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US

Robach Recalls Lawyer: “Epstein Was the Most Prolific Pedophile”

ABC News anchor Amy Robach was caught on a hot mic discussing the network spiking allegations against Jefferey Esptein three years ago, which appeared to implicate Bill Clinton. The video above was released by Project Veritas and obtained via an insider at ABC News.

“She [Virginia Roberts] told me everything. She had pictures. She had everything. She was in hiding for 12 years, we convinced her to come out,” Robach lamented. “It was unbelievable what we had. We had Clinton [Bill].”

“We had everything.”

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his jail cell, a death the medical examiner ruled a suicide. The ruling was highly controversial given the injuries and high-placed, powerful elites who were believed to be involved with his illicit activities.

“Brad Edwards, the attorney, three years ago, saying like, like we… There will come a day when we will realize Jeffrey Epstein was the most prolific pedophile this country has ever known.”

“I had it all three years ago.”

Mr. Edwards is the attorney representing Jeffrey Epstein accusers.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, New York City’s former chief medical examiner who was hired by brother, Mark Epstein, insisted the death was a homicide.

“I think that the evidence points toward homicide rather than suicide,” Mr. Baden argued on Fox News last month. “The brother is concerned that if [Epstein] was murdered, then other people who have information might be at risk.”

In a statement, Robach said the network never intentionally killed the story about Epstein and called the recordings “a private moment of frustration.”

I was upset that an important interview I had conducted with Virginia Roberts didn’t air because we could not obtain sufficient corroborating evidence to meet ABC’s editorial standards about her allegations. My comments about Prince Andrew and her allegation that she had seen Bill Clinton on Epstein’s private island were in reference to what Virginia Roberts said in that interview in 2015. I was referencing her allegations – not what ABC News had verified through our reporting. The interview itself, while I was disappointed it didn’t air, didn’t meet our standards. In the years since no one ever told me or the team to stop reporting on Jeffrey Epstein, and we have continued to aggressively pursue this important story.

Amy Robach statement on video released by Project Veritas

The statement appears to have been tailored to mirror the network’s statement.

At the time, not all of our reporting met our standards to air, but we have never stopped investigating the story. Ever since we’ve had a team on this investigation and substantial resources dedicated to it. That work has led to a two-hour documentary and 6-part podcast that will air in the new year.

ABC News statement on video released by Project Veritas

ABC News anchor Amy Robach was caught

Economy

NMI Beats Forecast After Pullback in September

A Walmart employee who serves as a "customer host," walks in front of the customer service desk at a Walmart super-center location in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo: Laura Baris/People's Pundit Daily/PPD)
A Walmart employee who serves as a “customer host,” walks in front of the customer service desk at a Walmart super-center location in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo: Laura Baris/People’s Pundit Daily/PPD)

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Non-Manufacturing Index (NMI) came in at 54.7% in October, stronger than expected. Forecasts ranged from a low of 52.7 to a high of 54.5.

The consensus forecast was 53.5.

“The non-manufacturing sector had an uptick in growth after reflecting a pullback in September,” Anthony Nieves, Chair of the ISM Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “The respondents continue to be concerned about tariffs, labor resources and the geopolitical climate.”

The Business Activity Index rose 1.8% to 57%, indicating growth for 123 consecutive months. The New Orders Index came in 1.9% higher at 55.6%. The Employment Index rose 3.3% to 53.7%.

