Andy Ngo, Jill Turgeon, Lee Smith & Ken Klukowski on The Larry O’Connor Show 02.21.19

Happen to miss The Larry O’Connor Show today? Recap today’s program by checking out topics from the program below:

Hate-Crime Hoaxes Reflect America’s Sickness (National Review)

On January 29, tabloid news site TMZ broke the shocking story that Jussie Smollett, a gay black entertainer and progressive activist, had been viciously attacked in Chicago. Two racist white men had fractured his rib, poured bleach on him, and tied a noose around his neck. As they were leaving, they shouted the ominous words: “This is MAGA country” — a reference to President Trump’s campaign slogan. MSNBC reported the rumor that they were even wearing MAGA hats. [Read More]

Police Say Jussie Smollett Paid Two Men By Check To Stage Attack; ‘This Publicity Stunt Was A Scar That Chicago Didn’t Earn’ (CBS Chicago)

Accusing him of slapping the city in the face, Chicago police announced Thursday that “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett had been charged with concocting an attack in Streeterville, because “he was dissatisfied with his salary.”

“Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career,” Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said at a news conference Thursday morning. “This publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn’t earn, and certainly didn’t deserve.” [Read More]

Loudoun School Board again considers LGBTQ discrimination protections (Loudoun Times)

The Loudoun County School Board is again considering a policy that protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The latest policy proposal, introduced as an information item at a Tuesday board meeting, would serve in an aspirational capacity in the first chapter of all LCPS policies. Advocates say the policy would help protect LGBTQ employees and students, while detractors say the policy is too broad and could leave room for unintended consequences. [Read More]

The Only Path to a U.S. Victory in the Middle East Is to Leave Now (Tablet Mag)

It is still possible to achieve bipartisan consensus in Congress. Just vote to oppose Trump and prolong lost wars.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell showed how it’s done late last month with an amendment rebuking the president’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Syria passed by a wide 70-26 majority. Even that endorsement of the status quo was only a symbolic measure since a second-order amendment stipulated that McConnell’s could not be interpreted as legally authorizing military force in those conflicts.

But symbolizing what? An appetite for never-ending war? That there is no cost to opposing Trump even when a vast majority of the American public, Democratic and Republican, want out of the Middle East? The answer is a little bit of both—which is to say, it symbolizes the fact that U.S. foreign policy has become unmoored from American reality. [Read More]

Justice Clarence Thomas Calls for Reconsideration of Landmark Libel Ruling (NYT)

Justice Clarence Thomas on Tuesday called for the Supreme Court to reconsider New York Times v. Sullivan, the landmark 1964 ruling interpreting the First Amendment to make it hard for public officials to prevail in libel suits.

He said the decision had no basis in the Constitution as it was understood by the people who drafted and ratified it. [Read More]

Whoa. This is something new, sad from @pewresearch. Now, there is a *parenthood gap*, not just a *marriage gap*. Lower-income teens much less interested in *having kids* (and marriage). https://t.co/kScmGyf2AG @FamStudies pic.twitter.com/PToHfq4Mup

— W Bradford Wilcox (@WilcoxNMP) February 20, 2019