Over 1,000 protesters storm Wisconsin Capitol to demand end to lockdown as every 8th resident out of work

A massive group of demonstrators gathered in Wisconsin’s state Capitol to protest Governor Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order – imposed to stem the spread of Covid-19 – in what appears to be the largest anti-lockdown action to date.

At least 1,500 people descended on Madison on Friday to call for a repeal of the containment measures, according to the Wisconsin Capitol Police. Spurred on by the economic pain inflicted under the lockdown, the protest comes as hundreds of thousands of residents are out of a job, or around one in eight workers.

Carrying a vibrant array of flags, signs and banners, the demonstrators made their presence known outside of the shuttered Capitol building. Though they were denied a permit to hold the protest earlier this week, the event’s planners went ahead regardless, with one organizer stating she was “willing to risk citation” in order to be heard.

Governor Evers extended his “safer at home” order last week, with the containment measures now set to expire on May 26, but the second phase of lockdown will ease some of the restrictions, allowing public libraries, golf courses and a number of other “non-essential” businesses to reopen. Republican lawmakers attempted to block the extension earlier this week, filing a lawsuit calling for an injunction against the policy, but the courts have yet to grant the request.

Despite the relaxed rules, Wisconsin workers will continue to take a beating under the lockdown, seeing far worse unemployment numbers than at the height of the 2008 financial meltdown.

“Even in 2008, we didn't have half of the unemployment claims throughout the whole great recession,” Emily Savard with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development told local media, adding that over 440,000 residents have filed for unemployment, drowning the state’s system in claims and inquiries. Nationwide, the business shutdowns could help to quadruple federal deficit spending to $3.7 trillion as lawmakers pass a series of massive relief packages, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

On top of economic woes, the protesters also voiced concerns about abuse of power and government overreach, some hoisting signs dubbing Evers a “power grabber,” while another placard sardonically read: “Oh, no! A virus. Quick … let’s burn the Bill of Rights.”

https://www.rt.com/usa/486861-wisconsin-anti-lockdown-protest/

Michigan lawmakers vote to limit Gov. Whitmer's disaster powers — she vows to veto

Despite the protests, Whitmer has a stranglehold on executive power

The Republican-controlled legislature in Michigan voted on Friday to limit the disaster powers of the governor's office, but Gov. Whitmer has vowed to veto the bill despite public protests against her lockdown orders.

Michigan has been the site of many public protests against the stay-at-home orders made to stop the spread of coronavirus. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been the target of much of the protest.

Michigan has taken more strict measures to fight the pandemic, including the cordoning off of unessential sections in grocery and other stores to dissuade people from unnecessarily shopping.

"We haven't seen the collaboration to this point that we've requested and what we would like to see," said Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, a Republican, of Whitmer.

"We are the voice of the people, and there are thousands of people across our state frustrated and have had their livelihoods taken away, and we want to ensure they can get back to work when it can be done safely," he added, according to WDIV in Detroit.

'I'm not going to sign any bill that takes authority away from me'

Whitmer signaled that she is not going to back down to the protests or the Republican demands, and said that she is going to veto the measures meant to limit her authority.

"I'm not going to sign any bill that takes authority away from me or from any future governor," she said. "The powers of the Executive Office are incredibly important, especially in times of crisis where lives are on the line."

She went so far as to demand that legislators respect the stay-at-home order and not leave their homes to vote.

"I find it odd that the Legislature has chosen to congregate against all the best practices against the spirit of the stay home, stay safe order, where the vast majority of their constitutes are observing these important actions," Whitmer concluded.

On Friday, Whitmer extended the stay-at-home order to May 15 but eased some of the restrictions on businesses, including landscaping, golf courses, and other stores.

Over 35,000 people in Michigan have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, with 2,900 dying from the disease.

Here's more about Whitmer's pandemic response:

https://www.theblaze.com/news/whitmer-to-veto-bill-limiting-her-powers

RAND Corporation Brings Back Cold War Era Assessment Of Russian Correlation of Forces and Means

In late April 2020, the infamous RAND Corporation released a report that used to be a stable of US and allies understanding of the Soviet Union during the Cold War Era.

It is named “Russian Assessments and Applications of the Correlation of Forces and Means.” [pdf]

Its authors are Clint Reach, Vikram Kilambi, Mark Cozad.

“The international environment and new security threats that emerged following the collapse of the Soviet Union shifted the United States’ focus away from the large-scale military problems prevalent during the Cold War to different concerns, such as terrorism, regional ethnic conflict, and nuclear proliferation. As U.S. security concerns evolved, in-depth analysis of COFM and other issues related to understanding military balance and competition between major powers received relatively little attention from military planners and analysts.”

And as the world moves toward a new type of Cold War, new ways of carrying out due diligence are required.

Since there is a 30-year gap in knowledge after the Soviet Union dissolved, the authors have attempted to track the entire correlations of forces and means (COFM) evolution of Russia.

The key findings of the report are 4:

Modern Russian COFM assessments with respect to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) likely are based on combat potential values derived through a methodology that uses qualimetric methods and expert elicitation and was developed by the Russian General Staff’s think tank.

From the Russian perspective, the critical force correlation is NATO’s capability to build up forces and execute conventional precision strikes against critical military and economic infrastructure from air and sea, and Russia’s capability to disrupt such an attack.

Russia’s military force structure remains a product of deep reforms implemented in 2008, which were predicated on the assumptions that large-scale war was unlikely and that modern wars between advanced militaries with nuclear weapons would be centered on the aerospace domain.