The Prices Index fell 3.4% to 56.6%, still suggesting prices increased in October for the 29th consecutive month.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING
  • “Labor shortage remains a major factor in the increased cost of logistics.” (Accommodation & Food Services)
  • “Current outlooks for commodities, equipment, and materials indicate purchasing now has leverage. Investment is still hampered by uncertainties in trade, global economic environment, manufacturing and the like.” (Construction)
  • “Wrapping up fiscal year budgets — overall outlook is positive.” (Finance & Insurance)
  • “Our business remains at the same level. There is no expectation for new orders, since clients normally do not make capital-expenditure decisions in the last quarter. Our only expectation is with regards to the U.S.-China trade deal outcome.” (Mining)
  • “Positive-but-cautious outlook, with oil prices hovering above [US]$50 a barrel.” (Professional, Scientific & Technical Services)
  • “Beginning of a new fiscal year brings a tremendous amount of spending.” (Public Administration)
  • “Business remains brisk and well ahead of last year to date, as we near the peak of our busiest season. Looking ahead, our customers remain upbeat about their business well into next year.” (Real Estate, Rental & Leasing)
  • “Preparing for an increase in holiday revenues.” (Transportation & Warehousing)
  • Business is still lower than this time last year due to tariff issues and a soft market.” (Wholesale Trade)

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Non-Manufacturing

Economy

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed as expected by $2.6 billion in September to $52.5 billion, down from a revised $55.0 billion in August. The U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis reported the goods and services deficit reflects a decline of $1.8 billion for exports to $206.0 billion and a $4.4 billion decline to $258.4 billion for imports.

Forecasts ranged from a low of $-55.7 billion to a high of $-51.8 billion. The consensus forecast was $52.5 billion.

Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit widened $24.8 billion, or 5.4%, from the same period in 2018. Exports fell $7.0 billion or 0.4%. Imports increased $17.8 billion or 0.8%.

The average goods and services deficit decreased $1.0 billion to $53.8 billion for the three months ending in September. Average exports fell $0.1 billion to $207.1 billion, while average imports declined $1.1 billion to $260.9 billion.

The politically-sensitive goods deficit with China fell $0.9 billion to $28.0 billion. Exports declined by $1.0 billion to $9.0 billion, but imports fell $1.9 billion to $37.0 billion.

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed as expected

World

This image made from video posted on a militant website on Monday, April 29, 2019, purports to show the leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, being interviewed by his group's Al-Furqan media outlet. Al-Baghdadi acknowledged in his first video since June 2014 that IS lost the war in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz that was captured last month by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. (Photo: Screenshot via Al-Furqan)
This image made from video posted on a militant website on Monday, April 29, 2019, purports to show the leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, being interviewed by his group’s Al-Furqan media outlet. Al-Baghdadi acknowledged in his first video since June 2014 that IS lost the war in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz that was captured last month by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. (Photo: Screenshot via Al-Furqan)

Turkey said the older sister of the slain Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was captured in northwestern Syria during a raid on Monday. A senior Turkish official called the arrest an intelligence “gold mine.”

Turkish officials didn’t provide much detail, but Rasmiya Awad, 65, is suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic extremist group.

“This kind of thing is an intelligence gold mine,” an official told Fox News. “What she knows about [ISIS] can significantly expand our understanding of the group and help us catch more bad guys.”

Awad was captured in Aleppo Province, specifically near Azaz.. The region is now under Turkish control as a direct result of a military operation against ISIS and Kurdish fighters, whom they also consider terrorists.

Turkey launched the military offensive after U.S. President Donald Trump made the controversial decision to pull U.S. troops from the region. The president last week announced the U.S. military had killed al-Baghdadi, a move that earned him the praise of the Mueller Family.

Kayla Mueller, 26, was taken hostage by ISIS while leaving a hospital in Aleppo, Syria, in August 2013. She is believed to have been tortured to death 18 months later, though ISIS claimed it was the result of a Jordanian airstrikes.

The Islamic State on Thursday confirmed the death of al-Baghdadi and named Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi as his successor. The audio message referred to him as a scholar and “emir of war.”

Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, initially believed to be the most likely successor to al-Baghdadi, was also killed by U.S. forces in northwestern Syria.

The setbacks for ISIS followed the death of Awad’s brother, Baghdadi, an Iraqi from Samarra. He was killed by U.S. troops during a raid on an ISIS compound in the nearby Syrian province of Idlib.

