'Absolutely reckless': Biden admin renews grant to EcoHealth Alliance —​ the same outfit that funded dangerous experiments at epicenter of pandemic



The National Institutes of Health has renewed a grant to EcoHealth Alliance — the controversial organization that bankrolled dangerous coronavirus experiments at the likely ground zero of the COVID-19 pandemic, China's state-run Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The move comes despite protest from experts, watchdogs, and lawmakers, as well as a damning report from the HHS Office of Inspector General that cast EHA in a particularly unfavorable light.
EHA, still run by British zoologist Peter Daszak, announced Monday that it would once again be meddling with bat coronaviruses on the American taxpayer's dime.
According to the EHA, the objectives of the new NIH- and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease-funded project are to:
  • "characterize and analyze more than 300 new whole genomes and large genome segments of SARSr-CoVs from our archived samples to determine the processes underlying coronavirus recombination and identify viral strains with a high predicted risk of spillover";
  • "analyze archived samples from community- and clinic-based syndromic surveillance of people to identify evidence of spillover, assess behavioral risk factors, and pinpoint evidence of illness"; and
  • "conduct in vitro viral characterization and in silico analysis of epidemiological data to identify hotspots of further CoV spillover risk."

EHA noted that the NIH grant enabling it to resume toying with coronaviruses "reflects a reversal of the previous termination and suspension of an R01 awarded in 2019, but halted in April 2020 due to concerns about continuing collaborative laboratory research with the Wuhan Institute of Virology."

Former President Donald Trump had the grant suspended after the organization's link to gain-of-function research in Wuhan was exposed.

According to USA Spending, the NIH and other government agencies have been funneling taxpayer money into the EHA since 2008.

TheBlaze previously detailed how EcoHealth has, in turn, used American grant money to fund dangerous gain-of-function research — executed in part by foreign entities — on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The HHS Office of Inspector General released a report earlier this year revealing that the NIH knew about potential risks associated with the research being performed in China that had been executed using federal grant money funneled to and through EHA. Despite this knowledge, it "did not effectively monitor or take timely action to address EcoHealth's compliance with some requirements."

According to the report, EHA did not ensure subawards in China were compliant with federal requirements; ensure compliance with reporting and subrecipient monitoring requirements; and it did not always use its grant funds according to federal requirements.

When, for instance, the the NIH asked EHA on Nov. 5, 2021, to provide scientific documentation pertaining to experiments performed in Wuhan, there was no indication that EHA ever obtained that information. EHA officials reportedly confirmed the WIV had proven unresponsive to its request for data.

Republican lawmakers have expressed contempt for EHA, recognizing it as an unaccountable actor in a play that might have gotten millions of Americans killed.

Over 30 House and Senate Republicans sent letters to Lawrence A. Tabak, the director of the NIH, as well as to Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation, calling for the suspension of federal funding to EHA.

\u201cEcoHealth Alliance has funded dangerous and potentially deadly research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a lab run by the Chinese Communist Party.\n\nI led bicameral letters to the Biden Administration demanding the NIH and NSF terminate their grant relationships with EcoHealth.\u201d
— Guy Reschenthaler (@Guy Reschenthaler) 1665439530

Republican lawmakers highlighted EcoHealth's "lengthy history of reporting failures and collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV)," noting that the WIV "is a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) laboratory and the likely origin of the COVID-19 pandemic."

The letter to the NIH referenced how, in 2020, Daszak, president of EcoHealth, called NIH requests that U.S. federal officials inspect the WIV "heinous" and derided suggestions that the virus might have leaked from the WIV — to which his organization had directed a significant amount of taxpayer funds — as "conspiracy theories."

During the 117th Congress, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) went beyond mere letters, introducing a bill to prohibit federal funding to the organization. It did not pass.

Ernst said that "[g]iving taxpayer money to EcoHealth to study pandemic prevention is like paying a suspected arsonist to conduct fire safety inspections."

