slowly.

Cook Publishes List of 2018 GOP Risk Factors For Retaining House Majority
What role will they play in November’s midterms?

Profs blast Purdue for taking control of writing guide
Following criticism of a handout advising students to avoid “words with masculine markers,” Purdue decided to create an advisory board to oversee the publication, which faculty members equated to dictating “educational content.”

Hammer Time: Author Brad Thor Vows 2020 Challenge to Trump
Author Brad Thor, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, took to Twitter today to issue a challenge for 2020, vowing that if no conservative candidate ran against Trump, he would “absolutely challenge” him for the Republican presidential nomination.

 

Economy & Taxes

 

China Slaps 179% Tariff On US Sorghum Hours After US Bans Exports To China’s ZTE
In response to reports that the US is ramping up the “third front” in its trade spat with China by authorizing another investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 – this time, aimed at obstacles that prevent US tech firms from competing in cloud computing and other high-tech industries – China has, as we anticipated, retaliated by slapping tariffs on US sorghum imports.

Scott Gottlieb Is Not a Free Market Firebrand
The FDA chief’s mixed, moderate record has surprised both his champions and his critics.

A California ballot fight over rent control is on, supporters say
A renters’ revolt in California could be heading to the November ballot as a campaign to lift decades-old restrictions on rent control reported Friday it had gathered more than enough signatures to qualify.

The Value of Prop 13 as Revealed by a Burned Out House
No surprise that Proposition 13 gets some blame for the housing crisis in California—yet like so many attacks on Prop 13 the truth is opposite what opponents claim. Proposition 13 prevents greater housing woes by helping people keep their homes.

 

International

 

Japan just found a ‘semi-infinite’ deposit of rare-earth minerals – and it could be a ‘game-changer’ in competition with China
Because China has tightly controlled the world’s supply of these minerals – which are used in everything from smartphones to electric car batteries – the discovery could be a “game-changer” for Japan, according to an analyst.

How Venezuela has resorted to importing oil as its core industry faces collapse
“They are importing barrels that cost $80 to $90 and selling them at $0”

Robots take over: Machine to run for MAYOR in Japan pledging ‘fair opportunities for all’
A ROBOT has been nominated to run for Mayor of Tokyo in a world first that see the machine promising to be “fair and balanced” to all its constituents in a major breakthrough for Artificial Intelligence (AI).

College defends decision to host Venezuelan officials
Scripps College is standing by its decision to host two Venezuelan diplomats for a speech about the communist country’s “grassroots initiatives.”

Sweden has a problem
Actually, two problems. One is a violence problem, and one is denial about that problem

Venezuela arrests two Chevron executives amid oil purge
Chevron said two of its executives were arrested in Venezuela, a rare move likely to spook foreign energy firms still operating in the OPEC nation stricken by hyperinflation, shortages and crime.

Plastic straws, cotton buds and coffee stirrers could be BANNED in England by next year
The PM is to unveil a sweeping ban on a number of products in a dramatic bid to help clean up the world’s oceans

Lock Up Your Daughters – The York Regional Police are Here
The Imam in the photo is Moulana Sayyid Muhhamad Rizvi. The assembled folks are members of the York Regional Police Force. Given the history and belief system of the Imam, it seems bizarre that the York Regional Police would allow lend their credibility to this institution.

Belgium: First Islamic State in Europe?
The leaders of Belgium’s ISLAM Party apparently want to turn Belgium into an Islamic State. They call it “Islamist democracy” and have set a target date: 2030.

AI helps grow 6 billion roaches at China’s largest breeding site
The system ensures an optimal growth environment for the cockroaches, which are eventually crushed to make a “healing potion” that cures ailments like stomachache.