Awad was with her husband, daughter-in-law and five children when she was captured by Turkish forces. Officials said the adults are being interrogated. 

Turkey said the older sister of the

Policy

Senator Elizabeth Warren gives remarks on the Senate floor on June 22, 2017 after the release of the Senate Republicans' health care bill.
Senator Elizabeth Warren gives remarks on the Senate floor on June 22, 2017 after the release of the Senate Republicans’ health care bill.

I’ve always considered Senator Bernie Sanders to be the most clueless and misguided of all presidential candidates.

But I also think “Crazy Bernie” is actually sincere. He really believes in socialism.

Elizabeth Warren, by contrast, seems more calculating. Her positions (on issues such as Social Security, corporate governance, federal spending, taxation, Wall Street, etc).) are radical, but it’s an open question whether she’s a true believer in statism. It’s possible that she simply sees a left-wing agenda as the best route to winning the Democratic nomination.

Regardless of motive, though, her proposals are economic lunacy. So maybe it’s time to give her “Looney Liz” as a nickname.

Consider, for instance, her new Medicare-for-All scheme. She got hammered for promising trillions of dollars of new goodies without specifying how it would be financed, so she’s put forward a plan that ostensibly fits the square peg in a round hole.

But as Chuck Blahous of the Mercatus Center explains, her plan is a farce.

…presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren released her proposal to ostensibly pay for the costs of Medicare for All (M4A) without raising taxes on the middle class. As published, the plan would not actually finance the costs of M4A. …the Warren proposal understates M4A’s costs, as quantified by multiple credible studies, by about 34.2%. Another 11.2% of the cost would be met by cutting payments to health providers such as physicians and hospitals. Approximately 20% of the financing is sought by tapping sources that are unavailable for various reasons, for example because she has already committed that funding to other priorities, or because the savings from them was already assumed in the top-line cost estimate. The remaining 34.6% would be met by an array of new and previous tax proposals, most of it consisting of new taxes affecting everyone now carrying employer-provided health insurance, including the middle class.

Here’s a pie chart showing that Warren is relying on smoke and mirrors for more than 50 percent of the financing.

By the way, the supposedly real parts of her plan, such as the new taxes, are a very bad idea.

Brian Riedl of the Manhattan Institute unleashed a flurry of tweets exposing flaws in her proposal.

Since I’m a tax wonk, here’s the one that grabbed my attention.

Wow. Higher taxes on domestic business income, higher taxes on foreign-source business income, higher taxes on business investment, more double taxation of capital gains, a tax on financial transactions, and a very punitive wealth tax (which would be a huge indirect tax on all saving and investment).

If ever enacted, the United States presumably would drop to last place in the Tax Foundation’s competitiveness ranking.

And let’s not forget that Medicare-for-All would dramatically increase the burden of government spending. In one fell swoop, we’d become Greece.

Actually, that probably overstates the damage. Based on my Lassez-Faire Index, I’m guessing we’d be more akin to Spain or Belgium (in other words, falling from #6 in the rankings to the #35-#40 range according to Economic Freedom of the World).

Regardless of her motive, Elizabeth Warren has

Economy

Wages, or average hourly earnings (AHE) for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, increased by 3.0% over the last 12 months in October. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Employment Situation — commonly referred to as the monthly jobs report — for October on Friday.

The U.S. economy added far more jobs than the consensus forecast and the unemployment rate hit barely edged higher to 3.6%. Black unemployment fell to a new all-time low at 5.4%.

While forecasts for wage growth ranged from a low of 2.8% to a high of 3.2%, the consensus forecast was 3.0%. It represents a reversal of a feared-decline and a rebound to post-recession historically high levels.

In August, wage growth at 3.2% had met or surpassed 3% on a seasonally adjusted annual basis (SAAR) for 13 consecutive months, and had exceeded 3% for the 11th consecutive month.

