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By Chris White

https://dailycaller.com/author/Chris+White/

TikTok has hired several Democratic and Republican operatives to lobby the U.S. governmental amid concerns that the social media platform represents a national security threat.

The company hired several operatives recently to lobby on TikTok’s behalf, including Michael Hacker, who worked as a senior advisor to Democratic House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina, CNBC reported Friday. TikTok hired two executives from the Internet Association as well, according to the report.

TikTok also hired Freddy Barnes, a former longtime staffer for Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, according to Barnes’s LinkedIn page. Derrick Dockery, a former congressional press assistant to former GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan, has joined Barnes as one of the company’s lobbyists on governmental affairs.

Barnes and Dockery’s LinkedIn pages indicate they were hired in June.

News of the hiring spree came on the heels of reports that the Trump administration is considering the possibility of banning the social media platform over concerns that the video app shares U.S. user data to Beijing.

https://dailycaller.com/2020/07/10/tiktok-lobbyists-china-republicans-democrats/

By Emma Colton

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/emma-colton

Video has surfaced of a man stabbing two elderly men on the New York City subway over the Fourth of July weekend.

Patrick Chambers, 46, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault, two counts of menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon following an attack that occurred on July 5 on a Queens subway.

The situation unfolded when Chambers allegedly shouted, “Why aren’t you home with your kids?” at the two men, who are both in their 70s, according to the New York Post. Chambers then pulled a knife on the men, which was partially captured on camera. All three men were wearing face masks to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Following the stabbings, the attacker can be seen in the video walking away from the scene. The victims were taken to a local hospital and are in stable condition.

The incident comes as New York City officials report a spike in violence since protests and riots have spread across the country to denounce systemic racism and police brutality.

There were 10 shootings and one person killed in a nine-hour span over Independence Day weekend. Additionally, there were 13 murders between June 1-7, with 40 reported shootings, compared to five murders and 24 shootings during the same time period in 2019.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/video-two-elderly-men-stabbed-on-nyc-subway-during-independence-day-weekend

By Philip Pullella

https://muckrack.com/philippullella

Pope Francis said on Sunday he was hurt by Turkey’s decision to make Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia museum a mosque, the latest religious leader to condemn the move.

“My thoughts go to Istanbul. I think of Santa Sophia and I am very pained,” he said during his weekly blessing in St. Peter’s Square.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said the first prayers would be held in Hagia Sophia on July 24, after declaring the ancient monument was once again a mosque following a court ruling revoking its status as a museum.

The World Council of Churches has called on Erdogan to reverse his decision and Patriarch Bartholomew, the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, called it disappointing.

Erdogan said the nearly 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia, which was once a Christian cathedral, would remain open to Muslims, Christians and foreigners.

He added that Turkey had exercised its sovereign right in converting it to a mosque and would interpret criticism of the move as an attack on its independence.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-museum-verdict-pope/pope-very-pained-by-decision-to-turn-istanbuls-hagia-sophia-museum-into-mosque-idUSKCN24D0CG

By Warner Todd Huston

https://www.breitbart.com/author/warner-todd-huston/

Joe Biden’s radical proposal for the Democrat Party platform for 2020 seeks to put an end to America’s suburban communities by forcing low-income housing into every neighborhood and flooding every community with immigrants, legal or otherwise.

The proposal, known as the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force Recommendations, would provide instant amnesty and a pathway to U.S. citizenship for the 22 million illegal aliens now living in the nation. Astoundingly, it would also give legal status to all the world’s refugees regardless of the legitimacy of their claim to the status.

But on top of all that, Biden and Sanders are proposing that Barack Obama’s so-called Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rules will be put into full force.

For instance, in the “executive orders” section of the platform proposal, Biden/Sanders note that Biden would, “Implement the Obama-Biden Administration’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule requiring communities receiving certain federal funding to proactively examine housing patterns and identify and address policies that have discriminatory effects.”

The Biden/Sanders platform also scolds Trump, and says Biden would “Roll back Trump Administration policies gutting fair lending and fair housing protections.”

In another section, the platform states Biden would: “Ensure effective and rigorous enforcement of the Fair Housing Act and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. Hold financial institutions accountable for discriminatory practices in the housing market.”

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/07/11/bidens-2020-party-platform-proposal-seeks-to-abolish-americas-suburban-communities/

By Emma Colton

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/emma-colton

An Indiana mother was fatally shot following an argument with a group of people over the Black Lives Matter movement, according to her family.

