Dianne Feinstein's Husband Caught Up In Latest University Admissions Scandal

Wealthy actresses and financiers aren't the only ones bending the rules of the American college admissions system - a system that has long been skewed toward preserving the status of the elite, even as these same schools help promulgate the crypto-Marxist ideology undergirding BLM and the DSA.

Richard Blum, the husband of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, has been caught up in the latest scandal over members of 'the elite' leveraging their 'connections' to grease the wheels of the admissions process for students than lower-than-average test scores for schools like UC Berkeley and other members of the California university system, according to a local TV report which cited a new report from the state.

Despite a policy barring members of the university system's board of regents from intervening in the admissions process on behalf of friends and family, Blum reportedly wrote letters to the admissions office at Berkley and other schools - letters that often helped students get off wait lists, or otherwise secure a spot.

When confronted by the San Francisco Chronicle about the allegations, Blum stood his ground, insisting that he's been writing letters of recommendation on behalf of friends and family for years, and that "nobody every told me it was wrong." The policy barring members of the board from interfering in admissions has reportedly been in place since before Blum joined the board 18 years ago.

Blum was named in a report published this week by the state's auditors office as somebody who might have abused his power to influence admissions at California's coveted state university system.

Regents Chair John Pérez issued a statement Thursday saying the “UC Board of Regents takes these matters very seriously, and any violations will be promptly and appropriately addressed."

He said that UC’s ethics and audit compliance office is reviewing the information “to determine whether the alleged conduct violates” the regents policy, in place since 1996.

Feinstein’s office declined to comment.

The audit examined admissions policies and practices over the six academic years from 2013-2014 to 2018-2019 at four of the UC’s nine campuses — UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara.

It was requested last year by state Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath in response to the national college admissions scandal, which embroiled prestigious universities nationwide, athletic coaches and dozens of wealthy parents.

But Blum didn't solely write letters of recommendation for "friends and family". Blum allegedly intervened on behalf of a student whose family was friends with a member of the Board of Regents, the child of a major political donor and an applicant who babysat for a colleague of a former admissions director, according to the California State Auditor report.

The audit examined admissions policies and practices over the six academic years from 2013-2014 to 2018-2019 at four of the system's nine campuses schools: UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/diane-feinsteins-husband-caught-latest-university-admissions-scandal

Kamala Harris Praises ‘Brilliance’ of Black Lives Matter and Its Marxist Founders

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) praised the “brilliance” of the Black Lives Matter movement and its founders in a conversation with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on Friday.

Harris, who is Joe Biden’s running mate on the Democratic Party presidential ticket, was asked specifically to respond to claims that Black Lives Matter is a “terrorist” organization, which the interviewer attributed to President Donald Trump.

(Trump has referred to “terrorists” in specific demonstrations, but has not called the movement itself a terrorist organization. His new black empowement policy, released on Friday, names the Ku Klux Klan and Antifa as terrorist organizations.)

She was also asked about the founders of the movement, who were recently featured by Time magazine among the 100 most influential people of 2020.

Harris spoke about the “brilliance and the impact of Black Lives Matter,” and the “brilliance” of its founders “in conceiving it,” and explained:

I actually believe as a former prosecutor, that Black Lives Matter has been the most significant agent for change within the criminal justice system. Because it has been a counter force to the force within the system that is so grounded in status quo and in its own traditions, many of which have been harmful, and have been discriminatory in the way they’ve been enforced.

Harris spoke about her own experience attending a Black Lives Matter protest in May in Washington, DC. Harris joined demonstrators outside the White House on May 30, where activists had attacked police officers and journalists hours before. She explained that she grew up attending anti-apartheid protests with her parents, who met in the civil rights movement.