Dr. Richard Ebright, a biologist at Rutgers University, appeared to be of the same mind, having accused EHA of "possibly having caused the pandemic and definitely having repeatedly and gravely violated terms of a US-government grant."

Newsweek reported that White Coat Waste Project, the government watchdog outfit that revealed U.S. taxpayer money was used to bankroll dangerous research at the WIV, blasted the NIH's grant renewal for the EHA.

"The batty taxpayer-funded grant that bankrolled EcoHealth Alliance's dangerous animal experiments in Wuhan that probably prompted the pandemic should be de-funded, not re-funded," said Justin Goodman, senior vice president of the watchdog group.

The Daily Mail reported that Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) denounced the Biden NIH's move to pour more money into EHA.

"It's absolutely reckless that the NIH has renewed a grant for EcoHealth Alliance given their negligence and the breach of their contract with the NIH on the coronavirus research done at the Wuhan Institute of Virology," said Griffith.

Griffith added, "Until they can demonstrate a willingness to work with Congress to resolve outstanding questions and fulfill all of the terms of their federal contracts, paid for with American taxpayer dollars, all funding should remain suspended, and no new contracts should be awarded."

Sen. Ernst told the Daily Mail, "EcoHealth has already betrayed the trust of American taxpayers by funneling funds to China's Wuhan Institute of Virology for risky experiments on bat coronaviruses that may have unleashed the COVID-19 pandemic on the world. Americans deserve accountability, which is why it's past time to defund EcoHealth."

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) echoed Ernst and Griffith, telling the Daily Mail, "EcoHealth Alliance funneled taxpayer dollars to the Wuhan lab to conduct mad scientist research on bat coronaviruses that may have started the pandemic. EcoHealth shouldn't receive another dime from the U.S. government until we fully investigate what happened at the Wuhan lab."

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Video: Drag queen performs in Minnesota state Capitol rotunda for cheering crowd celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility



A drag queen was captured on video performing in the Minnesota state Capitol rotunda for a cheering crowd Friday morning in celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility.

Guy Still, assignment manager for WCCO-TV, posted the clip on Twitter, noting the dance routine was part of a drag show:

\u201cA drag show in the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda this AM was part of the Trans Day of Visibility rally.\u201d
— Guy Still (@Guy Still) 1680279576

Similar events were held across the country Friday, WCCO-TV reported, adding that the Trans Day of Visibility is an international phenomenon and was founded in 2009.

More from the station:

Minnesota lawmakers recently passed legislation, which Gov. Tim Walz signed into law, that aimed to make Minnesota a "refuge" for transgender people. Those pushing the legislation forward said it would protect trans patients and providers of gender-affirming care from legal action in other states where such care is banned or restricted, creating a safe haven in Minnesota.

Walz, a Democrat, earlier this month issued an executive order reflecting the state's "refuge" status for trans individuals.

How are folks reacting to the video?

As you might guess, not everybody was jazzed over the drag queen's performance within the stately rotunda:

  • "This just… I can’t… Dear lord," one commenter lamented.
  • "Nasty," another user noted.
  • "One huge reason I left my home state," another commenter shared.
  • "Absolutely despicable!" another user declared.
  • "Congratulations MN...you are officially a laughing stock," another commenter stated.
  • "They love to shove it in our faces to make sure we know they are the masters," another user observed. "They dare us to react. They will find out that the majority of people are starting to speak out. This needs to stop."
  • "Is this a joke? I don’t care, and my best friend is trans, but wtf?" another commenter offered. "Not the time, nor the place for this."

Anything else?

Elsewhere in the U.S., the organizers behind the "Trans Day of Vengeance" scheduled for this weekend called off the event, citing "a credible threat to life and safety."

Prior to the cancellation, Twitter removed over 5,000 tweets and retweets showing a poster for the "Trans Day of Vengeance," saying they "incite violence," the Associated Press reported.