In September, it initially dipped moderately to 2.9%, though a still solid gain. However, it was revised higher in the report released on Friday.

“Once again, Americans are receiving more money in their paychecks, as year-over-year wage growth rose by 3.0%,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia said in a statement. “Wages have grown at or above 3.0% for 15 straight months, including September’s increased revision.”

As People’s Pundit Daily (PPD) previously reported, data indicate wage growth in 2019 was likely stronger than we currently believe.

Annually revised data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) revealed wages grew even stronger than initially reported in 2017 and 2018, the first two years under the Trump Administration.

More moderate gains reported for the tenure under Barack Obama, were revised further down.

Compensation increased 42% more during the first two years of the Trump Administration than in latter two years under the Obama Administration in 2015 and 2016.

Employee compensation rose 4.5% and 5% in 2017 and 2018, respectively. That’s roughly $4.4 billion and $87.1 billion more than initially reported.

In the fourth quarter (Q4) 2018, wages posted the biggest gain (3.1%) since Q3 2008, hitting that mark for the first time since the Great Recession.

That trend — while temporarily disrupted in September — has now more clearly continued into 2019.

Compensation rose $378 billion, or 3.4% in the first six months of 2019. That means employee compensation in the first six months of 2019 gained $150 billion more than all of 2016.

Wages, or average hourly earnings (AHE), were

Economy

GM Strike Not Enough to Cool Job Creation, Black Unemployment Falls to New All-Time Low

The U.S. economy added 128,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate hit barely edged higher to 3.6%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported.

Forecasts for total nonfarm payrolls ranged from a low of 50,000 to a high of 155,000. The consensus forecast was 90,000. Forecasts for the unemployment rate ranged from a low of 3.5% to a high of 3.7%. The consensus forecast was 3.6%.

The black unemployment rate fell again to a new all-time at 5.4%, even though the labor force participation rate held steady at 62.4.

Overall, the civilian labor force participation rate ticked higher to 63.3, the highest level of participation since August 2013. Asian participation soared from 64.1 to 65.4. White participation held steady at 63.2, while Hispanic participation rose from 67 to 67.3.

Total nonfarm private payroll rose by 131,000 in October, easily beating the consensus forecast. Forecasts ranged from a low of 40,000 to a high of 156,000. The consensus forecast was also 90,000.

Wages, or average hourly earnings (AHE) for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, rose by 6 cents to $28.18. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.0%.

Forecasts for wages ranged from a low of 2.8% to a high of 3.2%. The consensus forecast was 3.0%.

Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees — meaning, workers — rose by 4 cents to $23.70.

Big Upward Revisions to Prior Two Months

There were significant upward revisions to job creation over the last two months.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for August was revised up by 51,000 from +168,000 to +219,000, and the change for September was revised up by 44,000 from +136,000 to +180,000.

With these revisions, employment gains in August and September combined were 95,000 more than previously reported. After revisions, job gains have averaged 176,000 over the last 3 months.

The U.S. economy added 128,000 jobs in

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported personal income gained $50.2 billion (0.3%) in September and revised higher to a 0.5% gain for August. Gains were largely driven by the wages and salaries, and higher benefits.

Forecasts ranged from a low of 0.1% to a high of 0.4%. The consensus forecast was right on the money at 0.3%.

Disposable personal income (DPI) rose $55.7 billion (0.3%), while Real DPI gained 0.3 in September and Real PCE increased 0.2 percent

Consumer spending, or personal consumption expenditures (PCE), rose $24.3 billion (0.2%), matching the consensus forecast. Forecasts ranged from a low of 0.0% to a high of 0.3%. Real PCE also was up 0.2%.

The PCE price index fell less than 0.1%. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased less than 0.1%.

Personal outlays rose $23.0 billion and personal saving was $1.38 trillion in September. The personal saving rate — defined as personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income — was 8.3%.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported

Economy

Initial jobless claims came in at a seasonally adjusted 218,000 for the week ending October 26, a gain of 5,000 and higher than the consensus forecast. However, the 4-week average decreased by 500 to 214,750.