She added:

Nothing that we have achieved in our country that has been about progress, in particular around civil rights, has come without a fight. And so I always am going to interpret these protests as an essential component of evolution in our country, as an essential component, or mark, of a real democracy, and as necessary, as necessary. The people’s voices must be heard. And it is often the people who must speak to get their government to do what it is supposed to do, but may not do naturally, unless the people speak loudly — and obviously peacefully — but speak loudly.

The founders of Black Lives Matter — Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi — are far left-wing radicals. Cullors has identified herself and Garza as “trained Marxists,” and Opal Tometi is a supporter of Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro.

https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/09/25/kamala-harris-praises-brilliance-of-black-lives-matter-and-its-marxist-founders/

Justice Department Calls on San Francisco Mayor to End “One Congregant” Rule for Places of Worship to Comply with the Constitution

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-calls-san-francisco-mayor-end-one-congregant-rule-places-worship-comply

'Urgent Need for Ships to Start Sailing' from Florida, Federal Maritime Commission Says

A report issued by U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner Louis E. Sola says there is an urgent need for the cruise industry to resume sailing from Florida's cruise ports, citing staggering losses to revenue, local employment and the contributions cruise passengers make to other tourism sectors such as the airline and hospitality industries.

In its latest Fact Finding 30 report

, FMC Commissioner Sola indicates that Florida has lost $3.2 billion in economic activity and 49,500 local jobs paying approximately $2.3 billion in wages as a result of the suspension of cruising following the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's No-Sail Order, in effect through September 30.

The report notes that Florida is home to the top-three multiday cruise ports in the world, with 59 percent of all embarkations in the United States taking place there in 2018. Including the corporate and administrative staff of the cruise lines headquartered in Florida, the cruise industry was responsible for over 149,000 jobs in the state totalling $7.69 billion in wages.

The cruise industry resulted in $8.49 billion in direct spending each year within Florida.

"The interviews I have conducted with port directors, government officials and business leaders all confirm the importance of the cruise industry to Florida's economy and the urgent need for ships to start sailing again," Sola said. "The financial consequences of laid-up cruise ships are being seen in government coffers and the pockets of working men and women. Across Florida, people recognize the vital necessity of the cruise industry contributing to the economy again."

Miami, Port Canaveral Hit Hard.

Losses for the 2020 cruise season have been staggering for some of Miami's largest turnaround ports.

Before the pandemic, PortMiami welcomed 6.8 million cruise passengers, a world record. As Florida's busiest cruise port, and one of the largest and busiest ports in the world, Port Miami is responsible for over 30,000 local jobs, $5.8 billion in economic value and $188 million in local and state taxes.

https://www.cruisecritic.com.au/news/5618/

American Airlines Gets Upsized $5.5 Billion Loan From US Treasury, Averting 19,000 Furloughs

American Airlines has avoided pulling a 737 MAX into the liquidity abyss.

Late on Friday, the largest US carrier - which in good times spent billions of cash on stock buybacks only to now find itself on the verge of collapse due to the collapse in air travel as a result of covid…

… filed an 8K announcing it had entered a loan agreement with the US Treasury for a secured term loan facility backed by the company's loyalty program, which permits American to borrow up to $5.48 billion, upsized from an original $4.75 billion target, after companies such as Delta Air Lines Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. opted out of the funds and the remaining money was reallocated.

American also said that it has been advised by the Treasury that it intends to allocate additional loans under the "CARES Act”" in October 2020, and the airline could receive as much as $2 billion more when the funds are adjusted a second time.

American immediately borrowed $550 million under the facility "and may, at its option, borrow additional amounts in up to two subsequent borrowings until March 26, 2021."

So what is the cost of this taxpayer-funded bailout loan to American? Why a "whopping" L+3.5%:

Borrowings under the Facility will bear interest at a variable rate per annum equal to (a)(i) the London interbank offer rate divided by (ii) one (1) minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage (as defined in the Loan Agreement) plus (b) 3.50%.

The applicable interest rate for the $550 million loan drawn on the Closing Date under the Facility will be 3.87% per annum for the period from the Closing Date through September 15, 2021 at which time the interest rate will reset in accordance with the foregoing formula.

