'You Can Lie Remotely': Russian MFA Spokeswoman Zakharova Piques NYT Headhunt in Moscow

Around a week ago, The New York Times posted a "legendary" job offer, seeking a daredevil who would cover Russia - a country that, according to the outlet, "has its cyber agents sow chaos and disharmony in the West to tarnish its democratic systems, while promoting its faux version of democracy".

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova rolled out a sarcastic Facebook comment on the latest NYT job offer for a Russia correspondent in Moscow.

The vacancy offered the "legendary position" of Moscow reporter, touting the possibility of covering "Vladimir Putin's Russia" for The NYT, rolling out a list of devious things that the future journalist could encounter, recalling nerve agents, private military contractors, cyber agents and COVID patients.

In her Facebook comment, Zakharova ridiculed the job description, pointing out that the "inhuman conditions" offered to the possible candidate would not seduce anyone and that NYT journalists would be safer working from the US - where, apparently, there are no "squads armed with nerve agents", "cyber agents sowing chaos in the West" or "private military contractors around the globe" deployed to "secretly spread the influence".

"Does the newspaper have the right to risk the safety of its correspondent by sending him to work under such inhuman conditions? If the editorial office doesn’t care, responsible citizens of the country described in the job offer might care, those who would issue a visa and accreditation to the newcomer. American Journalists’ Lives also matter, even if it is the NYT", Zakharova said of the NYT, parodying the "Black Lives Matter" slogan.

The MFA spokeswoman observed that a potential candidate could "lie just as wonderfully remotely", sarcastically pointing out that the lucky journalist in this position would produce "a few fables" at the cost of undergoing the purported risks described by the NYT.

Zakharova closed her opinion by returning to a more serious tone, recalling the words of Friedrich Nietzsche, who said that in its attempts to fight a monster, the US press "has imperceptibly turned into one itself".

Apart from the pleasure of covering nerve agents, cyber squads and private military contractors, the future holder of one of the "most legendary postings" is promised the opportunity to "traverse 11 timezones" and cover "the continuing reign of one of the world’s most charismatic leaders, President Vladimir V. Putin".

"Vladimir Putin’s Russia remains one of the biggest stories in the world. It sends out hit squads armed with nerve agents against its enemies, most recently the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny", The NYT said in their job offer. "[Russia] has its cyber agents sow chaos and disharmony in the West to tarnish its democratic systems, while promoting its faux version of democracy. It has deployed private military contractors around the globe to secretly spread its influence. At home, its hospitals are filling up fast with Covid patients as its president hides out in his villa. If that sounds like a place you want to cover, then we have good news: We will have an opening for a new correspondent as Andy Higgins takes over as our next Eastern Europe Bureau Chief early next year".

The New York Times has consistantly rolled out catchy and breathtaking stories on Russia over the years, including allegations that Russia offered bounties to Taliban troops who killed American soldiers, Russian "interference" in American presidential elections and, of course, a mysterious and super-elite cabal of the dreaded GRU unit trained in “subversion, sabotage and assassination".

The narrative is, however, so exciting that The NYT does not often bother to back its claims with evidence - sometimes even rolling out additional reports admitting to having no proof, but promoting the stories nonetheless.

https://sputniknews.com/russia/202011221081244811-you-can-lie-remotely-russian-mfa-spokeswoman-zakharova-piques-nyt-headhunt-in-moscow/

Former Harvard Fencing Coach Accused Of Taking $1.5 Million To Secure Admission For Students

In the latest chapter of high profile college admission scandals across the U.S., former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand was arrested last week for taking more than $1.5 million from Maryland-based businessman Jie “Jack” Zhao to secure spots at the school for Zhao's two sons.

Harvard began investigating the issue in May 2019 and, shortly thereafter, Brand was dismissed from his job, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Andrew E. Lelling, U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said: “This case is part of our longstanding effort to expose and deter corruption in college admissions. Millions of teenagers strive for college admission every year. We will do our part to make that playing field as level as we possibly can.”

The complaint alleges that Brand recruited Zhao's sons in exchange for money and allegedly said in 2012 that the boys “don’t have to be great fencers.”

In 2013, Zhao donated $1 million to a fencing charity run by a co-conspirator of Brand. Zhao's son was admitted into Harvard, as a fencing recruit, in December. He enrolled the following fall. The charity then sent $100,000 to the Peter Brand foundation, a second charity set up by Brand and his spouse.

Zhao also allegedly "paid for Mr. Brand’s car, covered college tuition payments for the coach’s son, paid the mortgage on his house in Needham, Mass., and later bought the house for more than its market value."

Both Zhao and Brand deny the allegations.

William D. Weinreb, a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP said: “Jack Zhao’s children were academic stars in high school and internationally competitive fencers who obtained admission to Harvard on their own merit. Both of them fenced for Harvard at the Division One level throughout their college careers.”

Douglas Brooks, partner at Libby Hoopes Brooks PC, said: “The students were academic and fencing stars. Coach Brand did nothing wrong in connection with their admission to Harvard. He looks forward to the truth coming out in court.”

The Harvard case is unrelated to the college admissions scandal called "Operation Varsity Blues" that has been playing out over the last 24 months in the U.S. and was masterminded by William "Rick" Singer.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/former-harvard-fencing-coach-accused-taking-15-million-secure-admission-students

Pelosi Busted Sneaking $350M for 50 Richest Zip Codes into COVID Relief Bill

At some point, when the election chaos is finally settled, Congress will likely turn to passing another COVID-19 stimulus/relief bill. (Despite the last one being plagued by rampant fraud and dysfunction). One starting point for negotiations will be the “HEROES Act,” a $2.2 trillion bill the House passed in October on a party-line vote by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democrats.

One of the most significant aspects of the HEROES Act is that it allocates nearly $700 billion in federal money for state, local, and tribal governments.

Proponents say this gives localities the funds they need to pay emergency responders and fund programs necessary to protect their communities. Critics point out that much of this money is used to “bail out” blue states that were already mismanaging their budgets and running up large unfunded pension programs before the pandemic.

Indeed, the left-leaning Brookings Institution has projected that “state and local government revenues will decline $155 billion in 2020, $167 billion in 2021, and $145 billion in 2022.” Simple math shows us that the CARES Act gives states and localities hundreds of billions more in federal money than they are actually projected to lose due to pandemic-related decreases in revenue.

This alone should be a red flag. Yet a new analysis also reveals that Pelosi and her fellow “progressives” snuck millions of dollars in cash for some of the nation’s wealthiest zip codes into their emergency COVID-19 package.

https://thefreethoughtproject.com/wealthy-friends-democrats-pelosi/

Sen. Blackburn: ‘Now is the time’ for Trump to present evidence of fraud in court

“I will say now is the time for the Trump campaign, if they have their information that they need to present in court,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on ABC News Prime on Saturday. “Now is the time they need to be taking that evidence to the court.”

“There is a process, that the media doesn’t declare,” said Blackburn responding to why she and her Republican colleagues don’t accept president-elect Biden. “This is something your local and your state officials will do as they certify those elections.“

“It is important that we settled this. I think if every legal vote is counted, Donald Trump would get four more years.”

“It is not the job of any of the news organizations to declare the winner. This is up to the people of the country. It is up to the boards of elected. It is up to the secretaries of state and once all of that has transpired and the electors have been appointed and there is an electoral college, then that is the time to make those two declarations. And at that point, whether it is President Trump for four more years or Joe Biden for a new term, that will be the time to do that.”

https://saraacarter.com/sen-blackburn-now-is-the-time-for-trump-to-present-evidence-of-fraud-in-court/