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Climate alarmist Greta Thunberg's 'arrest' at anti-labor protest exposed as media stunt, widely ridiculed



Images of climate alarmist Greta Thunberg's supposed arrest by German police circulated widely after the Tuesday incident, prompting some to contemplate her apparent bravery in the face of statist force.

Raw footage of the incident and additional scrutiny have together revealed that the 20-year-old Swedish activist, like her actor father, has a knack for the theatrical. Not only was Thunberg's arrest reportedly staged, it wasn't an arrest at all.

What's the background?

Climate alarmists flocked to a condemned western German village Tuesday for an anti-labor protest, denouncing a job-creating coal mine expansion.

Hamstrung by domestic anti-oil policies and unable to count on renewables, Europe ended up overly reliant on Russian energy. As Russia began to cut off the continent during its war on Ukraine, countries like Germany — which previously obtained roughly 30% of its supply from Russia — were forced to return to using coal.

While climate alarmism had a hand in driving Germany's desperate need for coal, Thunberg and others nevertheless voiced their opposition to the demolition of the abandoned village of Luetzerath, required for the expansion of the Garzweiler 2 mine.

Though condemned and owned by the mine, Luetzerath has recently become an ecosocialist squat for leftist militants and climate extremists.

Leftist extremists from the condemned village can be seen here attacking journalists:

\u201cAt the autonomous zone in #Luetzerath, Germany by militant leftists, #Antifa & climate extremists, Antifa surrounded and attacked journalists. The violent occupation has been praised by leftists & Greta Thunberg for stopping a coal mine expansion.\u201d
— Andy Ng\u00f4 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Andy Ng\u00f4 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1673762169

Police, who had been trying to prevent protesters from getting injured in the open-pit mine, were reportedly pelted with incendiary devices. Over 70 officers were injured.

Climate alarmists and other anti-labor protesters also reportedly damaged police patrol cars.

Reuters initially reported that Greta Thunberg, who had trespassed to as far as the edge of the mine, had been arrested.

Police told Reuters that "Greta Thunberg was part of a group of activists who rushed towards the ledge [of the mine]. However, she was then stopped and carried by us with this group out of the immediate danger area to establish their identity."

After police rescued the dramatist's daughter, Thunberg was reportedly "held by one arm at a spot further away from the edge of the mine where she was previously sat with the group."

Thunberg, ostensibly wearing a jacket and bag made with petroleum products, told the Associated Press that "what everyone does matters. ... And if one of the largest polluters, like Germany, and one of the biggest historical emitters of CO2 is doing something like this, then of course it affects more or less everyone — especially those most bearing the brunt of the climate crisis."

Some of Thunberg's fans saw the initial images, apparently believing that she had been arrested doing something that mattered.

NASA climate scientist Peter Kalmus tweeted, "Greta's first arrest. It's time for many more of us to stand up and risk arrest for the sake of a livable planet. It will turn the tide."

Climate activist Mike Hudema tweeted with similar urgency, "Greta Thunberg has been detained in Germany for protesting the expantion [sic] of a coal mine despite the government claiming it will exit coal by 2030. The coal expansion betrays 'present and future generations.' There is no time to wait."

\u201cGreta Thunberg has been detained in Germany for protesting the expantion of a coal mine despite the government claiming it will exit coal by 2030. \n\nThe coal expansion betrays "present and future generations."\n\nThere is no time to wait. #ActOnClimate \n#IStandwithGreta #L\u00fctzerath\u201d
— Mike Hudema (@Mike Hudema) 1673985657

Frown for the cameras

The Guardian reported that, contrary to previous claims, Thunberg was briefly detained, not arrested.

The Hill noted that Thunberg, who had been trespassing, was simply escorted along with other climate alarmists away from the coal mine site on private property.

Snopes all but conceded it was nothing more than a photo op, writing that "activists often plan such sit-ins and protests as media events to publicize their cause, in full knowledge that police and media will be present — which is to say that they are, in a sense, 'staged.'"

A video has emerged of Thunberg chuckling away with her supposed captors.

The footage shows Thunberg and her police escorts striking different poses for the cameramen and videographers in their orbit, laughing sporadically.

After the photo op, the police escorted the Swedish trespasser off the private property.

\u201cYes, the Greta Thunberg arrest was staged for the establishment media.\u201d
— Catch Up (@Catch Up) 1673993443

Sky News host Chris Kenny said the photo op was "Just farcical, isn’t it? Deceptive too – it’s theatre, climate theatre, and most media just goes along with the charade."

Townhall editor Guy Benson noted that Thunberg's photo op with German police had the "Same energy" as when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) pretended to be handcuffed when being escorted from a pro-abortion protest at the U.S. Capitol.

\u201cSame energy\u201d
— Guy Benson (@Guy Benson) 1673997674

At the time of the incident, Thunberg said, "Germany is really embarrassing itself right now. ... I think it’s absolutely absurd that this is happening the year 2023."

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Former House Speaker John Boehner gets choked up during remarks at event honoring Speaker Nancy Pelosi



Former GOP House Speaker John Boehner became emotional while delivering remarks honoring Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at a portrait unveiling ceremony on Wednesday.

Boehner, who served as speaker from early 2011 through late October 2015, became choked up when saying, in an apparent reference to his daughters, that his "girls" told him to tell Pelosi how much they admire her.

Boehner said that no other modern speaker has lead with the "authority" or "consistent results" as Pelosi, and he described the lawmaker as "one tough cookie."

Pelosi later said of Boehner that she would have been a bit "disappointed if he did not get emotional."

LIVE: Nancy Pelosi portrait unveiled at the Capitol www.youtube.com

Pelosi is the first and only woman ever to serve as speaker of the House. While she was recently elected to another term in office, she has opted not to seek the leadership role again. She has served as a lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than three decades.

"John Boehner crying as he paid tribute to Nancy Pelosi is the perfect symbol of uniparty pathology," Monica Crowley tweeted.

"Boehner crying in tribute to Pelosi while talking about how his daughters are Democrats is a pretty good summation of Republican leadership over the past couple of decades," Ben Shapiro tweeted.

\u201cBoehner crying in tribute to Pelosi while talking about how his daughters are Democrats is a pretty good summation of Republican leadership over the past couple of decades https://t.co/qccwcscgVU\u201d
— Ben Shapiro (@Ben Shapiro) 1671109988

"While you’re sniveling at Pelosi’s portrait reveal, conservatives are weeping for America — precisely because our country’s greatness and potential have been squandered by The Uniparty..." Tim Meads wrote.

Guy Benson tweeted, "In fairness, Boehner cries about everything."

\u201cin fairness, Boehner cries about everything\u201d
— Guy Benson (@Guy Benson) 1671128187

Bill Maher hammers New York Times for burying Brett Kavanaugh assassination attempt



Bill Maher slammed the New York Times for burying the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

A California man traveled to Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. On Wednesday, 26-year-old Nicholas Roske was stopped by Montgomery County Police Department officers and admitted he wanted to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh. Roske had a handgun, two magazines, ammunition, a tactical knife, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, crowbar, tactical chest rig, and duct tape. Roske was arrested and hit with federal charges of attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice.

The New York Times placed its coverage of the assassination attempt on a United States Supreme Court justice far down on its front page and the actual story was on page A20 of the Thursday edition of the newspaper.

\u201cLook at how far down the page The New York Times buried the story of the Democrat terrorist who showed up to a conservative Supreme Court Justices\u2019 home to murder him with a gun because the justice supports the Second Amendment and doesn\u2019t support killing babies via abortion.\u201d
— Ryan Saavedra (@Ryan Saavedra) 1654747585


\u201cThe news that\u2019s barely fit to print\u201d
— Guy Benson (@Guy Benson) 1654782739

Maher hammered the New York Times for burying the news story and having leftist media bias.

The liberal talk show host agreed with guest Kellyanne Conway.

"The New York Times buried this," Maher exclaimed. "If this had been a liberal Supreme Court justice that someone came to kill, it would have been on the front page."

"And that's what's so disappointing about a paper like the New York Times because they just wear their bias on their sleeves," Maher said, adding, "And, 'If it's not part of something that feeds our narrative, f*** it, we bury it.'"

Maher also criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for using "very inflammatory words" against Supreme Court justices in the past.

In March 2020, Schumer verbally threatened Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.

"I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price," Schumer proclaimed. "You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions."

\u201cFLASHBACK: Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer threatened U.S. Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.\n\n"You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price! You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions!"\nhttps://t.co/e1qKzocJDj\u201d
— Steve Guest (@Steve Guest) 1654699422

Substack writer Josh Barro said the assassination attempt is concerning because it is "related to the perception that a lot of Americans have where they don't think these institutions are legitimate anymore."

"And that creates the willingness these nutty people have to go and try to take matters into their own hands and shoot people," Barro continued. "And I think it's a really worrying trend in our politics and I agree it's not solely limited to one side of the aisle."

\u201c\u201cThe New York Times buried this. If this had been a liberal Supreme Court justice that someone came to kill, it would\u2019ve been on the front page...They wear their bias on their sleeves and if it\u2019s not part of something that feeds our narrative, fuck it\u201d \u2013 @BillMaher #RealTime\u201d
— Brent Baker \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Brent Baker \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1654915902

'Ridiculous, anti-science, cowardly, cruel': Washington DC mask requirements to be scaled back, but not at schools



Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has announced that indoor mask requirements for various establishments will soon be relaxed, but not at schools.

On March 1, masks will no longer be required at various establishments such as restaurants, gyms, churches and businesses. Private companies will have the option to impose their own mask mandates if they wish.

But even once March 1 arrives, kids still will not be set free from the burden of wearing masks in schools.

Ridiculous, anti-science, cowardly, cruel
— Guy Benson (@Guy Benson) 1644861987

School mask mandates have been controversial, with some Americans strongly opposing them. Some people on Twitter took issue with the news that kids would still be forced to mask in school even as the city drops the requirement for other locations.

"Ridiculous, anti-science, cowardly, cruel," Guy Benson remarked.

"This is nonsense, cruel, and NOT a policy backed by any legitimate scientific data. Unmask the kids!!" someone else commented.

"In any other scenario, this would be long-term child abuse," someone else's tweet declared.

"This is child abuse. Children are the least likely to be impacted by Covid. This is disgusting. This is vile," another tweet said.

Starting Tuesday Feb. 15, indoor establishments in the nation's capital will no longer be required to confirm that patrons have been vaccinated against COVID-19 — some indoor facilities like restaurants and gyms had been required to prohibit the entry of people 12 and older who did not supply proof of at least one shot.

Mayor Bowser Provides COVID-19 Situational Update, 2/14/22 youtu.be

Politico​ orders staff not to call the border surge a 'crisis' — despite Biden himself using the word​



Politico has become the latest news agency to order its staff not to use the word "crisis" when describing the ongoing surge of illegal immigrants flooding into the country in anticipation of lenient treatment under the Biden administration.

In an internal memo obtained Thursday by the Washington Examiner, staff at the beltway publication were instructed to avoid using the term since the present situation doesn't fit the "dictionary definition of a crisis." It is, however, a "problem" and a "dire situation," staff were told.

The Associated Press broke ground last month when it instructed reporters to avoid the terminology in an effort to use "accurate and neutral language" when describing the situation. However, the AP had no problem using the word to refer to the immigration surge in 2019 when Donald Trump was president.

Politico's mandate comes with its own stink of hypocrisy, as President Joe Biden himself let the truth slip last Saturday, referring to the border surge as a "crisis" when talking to reporters after a round of golf. Nonetheless, such characterization is deemed unacceptable for Politico reporters.

"Avoid referring to the present situation as a crisis, although we may quote others using that language while providing context. While the sharp increase in the arrival of unaccompanied minors is a problem for border officials, a political challenge for the Biden administration and a dire situation for many migrants who make the journey, it does not fit the dictionary definition of a crisis," deputy production director Maya Parthasarathy reportedly wrote in the memo.

"If using the word 'crisis,' we need to ask of what and to whom," she added.

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines a crisis as "an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending." Cambridge English Dictionary describes a crisis as "a time of great disagreement, confusion or suffering."

The Biden administration has insisted for months that the surge of immigrants at the border — which has resulted in thousands of migrant children being held in grim, cage-like facilities and tens of thousands of adult illegal immigrants being released directly into the country — does not constitute a crisis. Yet at the same time, officials have been scrambling behind the scenes to hide it from the public and have been taking drastic action to make the problem go away.

After Biden regrettably used that word which shall never be used, the White House quickly went into damage control and clarified to CNN that the label is not reflective of the "administration's official position."

The clarification proved to be marching orders for Politico.

WH: It’s not a crisis Politico: [salutes] https://t.co/mDJLgt0atM
— Guy Benson (@Guy Benson)1619118028.0

Facebook to ban and remove photos and videos from Capitol protest; content labeled as 'promotion of criminal activity'



Facebook announced it would ban and remove photos and videos from the protest at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The social media platform claims that photos and videos from Wednesday's events violate Facebook's policy of "promotion of criminal activity."

Immediately following the Capitol protest, Facebook and Instagram locked the account of President Donald Trump for 24 hours for "two policy violations."

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube deleted videos from President Trump addressing the Capitol chaos, where he instructed his supporters to "go home," and declared that "we have to have peace."

Twitter released a statement on Wednesday that read, "In regard to the ongoing situation in Washington, D.C., we are working proactively to protect the health of the public conversation occurring on the service and will take action on any content that violates the Twitter rules."

Guy Rosen, Facebook's vice president of integrity, said the company deleted Trump's video over the risk that it would increase the risk of violence.

"This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump's video," Rosen wrote on Twitter. "We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence."

This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump… https://t.co/xmqukcUtJj
— Guy Rosen (@Guy Rosen)1609973006.0

"The violent protests in the Capitol today are a disgrace," Facebook said in a statement on Wednesday. "We prohibit incitement and calls for violence on our platform. We are actively reviewing and removing any content that breaks these rules."

Facebook also issued its "response to the violence in Washington," where the social network announced it would ban and remove photos and videos from the Capitol protest.

"Let us speak for the leadership team in saying what so many of us are feeling," wrote Rosen and Monika Bickert, Facebook's vice president of global policy management. "We are appalled by the violence at the Capitol today. We are treating these events as an emergency."

Facebook proclaimed that it has been "searching for and removing" certain content, including "praise and support of the storming of the US Capitol," "incitement or encouragement of the events at the Capitol, including videos and photos from the protestors," and "calls for protests — even peaceful ones — if they violate the curfew in DC."

Facebook claimed that photos and videos of the Capitol protest "represent promotion of criminal activity which violates our policies."

Facebook also implemented "emergency measures," including "automatically disabling comments on posts in Groups that start to have a high rate of hate speech or content that incites violence" and "using AI to demote content that likely violates our policies."

"Facebook and Instagram have both begun blocking content posted to the #StormTheCapitol hashtag," TechCrunch reported.

The social media giant concluded by saying, "We're continuing to monitor the situation and will take additional measures if necessary to keep people safe."

Facebook did not enact a similar policy of banning images and videos during the protests and riots that have been occurring regularly since late May, following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.

Twitter locks Trump's account for 12 hours and says it may suspend him permanently; Facebook blocks him for 24 hours



Twitter said that it locked President Donald Trump's account for 12 hours after he posted tweets in violation of its "civic integrity" policies over the rioting at the U.S. Capitol against the certification of the election results.

