August 20, 2021

Qanon Anti-Semite Propagandist ‘GhostEzra’ Identified

August 20, 2021 Pensito Editors

The Hill: “Researchers at the intelligence firm Logically have identified a key member of the QAnon community who has used his significant platform to spread anti-Semitic conspiracies. In a new report released Friday, the researchers identified the person behind ‘GhostEzra’ as Robert Smart of Boca Raton, Fla. GhostEzra has recently emerged as one of the most influential figures in far-right online spaces, amassing well over 300,000 Telegram channel subscribers since the beginning of the year.”

Kabul Is Biden’s Tehran, Not Saigon

August 20, 2021 Buck Banks

“President Biden vowed that his Afghan withdrawal would not lead to a Saigon moment. That ship has sailed, but Saigon 1975 is far from the worst-case scenario for Afghanistan today. With thousands of unprotected U.S. citizens scattered across the country, Mr. Biden should worry about a repeat of Tehran in 1979.”

— Walter Mead

Walker Favored for Georgia Senate Seat

August 20, 2021 Buck Banks

54%

A new Fabrizio Lee poll on behalf of Donald Trump’s Save America PAC finds former NFL running back Herschel Walker (R) taking 54% of the vote in a GOP primary for Senate. No other GOP candidate polls above 5%.

Mo Brooks Understands Would-Be White House Bomber

August 20, 2021 Buck Banks

“Although this terrorist’s motivation is not yet publicly known, and generally speaking, I understand citizenry anger directed at dictatorial Socialism and its threat to liberty, freedom and the very fabric of American society The way to stop Socialism’s march is for patriotic Americans to fight back in the 2022 and 2024 election.”

— House members criticized Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) after he released a statement “that appeared to be sympathetic to the man police had arrested earlier in the day in connection with a bomb threat near the U.S. Capitol,” NBC News reports.

Jobless Claims Reach Pandemic Low

August 20, 2021 Buck Banks

348,000

“Jobless claims fell to a pandemic low of 348,000 last week, suggesting the labor market continues to heal even as the Delta variant causes uncertainty,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

There Are No ICU Beds Available in Alabama

August 20, 2021 Buck Banks

0

“There wasn’t a single I.C.U. bed available in Alabama on Wednesday, a possible sign of what other states may confront soon amid a deadly surge of new infections in parts of the United States with low vaccination rates,” the New York Times reports.

Day: August 20, 2021

Qanon Anti-Semite Propagandist ‘GhostEzra’ Identified

Kabul Is Biden’s Tehran, Not Saigon

— Walter Mead

Walker Favored for Georgia Senate Seat

54%

A new Fabrizio Lee poll on behalf of Donald Trump’s Save America PAC finds former NFL running back Herschel Walker (R) taking 54% of the vote in a GOP primary for Senate. No other GOP candidate polls above 5%.

Mo Brooks Understands Would-Be White House Bomber

— House members criticized Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) after he released a statement “that appeared to be sympathetic to the man police had arrested earlier in the day in connection with a bomb threat near the U.S. Capitol,” NBC News reports.

Jobless Claims Reach Pandemic Low

348,000

“Jobless claims fell to a pandemic low of 348,000 last week, suggesting the labor market continues to heal even as the Delta variant causes uncertainty,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

There Are No ICU Beds Available in Alabama

0

“There wasn’t a single I.C.U. bed available in Alabama on Wednesday, a possible sign of what other states may confront soon amid a deadly surge of new infections in parts of the United States with low vaccination rates,” the New York Times reports.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“Mr. Blanche, you’re losing all credibility with this court.”

— Judge Juan Merchan, quoted by NBC News, to Donald Trump’s lawyer in the “hush money” criminal trial.

— Miami Herald

“We care more about the safety of our staff than a name attached to an article.”

— Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX), on CNN.

— Rick Wilson

Numerati

77%

A new Siena poll finds that by a 54% to 30% margin, New Yorkers say Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial is “legitimate” — the view of 77% of Democrats and 44% of independents — rather than a “witch hunt,” the view of 66% of Republicans.

51% to 48%

300 million

Spotify said Taylor Swift’s new album was the first to have over 300 million streams in a single day on Friday.

28%

15% to 7%