Curiously, not even Uncle Sam is willing to a accept a covenant lite deal: according to the 8K, the Loan Agreement requires American "to appraise the value of the Collateral and recalculate the collateral coverage ratio. If the calculated collateral coverage ratio is less than 1.6 to 1.0, American will be required either to provide additional Collateral (which may include cash collateral) to secure its obligations under the Loan Agreement or repay the term loans under the Facility, in such amounts that the recalculated collateral coverage ratio, after giving effect to any such additional Collateral or repayment, is at least

1.6 to 1.0." The appraised value of the Collateral is presently significantly in excess of the 2.0 to 1.0 collateral coverage ratio necessary to access the amount under the Facility, including any contemplated increase.

Separately, the Loan Agreement prohibits American to pay dividends or buyback stock. In addition, under the Loan Agreement, AAG must maintain a minimum aggregate liquidity of $2.0 billion.

As Bloomberg notes, US airlines slammed by the coronavirus pandemic have been building cash through equity sales and loans as passenger totals remain about 70% below year-ago levels. They have also parked aircraft, cut flying schedules and asked thousands of employees retire early or take leaves to further reduce spending.

Putting the $5.5 billion number in context, American's market cap of $6.3 billion is just above the current $5.5 billion loan size, and below what the fully expanded $7.5 billion loan will be. American currently has $42 billion in debt, a number which will soon hit $50 billion.

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/american-airlines-gets-upsized-55-billion-loan-us-treasury-averting-19000-furloughs

Virginia Officials Try to Cancel President Trump’s Newport News Rally Tonight, Calling it a “Severe Public Health Threat”

President Trump is campaigning around the clock as we head into the final month before the election.

Meanwhile, feeble Biden is hiding in his basement.

Democrats are furious that President Trump is holding massive outdoor rallies so they are doing everything they can to cancel his events by using the old Covid excuse.

Covid has fizzled out across the nation, however, Virginia officials are trying to cancel President Trump’s Friday night rally in Newport News.

President Trump is scheduled to arrive 9 PM ET for a rally at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.

4,000+ people are expected to attend.

Supporters are already lining up in the rain.

Under Klansman-Blackface Governor Ralph Northam’s (D) Covid order, there is a 250-person limit for public gatherings at private events.

According to 13 News Now, Virginia health department officials asked the airport to either scale back the event or cancel it, calling it a “severe public health threat.”

As of 3 PM ET Friday, the airport had not cancelled or postponed President Trump’s rally.

Nevada Governor Sisolak recently tried to cancel President Trump’s rallies in the Silver State citing Covid concerns, however Trump went full steam ahead and held his rallies anyway.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/09/virginia-officials-try-cancel-president-trumps-newport-news-rally-tonight-calling-severe-public-health-threat/

China Will "Definitely Start A Just War" If US Troops Return To Taiwan: State Media

Hu Xijn, the editor of China's English language mouthpiece publication geared toward Western audiences, Global Times, is at it again "relaying" Beijing's threats and warnings.

He took aim at a US Marine Corps authored editorial written in Military Review in a tweet which unleashed headlines, including in Newsweek. The American military publication called for a US ground troops deployment to Taiwan to restore the regional balance of power in Washington's favor.

The Marine author urged this of the Pentagon "if it is committed to defending Taiwanese sovereignty." Hu shot back, likely echoing Beijing's view in his usual hawkish manner, that "the PLA will definitely start a just war to safeguard China’s territorial integrity" if there are US troops stationed in Taiwan.

This would also of course be seen as a severe violation and breakdown of the 'One China' policy status quo.

Thus the US article itself is now stirring already high tensions, as Newsweek summarizes:

The article headlined "Deterring the Dragon," has [Marine Captain] Mills warning that the current power balance made a surprise attack on Taiwan "more likely" and believes that American leadership has to "face down" international pressure "against a deliberate and more global conflict with China."