Telford sex scandal shock as social services chief is one of THREE councillors exposed as paedophiles
Pervert Graham Bould, 60, was chair of Shropshire County Council’s social services department from 1993-1998 – when Telford’s child grooming epidemic began to spiral

 

Opinion

 

Whatever the Left Touches It Ruins
The only way to save Western civilization is to convince more people that leftism – not liberalism – is a nihilistic force. Quite literally, whatever the Left touches it ruins.

The Stifling Uniformity of Literary Theory
In 1976, the Nobel-prize winning economist, F.A. Hayek, published The Mirage of Social Justice, the second volume of his magnum opus Law, Legislation and Liberty.1 Despite being widely regarded as the definitive critique of social justice, today one would be lucky to find advocates of social justice in the academy who are familiar with the name ‘Hayek’, let alone those who have read him. Among classical liberals, libertarians, and conservatives alike, Hayek is one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century whose The Road to Serfdom represents one of the most powerful arguments against socialism ever written.2 But those in the academy who have perpetuated socialist ideas since the 1980s have practically ignored it. In this article, I will argue that this unwillingness to engage with the ‘other side’ is not only endemic in the radical intellectual schools that have overtaken literary studies, but also that it is symptomatic of their entire way of thinking which, being hermetically sealed and basically circular in its argumentation, has no language to deal with critics beyond reactive moral condemnation.

3 Cases to Watch as the Supreme Court Begins to Wrap This Term
This week marks the start of the Supreme Court’s final oral argument sessions of the current term. The justices will hear arguments in several important cases, including challenges to the constitutionality of administrative law judges, state sales taxes for out-of-state online retailers, and the infamous Trump “travel ban,” making this month one to watch.

California’s Simmering Political Revolt
On the surface, California seems politically monolithic. But as its younger citizens come of age, and as they find themselves locked out of homeownership and economic opportunity, a revolt is brewing.

California Progressives Launch (Another) Attack on Free Speech
Talk of political compromise is meaningless when one side seeks your silence.

The Changes That Made California Become a Liberal Fiasco
Is America destined to become like California?

Republicans Are Fleeing And So Are Their Hopes For Keeping The House
Republicans’ hopes for maintaining control of the House are dwindling and that is likely an understatement.

What Enoch Powell Got Right, and Wrong
The legacy of the most famous British speech of the last half-century

When the Twitter Mob Came for Me
Recently hired by the Atlantic and then promptly fired, the conservative writer Kevin D. Williamson discusses the social-media outrage that made the celebrated magazine retreat

A Liberal Democracy—Or a Militant One?
The totalitarians’ arguments always end up in the same place

Poor Andrew Cuomo Struggles With Life Of Zero Intersectionality Points
Poor Andrew Cuomo is having a tough time rallying his base to vote for him to stay New York’s governor. For a cis-gendered white male, it’s so hard to get attention from progressives these days, especially when an actual woman is running for the same position. So Cuomo has been self-identifying as an undocumented, black, gay Jew who is also Muslim. Yes, seriously.

Like Thomas Sowell, it was life facts that made me conservative
Thomas Sowell telling said that facts – real world, life facts — ended his Marxist phase. I’ve compiled a list of life facts that made me conservative.

How Republicans Can Ward Off Demographic Doom
Democrats think time is on their side. But they should keep their eye on three important trends.

‘I Am Running as a Socialist’
Good grief

Liberalism as Faith
The British philosopher John Gray is not someone to shy away from “difficult” topics. If you are looking for a provocative long read this weekend, his new article in the Times Literary Supplement ought to be a contender. I didn’t agree with all of it (for example, I would argue that the supposedly secular totalitarianisms of the twentieth century—essentially millenarian sects, as Gray rightly observes—were even more “religious” than even he would claim), not that that matters.

Federal Government Continues to Give Native American Tribes a Bad Deal
The Department of the Interior has worked steadily to increase opportunity and access to the federal lands and resources under its purview. Earlier this week, the department released a comprehensive list of its accomplishments thus far in 2018.

Jordan Peterson – The Big IQ Controversy
Material provided by “The Mill Series”