Jessica Doty Whitaker of Indianapolis was killed while walking with her fiance, Jose Ramirez, on July 5. The fatal shooting occurred after 3 a.m. local time when the couple encountered a group of four men and a woman with whom they got into an argument over the Black Lives Matter movement and its messaging.

One man in the group allegedly pulled a gun during the argument but walked away from the couple before using it.

“It was squashed, and they went up the hill and left, we thought, but they were sitting on St. Claire waiting for us to come under the bridge, and that’s when she got shot,” Ramirez said. “She shouldn’t have lost her life. She’s got a 3-year-old son she loved dearly.”

Ramirez said that he was also carrying a gun and shot back at the suspect. He did not hit or injure anyone, however, according to reports.

"I was actually holding her when it happened," he said. "She just fell. I turned around, and I opened fire too. But that's just a reaction. I didn't see nobody. I didn't — hopefully I didn't hit nobody."

Police are still searching for the suspects and investigating the situation.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/indiana-mother-shot-and-killed-following-argument-over-black-lives-matter-family-says

By David Krayden

https://dailycaller.com/author/dkrayden/

Two police officers from McAllen, Texas are dead after reportedly being ambushed and shot during a routine domestic investigation Saturday.

In a news conference, McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez identified the two officers as Edelmiro Garza, 45, and Ismael Chavez, 39, The Monitor reported.

Garza had served for over eight years while his partner, Chavez, had been on the force for over two years. The alleged killer, Audon Ignacio Camarillo, 23, died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Rodriguez told reporters that the officers were investigating an assault complaint in the city at around 3:30 p.m. While attempting to investigate the disturbance, Camarillo allegedly ambushed them and began shooting.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement Saturday, tweeting: “Two of our finest were killed in the line of duty while working to protect residents in their community. I’ve spoke with McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez and offered the full support of the State of Texas.”

https://dailycaller.com/2020/07/12/two-mcallen-texas-police-officers-ambushed-shot-dead/

By Kurt Zindulka

https://www.breitbart.com/author/kzindulka/

The creator of The Office, Ricky Gervais, has called out the online “fascists” that want to shut down freedom of speech, saying that “if you’re mildly conservative on Twitter people call you Hitler.”

Continuing on his press tour marking the nineteenth anniversary of The Office, Gervais followed up his criticisms of cancel culture with an attack on the idea of so-called “hate speech”.

“There’s this new weird sort of fascism of people thinking they know what you can say and what you can’t and it’s a really weird thing… that there’s this new trendy myth that people who want free speech want to say awful things all the time. It’s just isn’t true, it protects everyone,” Gervais said in an interview on talkRadio.

The British actor and comedian said that people trying to shut down free speech in the name of combatting “hate speech” are “fascists” who “behind this bit the shield of goodness”, saying: “we’re good, we’re social just warriors, we’re doing this for good and what we say goes… and they don’t realize how corrupt and wrong that is.”

Reflecting on the caustic environment on social media, Gervais said: “If you’re mildly left-wing on Twitter, you’re suddenly Trotsky, right? If your mildly conservative, if you’re Hitler and if your centrist and you look at both arguments, you’re a coward.”

Mr Gervais said that while he backed certain caveats on freedom of speech, such as libel and slander laws, he said that countries should never criminalise speech that “someone, somewhere, might find offensive… because someone, somewhere might find everything offensive.”

“Just because you’re offended it doesn’t mean you’re right,” he added.

https://www.breitbart.coPost too long. Click here to view the full text.

By Tom Grundy

https://hongkongfp.com/author/tomgrundy/

Over half a million Hongkongers have cast their ballot so far during the weekend’s primary election, according to co-organisers Power for Democracy. Citizens ignored government threats over the new security law and formed long queues to vote across the city, in spite of temperatures exceeding 33c and a recent spike in Covid-19 cases.

500,002 people had voted by 6:30pm on Sunday, with polls set to close at 9pm. Results will be announced on Monday or Tuesday.

Voters have been selecting pro-democracy candidates to run in the official legislative election in September. Candidates were vying to secure seats in five geographical constituencies – Kowloon East, Kowloon West, Hong Kong Island, New Territories East and New Territories West – as well functional constituencies, including the “super” district councillors and health services sectors.

Organisers said they want to improve candidates’ chances of winning a majority in the legislature – a goal known as “35+” with some deeming the primaries the last “free election” in Hong Kong in anticipation of candidate disqualifications.

https://hongkongfp.com/2020/07/12/breaking-over-half-a-million-vote-in-hong-kong-democrats-primaries-despite-security-law-threats-and-covid-19-spike/

China’s ambassador to Berlin was “invited to talks” with the German foreign ministry on Friday to discuss the new national security law imposed in Hong Kong.