Forecasts ranged from a low of 203,000 to a high of 217,000. The consensus forecast was 215,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was unchanged at a very low 1.2% for the week ending October 19. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for the week ending October 19 was 1,690,000, an increase of 7,000.

The 4-week moving average was 1,686,250, an increase of 8,750.

No state was triggered “on” the Extended Benefits program during the week ending October 12.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending October 12 were in Puerto Rico (2.0), Alaska (1.8), New Jersey (1.8), California (1.5), Connecticut (1.5), the Virgin Islands (1.5), Pennsylvania (1.4), Illinois (1.3), Washington (1.3), and West Virginia (1.3).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending October 19 were in Oregon (+418), Ohio (+358), Iowa (+179), North Carolina (+155), and Hawaii (+148), while the largest decreases were in New York (-2,931), Texas (-1,284), Michigan (-1,087), Oklahoma (-1,052), and California (-991).

Initial jobless claims came in at a

Politics

Democrats Reject Amendments for Co-Equal Subpoena Power, Requiring Exculpatory Evidence to Enter Record

Representative Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks with reporters about the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's Russia investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 30, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)
Representative Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks with reporters about the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence’s Russia investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 30, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

House Democrats will vote on an impeachment resolution codifying the existing “inquiry” and empowering Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee who falsely claimed to have evidence of “collusion” for nearly three years. Historically, the existing process has been unprecedented in it’s secrecy and fundamental unfairness.

The impeachment resolution, which Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., insisted was not an impeachment resolution, directs “certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.”

Historically, there is no such “inquiry” on record. For the first time in U.S. history, the speaker unilaterally directed the House to open the unprecedented inquiry and did not grant equal rights to the minority party or confrontation rights to the accused.

House Democrats have rejected efforts to amend the resolution, opting instead to codify what is largely the existing process. The minority will not have co-equal subpoena powers. Democratic chairs must approve of those requests, which again, is a historical first.

Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., tweeted Democrats rejected an amendment introduced by Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Az., which notably would’ve required exculpatory evidence to be entered into the record. Previous witnesses in secret non-public hearings have blown huge holes in the impeachment narrative.

“We tried to offer constructing amendments that were fair and offered rights to the accused. We offered 17 amendments. Not one of them were accepted,” Rep. Tom Cole, R-Ok., said on the floor on Thursday. “Today’s resolution does not grant co-equal subpoena powers.”

Chairman Schiff will have complete control over which transcripts are released, with only Speaker Pelosi having the authority to challenge the process. That is unlikely to happen, to put it mildly. Impeachment proceedings have always been conducted in the Judiciary Committee, something a court just ruled they have the power to do.

Thus, the need for this vote to take place as soon as possible when House Democrats resisted calls for weeks.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., was viewed by Speaker Pelosi as ineffective. Prior hearings for Robert Mueller and Corey Lewandowski, which were meant to launch a true formal impeachment process, were seen as political disasters.

Worth noting, House Oversight and Judiciary Committee members such as Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., will be excluded from key interviews. They have been very effective at responding to selected leaks authorized by Chairman Schiff.

The resolution only grants Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, the right to ask Rep. Schiff to call a witness. With Rep. Lesko’s resolution failing, there is no way for the minority to recall witnesses who exonerated the president during secret hearings.

The chair will also have the authority to remove counsel for the accused. Prior impeachment proceedings have always allowed counsel for the president to be present during testimony and hearings.

“It allows Adam Schiff to once again control the entire process,” Rep. Meadows said. “It’s time that we allow the truth to come out. When we do, we will find that the President of the United States did not commit an impeachment offense.”

He indicated transcripts of the interview conducted Thursday morning will not be leaked ahead of the vote because it further exonerates President Trump.

House Democrats will vote on an impeachment

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