In peacetime, superiority in long-range conventional precision munitions (in addition to platforms and enabling infrastructure) can have deterrent value given “escalation dominance” and the ability to hold Russia’s outer layer of defenses at risk and protect its military-economic potential in the rear.

In wartime, according to some Russian analyses of a hypothetical NATO-Russia war, escalatory pressure can be created by expanding the conflict beyond the local theater of military operations as a result of disparity in long-range precision capability and capacity.

The study is by no means an independent one – it was funded by Russia Strategic Initiative, United States European Command, and conducted within the International Security and Defense Policy Center of the RAND National Defense Research Institute, a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the defense agencies, and the defense Intelligence Community.

https://southfront.org/rand-corporation-brings-back-cold-war-era-assessment-of-russian-correlation-of-forces-and-means/

Jewish Democrats endorse Joe Biden, ‘shares our values’

In a video that begins with the infamous ‘Jews will not replace us’ march in Charlottesville, The Jewish Democratic Council of America endorses Biden.

The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDC) announced on Friday it will support former vice-president Joe Biden, the Jewish Insider reported.

In a video, the JDC begins by showing the viewer images from the Charolttesville March where people chanted “Jews will not replace us," in another part of the video US President Donald Trump is shown saying “I take no responsibility."

The scene was lifted from an interview during which Trump was asked about his responsibility for treating the coronavirus outbreak in the US.

JDCA executive director Halie Soifer said that the “JDCA is proud to support Joe Biden because he’s a principled and moral leader, and we know he’d never equivocate in the face of hatred facing Jews or anyone else.”

Biden said he feels "proud" about getting the support of the JDC and that “they are an important new voice for the progressive values that unite us here at home and for a secure, peaceful future for the Jewish and democratic State of Israel.”

The JDC is against the possible annexation of lands in the West Bank included in Trumps Deal of the Century.

The issue of Trump's relationship with the radical right in the US is a complex one, some have pointed out to his bluntness and style as something that might appeal to radical right wing groups who oppose immigration to the US and wish to see a return to older values and norms.

Trump's remarks about the US not needing immigrants from "s**t-hole" countries and his ease at ordering targeted killings can be seen as silent nods to these groups among the American voters.

https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/jewish-democrats-endorse-joe-biden-shares-our-values-625839

General Mike Flynn Breaks His Silence After Government Releases Brady Documents Showing He Committed No Crimes

General Mike Flynn Friday night broke his silence after the government finally released Brady documents showing he committed no crimes.

Attorney Sidney Powell has been fighting to get her hands on the Brady Material since she took over the case.

The documents are filed under seal, but attorney Sidney Powell said it reveals Flynn did not commit any crimes.

Powell also said that the documents produced found further misconduct by Mueller’s thug prosecutor Brandon Van Grack specifically.

“What else has the FBI buried,” said Powell to Sara Carter on Friday. “Where’s the original 302? And obviously some of the good agents are finally stepping up.”

General Flynn fired off a tweet for the first time since September of 2017 linking to his declaration of innocence.

Following the release of the exculpatory documents Attorney Sidney Powell filed a motion to dismiss ALL CHARGES against the former Trump National Security Advisor.

The Deep State hunted down General Flynn and leaked his December 2016 phone calls with Russian Ambassador Kislyak to the Washington Post in order to oust him as NatSec Advisor.

Mueller and his team of thugs prosecuted Flynn and threatened to jail his son if he didn’t plead guilty so he was hit with one count of lying to the feds — but he never lied.

The government refused to turn over the Brady material for years and according to the Daily Caller, FBI Director Wray fought to prevent exculpatory evidence from surfacing in the case!

You can read the 12-page declaration here:

Flynn Declaration 12 pages

https://www.scribd.com/document/444791080/Flynn-Declaration#from_embed?campaign=VigLink&ad_group=xxc1xx&source=hp_affiliate&medium=affiliate

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/04/general-mike-flynn-breaks-silence-government-releases-brady-documents-showing-committed-no-crimes/

Trey Gowdy UNLEASHED Epic logic

DOJ, FBI Officials: Director Christopher Wray Did Not Withhold Brady Material In Mike Flynn Case — ‘Has Been Nothing But Cooperative’

FBI Director Christopher Wray did not move to withhold exculpatory evidence in the case of Gen. Mike Flynn, FBI and Justice Department officials now say.

“The assertion that Director Wray pushed to withhold exculpatory evidence in the Michael Flynn case is 100% false,” DOJ Director of Communications Kerri Kupec told the Daily Caller. “To the contrary, the Director has been nothing but cooperative throughout this process.”

FBI Assistant Director of Public Affairs Brian Hale also told the Daily Caller that “the assertion that Director Wray pushed to withhold exculpatory evidence in the Michael Flynn case is absolutely false.”

When asked for clarification, Hale said that he was not personally aware if “there was a misunderstanding or a garble of some sort” regarding the Brady Material.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: FBI Director is Christopher A. Wray speaks to the media during a news conference at FBI Headquarters, on June 14, 2018 in Washington, DC. Earlier today the inspector general released a 500 page report on the Clinton email investigation. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The Daily Caller reported earlier on Friday that Wray and FBI general counsel Dana Boente led an effort to block exculpatory material in Flynn’s case from being turned over to DOJ. The evidence was included in new documents filed Friday by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, whom Attorney General Bill Barr had directed in January to review the case.

Flynn, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty in 2017 to charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. He has since changed his legal team and sought to retract his guilty plea. A judge additionally delayed his original, mid-February sentencing date “until further notice of the court.”

https://dailycaller.com/2020/04/24/doj-fbi-officials-director-christopher-wray-did-not-withhold-brady-material-in-mike-flynn-case-has-been-nothing-but-cooperative/