Beijing imposed the new security law last week as part of a crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.

“The German government, along with EU partners, has repeatedly voiced concern that the law seriously undermines the relative autonomy of Hong Kong and has a negative effect on judiciary independence and the rule of law,” a German foreign ministry source said.

The ministry reaffirmed that position in Friday’s talks, the source added.

https://hongkongfp.com/2020/07/11/german-foreign-ministry-invites-chinese-envoy-for-talks-on-hong-kong/

By Rachel Wong

https://hongkongfp.com/author/rachelwong/

Over 600,000 Hongkongers cast their ballot in the democratic camp primaries elections over the weekend, despite the authorities claiming the exercise may be illegal.

Co-organiser and law professor Benny Tai told the press after the polls closed that they recorded over 590,000 electronic ballots and more than 20,000 paper ballots throughout the two-day vote.

The figure exceeded his expected turnout of 170,000, though Tai said they are still awaiting the final tally.

“Hong Kong people have made history again – another miracle happened in Hong Kong,” he said. “Hong Kong people – after all these years, since 2003 – have demonstrated to the world, and also to the authorities, that we have not given up to strive for democracy.”

Tai added that, despite the security law and legal threats, Hongkongers still came out to exercise their right “and tell the whole world that we still want democracy – we have not given up.”

https://hongkongfp.com/2020/07/12/hong-kong-people-made-history-again-over-600000-vote-in-democrats-primaries-as-co-organiser-hails-miracle-turnout/

By GERALD TRACY

https://muckrack.com/gerald-tracy

A patient in their 30s died from the coronavirus after attending what's being called a "COVID party," according to a San Antonio health official.

Chief Medical Officer of Methodist Healthcare Dr. Jane Appleby said the idea of these parties is to see if the virus is real.

"This is a party held by somebody diagnosed by the COVID virus and the thought is to see if the virus is real and to see if anyone gets infected," Dr. Appleby said.

According to Appleby, the patient became critically ill and had a heartbreaking statement moments before death.

"Just before the patient died, they looked at their nurse and said 'I think I made a mistake, I thought this was a hoax, but it's not,'" Appleby said.

Appleby made this case public as the spike in cases for Bexar County continues. She wants everyone, especially those in the younger demographic, to realize they are not invincible.

"It doesn't discriminate and none of us are invincible," Appleby said. "I don't want to be an alarmist, and we're just trying to share some real-world examples to help our community realize that this virus is very serious and can spread easily."

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/i-thought-this-was-a-hoax-patient-in-their-30s-dies-after-attending-covid-party

By Andrew Mark Miller

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/andrew-mark-miller

A group of Five Guys employees were fired or suspended this week after refusing to serve police officers.

The incident happened in Daphne, Alabama, on Tuesday night when three officers entered the restaurant, according to WHNT 19 News, which noted the employees then allegedly turned their backs.

Police told the outlet that six or seven employees were involved, and one of them said, “I’m not serving them.” The police officers left and went to another restaurant.

The restaurant posted a message on Facebook saying that the actions it has taken include "termination and suspension of the employees involved."

The franchise will temporarily close so that employees can receive “customer service training” with a representative from the Daphne Police Department, the statement added. Customers were also assured that those employees “do not represent Five Guys or the local franchise."

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/five-guys-employees-fired-or-suspended-after-refusing-to-serve-alabama-police-officers

By Team Balk

https://www.nydailynews.com/tim-balk-staff.html

Tucker Carlson’s top writer resigned on Friday after racist online posts he had published under a pseudonym surfaced.

Blake Neff posted his bellicose bile on an internet message board awash with bigoted content, CNN reported.

Fox News said the writer for “Tucker Carlson Tonight” quit after CNN contacted Neff to request comment about the posts.

By Friday night, Neff’s Twitter and LinkedIn accounts were deactivated.

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-tucker-carlson-top-writer-20200711-yjimg25gyncnzdrkzuej5qgvf4-story.html

By Jonathan Lemire

https://muckrack.com/person-2541594

President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit to a military hospital on Saturday, the first time the president has been seen in public with the type of facial covering recommended by health officials as a precaution against spreading or becoming infected by the novel coronavirus.

Trump flew by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in suburban Washington to meet wounded servicemembers and health care providers caring for COVID-19 patients. As he left the White House, he told reporters: “When you’re in a hospital, especially … I think it’s a great thing to wear a mask.”

https://apnews.com/7651589ac439646e5cf873d021f1f4b6?utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter