China, Not Gerrymandering, Is the Real Threat to Democracy
Plus, assessing Minnesota's so-called conversion therapy law in the wake of Robin Westman's horrific shooting
Red menace: Left-wing politicians and pundits have spent the past few weeks sounding the alarm over the latest "threat" to elected government in the United States: gerrymandering. For Free Beacon columnist Mike Watson, "it is hard to see how a political tactic named after James Madison's vice president, Elbridge Gerry, and that has been used continuously for more than two centuries is suddenly a dire threat to the republic. Another story that emerged this week reveals a far greater threat: Communist China's infiltration of American politics."
That story, published in the New York Times, revealed the CCP has coopted New York City's traditional Chinese-American associations to reward politicians who dance to China's tune and defeat those who offend Beijing by meeting with Taiwanese officials or speaking out about Hong Kong. At least 19 of those nonprofit associations have ignored federal law that bars them from endorsing political candidates. And the "campaign of subversion extends far beyond the Big Apple: In San Francisco, diaspora groups harass and intimidate human rights protesters. Others lobby local governments in Southern California to adopt pro-Beijing policies.
"Beijing wants to control how Americans think and speak, and will not stop until the consequences of its activities become too enormous for our democracy to continue," writes Watson. "Exposing these agents of influence, prosecuting those who break the law, and making their Chinese masters pay a price is the best way to safeguard the republic and its citizens."
READ MORE: Red Menace: Why China Poses a Real Threat to Our Democracy
A different kind of sanctuary state: Under Tim Walz (D.), Minnesota Democrats enacted a pair of laws establishing Minnesota as a "trans refuge" state and banned "conversion therapy." The former, writes Power Line founder Scott W. Johnson, "is absurd on its face but has no bearing on Robin Westman's horrifying mass shooting and murder spree in Minneapolis last week." The latter "is worth another look in light of Westman's crimes."
Robin was born Robert but changed his name at 17 because he identified as a female. Before the attack, he reportedly professed to "regret being trans" and wished he had “never brain-washed” himself. If Westman "had been troubled by the feelings that led to his identification as female and wanted to confirm his masculinity" at 17, "the law would have prevented him from receiving professional help of this sort," writes Johnson. Under Minnesota's "conversion therapy" law, "so-called gender affirming care is the only legal treatment."
"While Westman was 23 at the time of the attack and the 'conversion therapy' law would not have banned his receiving help to resolve the discomfort he felt with his masculinity, it would have limited his right to receive such help were he deemed a 'vulnerable adult' as defined by Minnesota law. In effect, the law discourages mental health professionals from providing any such help."
Old takes exposed: When the Trump administration ordered a Michigan coal plant to remain online, Democratic lawmakers and activists argued the move would cost consumers millions of dollars. Federal figures reviewed by our Thomas Catenacci show the plant has actually been profitable in the wake of that order.
The likes of Michigan AG Dana Nessel and climate group Environmental Defense Fund cited a quarterly financial report from the plant's operator, Consumers Energy, which stated the "net financial impact of complying with the order was $29 million" through the end of June. A subsequent study, however, found the figure did not factor in revenue the plant brought in from selling electricity, as power producers are paid on a rolling delay. When factoring in those payments, the coal plant generated $33.7 million in revenue between late May and June 30, meaning it earned a profit during that period.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has argued the United States needs to keep as many existing power sources online as possible as power demand skyrockets. His order requires the Michigan coal plant, J.H. Campbell, to remain available through November. A study from research firm Energy Ventures Analysis appears to vindicate the move. "It's not losing $29 million a month. That's just not happening," said the firm’s director of energy markets, Phillip Graeter. "It would have been more expensive for electric customers in Michigan without the Campbell power plant."
In other news:
The Israel Defense Forces recovered the body of Ilan Weiss, whom Hamas abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri on Oct. 7 and murdered, during a military operation in Gaza that relied on intelligence gathered during interrogations of terrorists captured in Gaza. The IDF also retrieved the remains of an unidentified victim.
For the first time ever, the State Department revoked visas for Palestinian officials seeking to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York City over their "incitement to terrorism."
Violent crime in D.C. is down nearly 50 percent amid President Donald Trump's crackdown, a trend Mayor Muriel Bowser (D.) applauded. The New York Times says you shouldn't read too much into those statistics, though, "especially since the heavy law enforcement presence may have simply prompted people to stay off the streets." It's almost as if that's the point.
Israel reportedly believes its recent strike in Yemen took out the entire Houthi cabinet.
The head of pediatrics at Gaza's Nasser Hospital has posted photos of young children holding rifles alongside captions of "martyrdom" and said this about Hamas in 2014: "No one hates Hamas except a thief, a traitor, or an ignorant person, and there are many of those."
Iowa Republican senator Joni Ernst "plans to reveal next week that she won't seek reelection in 2026," CBS News reported.
Our full lineup is below.
China has been a threat for years. Supplying chauffeurs for a non compos mentis female California Senator and a good-looking girlfriend spy for a young hormone-driven California Representative. Diamonds and a fast car for the drug-addled son of a Senator who becomes president. And there were questions about that same Senator, who became president, selling influence to the Chinese. So they have been around for a while.
100%fact.