"If Chinese forces can prevent U.S. forces from responding reflexively or immediately to PLA (People's Liberation Army) aggression, the United States will either accede to a quick PLA victory in a Taiwanese-mainland China conflict or be forced to wage a long, costly campaign to re-establish access to Taiwan with a far from certain outcome," Mills wrote.

Typically Hu reflects the insider thinking of the Chinese Communist Party, but with a more hawkish tinge.

And while a lone article by a Marine officer in a military publication might be seen in the United States as but one among many perspectives on China adding to the debate, no doubt Beijing sees it very differently - as a veiled Pentagon threat to take precisely such action.

Meanwhile since last week China has stepped up military activity and war games in areas near Taiwan and the contested strait, including 'de-mining' exercises.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/state-media-threatens-china-will-definitely-start-just-war-if-us-troops-return-taiwan

Japanese PM Says Ready to Meet Kim Jong-Un Without Preconditions

A chairman of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party Yoshihide Suga was confirmed last week as the country's new Prime Minister, after his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, stepped down from the position due to health reasons.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said during his video message to UN General Assembly on Friday he is ready to meet the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un without any preconditions.

"As the new Prime Minister of Japan, I am ready to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un without any conditions", Suga said.

He also went on to note that "establishing a constructive relationship between Japan and North Korea will not only serve the interests of both sides but will also greatly contribute to regional peace and stability".

Suga recalled the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, saying that in accordance to it, Japan seeks to normalize relations with North Korea "through comprehensively resolving the outstanding issues of concern such as the abductions, nuclear and missile issues, as well as settlement of the unfortunate past".

Currently, there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries, but there have been Japanese-North Korean talks to discuss the abduction of Japanese citizens that took place in 70s and 80s and Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Suga's predecessor, Shinzo Abe, repeatedly expressed his readiness to meet the leader of North Korea without preconditions as well, but no meeting followed.

Japan Determined to Host Olympics Next Year

During his message to the UN General Assembly, Suga also highlighted Japan's determination to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2021.

"In the summer of next year, Japan is determined to host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as proof that humanity has defeated the pandemic," Suga said on Friday. "I will continue to spare no effort in order to welcome you to games that are safe and secure."

In March, it was announced that the Games would be postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will take place from 23 July to 8 August, 2021, and from 24 August to 5 September, 2021, while keeping the original names Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Yoshihide Suga became Japan's Prime Minister last week, replacing his predecessor Shinzo Abe, who stepped down from the position in late August, citing health reasons.

https://sputniknews.com/asia/202009251080575701-japanese-pm-says-ready-to-meet-kim-jong-un-without-preconditions/

Video Surfaces of Joe Biden Calling Our Troops 'Slow, Stupid Bastards'

If the media unearthed a video of Donald Trump calling our military “stupid bastards,” do you think it would be running 24/7 on every cable news station? You bet it would. What are the chances, however, that this video of Joe Biden doing exactly that will ever get played on CNN?

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “That could be doctored.” Sure it could. That was my first thought as well. But then I went searching for the full context and found the whole video. It doesn’t appear doctored in the full video (below at the 1:51 mark). Further, the video was uploaded in January of 2017, years before anyone knew Biden was running for president. In fairness, it’s impossible to tell now what is or is not a deep-fake video. If evidence is presented that casts doubt on the veracity of this video, we would certainly report that. So far, no one has disputed its legitimacy.

Context is important, so I listened to the whole thing to see what it was about. In it, Biden seems to be complimenting the troops on their service and sacrifice. He says lots of nice things about the military. That’s what makes it so weird when he snaps and demands that the “dumb bastards” clap for him.