President Trump had tweeted a video of himself addressing the people who were attacking the offices of members of Congress and attempting to thwart the congressional proceedings on Wednesday. He also continued to press the narrative that the election was stolen from him.

"As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy," read the statement from Twitter.

"This means that the account of @realDonaldTrump will be locked for 12 hours following the removal of these Tweets. If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked," the social media giant explained.

"Future violations of the Twitter Rules, including our Civic Integrity or Violent Threats policies, will result in permanent suspension of the @realDonaldTrump account," the company concluded.

Facebook and YouTube also deleted the video of the president's claims from their online platforms. Facebook later said it had locked the president out of his account for 24 hours for violating its policies.

"The violent protests in the Capitol today are a disgrace. We prohibit incitement and calls for violence on our platform. We are actively reviewing and removing any content that breaks these rules," Facebook said in a statement.

Facebook's Guy Rosen, the vice president of integrity, called it an emergency situation.

This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump… https://t.co/xmqukcUtJj
— Guy Rosen (@Guy Rosen)1609973006.0

"This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump's video. We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence," Rosen tweeted.

Despite the protests of the president and the rioting from his supporters at the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that Congress would reconvene Wednesday evening and validate the Electoral College results of the election.

Here's more about the president's Twitter account:

Twitter suspends Trump's account for 12 hourswww.youtube.com

Dozens of New York restaurant owners sue Gov. Cuomo over coronavirus restrictions



Dozens of restaurant owners in upstate and western New York have joined a lawsuit that has been filed against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), alleging that state restrictions that are keeping their facilities closed are arbitrary and not based on science.

The lawsuit was originally filed in the week before Christmas, according to WKBW-TV in Buffalo, and by last week had over 40 restaurants named as plaintiffs. The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant owners have been deprived of constitutional rights without a rational, scientific basis.

Specifically, restaurant owners in Erie County complain that the "orange" designation applied to the county by the state requires them to remain closed while restaurants that are "around the corner" in neighboring "yellow" counties remain open. They note that according to the state's own figures, less than 1.5 percent of COVID-19 cases in the state are traceable to restaurants or bars.

According to a Fox News report, restaurant owner Paul Santora, who owns Santora's Pizza Pub and Grill in Erie County, claimed, "Everywhere else in our district and everywhere around us basically are operating fully and [are] having the best season of their careers, and right around the corner from us it's the same way."

Santora continued, "For us, we really need the message to be consistent. One day they're going and they're concentrating on percentage rates of positive cases and shuts us down to orange, and then all of a sudden it changes the hospital beds and it keeps us in orange."

Santora's attorney, Corey Hogan, told Fox News, "And we suggested to the judge, forgetting the constitutionality issues, let's just look at the fairness of it. The state itself has admitted that restaurants are not the problem. Gov. Cuomo said that. He also said hair salons are not the problem. They've been closed down. Now they've been allowed to open."

Cuomo, who has failed to stop New York from being one of the worst states in the country for the coronavirus pandemic and has been widely criticized for a number of public missteps — including forcibly placing infected persons in nursing homes, potentially leading to thousands of deaths — was not impressed with the lawsuit.

A spokesman for Cuomo told WKBW, "We get sued virtually every day for virtually every action taken during this pandemic, and frankly I've lost track of all the frivolous suits filed against us. We are moving heaven and earth to contain this virus and we know some people are unhappy, but better to be unhappy than sick or worse."

In spite of strict lockdown measures, some of which have previously been ruled unconstitutional, New York has continued to see worse coronavirus outcomes than other states. By any objective comparison, New York has seen far worse results than Florida, in spite of the fact that Florida has more people and an older population than New York. As Townhall political editor Guy Benson noted, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been widely criticized by media figures for not instituting many of the same policies as Cuomo, even though his state has objectively fared better during the pandemic.


Florida population: 21.5 millionNY population 19.5 million % of population 65+Florida: 21%NY: 16%DeSantis: H… https://t.co/Nbonteb3wA
— Guy Benson (@Guy Benson)1609383654.0