It doesn’t seem to be a joke, but perhaps its one of those Old Uncle Joeisms he throws out that no one gets. The exact phrase is, “Clap for that, you dumb bastards! Come on, man! God, you’re a slow bunch. You must be slow here, man.” Weirder still, he’s asking them to clap for his good judgment in hiring someone they know. It’s bizarre. No one laughs. And even more awkward, it does appear that he yelled the insult at them because he was expecting applause to break out spontaneously after he bragged about his good judgment in marrying his wife (this joke is getting so old) and in appointing some guy named Johnson to “the Academy,” and no one clapped. At that point he looked annoyed and then barked at them to clap, insinuating they’re too stupid to have gotten his joke. Maybe they just don’t like Johnson. Who knows? Watch for yourself.

Biden is currently running his campaign on the slanderous lie that anonymous sources heard Donald Trump call our dead military heroes “suckers and losers.” This claim has been denied, even by members of the administration famous for tattling on Trump, like John Bolton. The Atlantic editor who wrote the story even admitted key parts of the report may not have been true. Even still, the slur stuck and the media wrote about it for days, trashing the president’s reputation all over the country. Joe Biden made a disgusting commercial out of it.

I think the only fair thing to do is for the Trump campaign to take this video and turn it into non-stop ads that run from now until November and Kayleigh McEnany should play it on a loop for Jim Acosta at the next press conference. We all know that the mainstream press is going to bury this tape or get their lapdog fact-checkers on social media to declare it “fake news.” Does Joe Biden actually think of our troops as dumb bastards? Probably not, and I can admit that because I’m not so much of a rabid partisan that I can’t be rational and objective about the opposing party’s candidate, unlike everyone at CNN. But if it’s fair play to report “anonymously sourced” rumors as real news it’s certainly fair play to show America the tape.

https://pjmedia.com/election/megan-fox/2020/09/25/woah-video-surfaces-of-joe-biden-calling-our-troops-slow-stupid-bastards-n969946

Florida Man Friday: Probably Ineligible, Florida Ex-Con Voted Democrat in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016

There was so much Florida Man Friday material to sort through today, that I’m going to miss my deadline if I try to write a witty introduction.

So let’s dive right into this week’s…

Florida Man Friday!

Let us begin as we always do with…

The Most Florida Man Story Ever (This Week)

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoy attempted-escapes-from-the-police stories.

They have your name and address. Are you really going to stake your entire existence and spend a lifetime on the lam just to avoid some drug charges?

And for that matter, face a whole host of new charges, too.

So:

A Big Pine Key man ate four baggies of heroin and escaped from an ambulance that was en route to a local hospital, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrived to a home on the 1400 block of Merelyn Lane on Big Pine Key at 5:22 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22. They found Ira Emil Kawzinsky incoherent, but responsive in a bedroom, a press release from MCSO said.

“Incoherent, but responsive” is going to be the title of my autobiography.

What happened next will not surprise you, but it might delight you:

Crews loaded Kawzinsky into an ambulance and started to drive towards the Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island while deputies followed behind.

The ambulance made a sudden stop near Mile Marker 30 in the center turn lane and then the rear door opened and Kawzinsky jumped out and ran away.

MCSO deputies set up a perimeter while U.S. Border Control agents, Florida Highway Patrol troopers, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and a K9 unit joined the search for Kawzinsky.

Florida Man was found and finally, successfully taken to the hospital.

Along the way, “Kawzinsky told the deputy that he ingested four bags of heroin before they arrived at the house. He also said that he might’ve blacked out during the incident.”

Florida Man went through all of that, including a failed escape attempt, just to admit to a deputy exactly what he’d done.

If this guy were any less smooth, he could replace Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.

Florida Woman: Overly Concerned Citizen

More

https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2020/09/25/florida-man-friday-probably-ineligible-florida-ex-con-voted-democrat-in-2008-2010-2012-2014-2016-n968112

Right now, under the city of Haifa…

EYES ON

>>10789517

don't know that is why I posted it.

Why would they need an underground facility?

Are they expecting trouble on the surface?